Early Verne
Jules Verne was an author of monumentous impact. This legendary writer was born in 1828 to a father who wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and become an attorney. He sent young Verne to Paris to study law, but all Verne found there was a love of literature and theater. He worked as a secretary at Théâtre Lyrique (Lyrical Theatre) and published short stories and scientific essays during that time.
Then he got married and worked for a time as a stockbroker, though he always continued to write. He researched at the Bibiliothèque Nationale (National Library) to add a nonfiction, factual element to his stories. He was working on a new kind of novel. One that combined scientific fact and adventurous fiction into one narrative. But he didn't find a home for this new genre until he met Publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel.
Verne & Hetzel
After meeting Hetzel through a mutual acquaintance, Verne handed Hetzel a manuscript titled Voyage en Ballon (Travel by Balloon). Hetzel already had plans to launch a periodical which combined elements of scientific fact with fun, adventurous fiction. Verne's work aligned with Hetzel's vision, and a contract was soon signed, beginning an incredibly successful publishing relationship.
That first novel was revised according to suggestions from Hetzel, retitled Cinq semaines en ballon (Five Weeks in a Balloon), then became the first of many of Verne's novels to be serialized in Hetzel's magazine before being published as books. All these novels became part of les Voyages Extraordinaires (The Extraordinary Voyages), which sought to impart all the knowledge of the Earth, the sea, the sky, and even beyond, through imaginative stories.
Works of Jules Verne
The works of Jules Verne are many. He churned out two novels each year (that's one whole, thoroughly researched, well-written novel every six months) for most of his career. His works can be divided into three distinct eras.
The novels from Verne's first era (1862-86) are the most adventurous, featuring such influential classics as De la Terre à la Lune (From the Earth to the Moon), Voyage au Centre de la Terre (Journey to the center of the Earth), and Vingt Mille Lieues sous les Mers (20,000 leagues under the seas). During this era, he also visited New York and traveled by boat around Europe to collaborate on theater adaptations of his stories. He gained fame and a modest fortune, and settled with his family in Amiens.
Whereas the first era of Verne's works are characterized by celebrations of discovery and science, the second era (1886-1905) of Verne's works are viewed as more pessimistic. These tales warn of the dangers of technology and humankind's hubris.
This attitude reflected turmoil in many aspects of Verne's life. He experienced financial hardship, struggled with his rebellious son Michel, and was crippled after his mentally ill nephew shot him in the lower leg. And in 1886, Hetzel died, leaving Verne without his oldest creative partner.
The Third Era of Verne and the Legacy that Followed
The third era of Verne's work is the most contested and debated. Verne died in 1905, leaving behind a drawerful of novels-in-progress. His son Michel published his father's novels posthumously, but not after significant revisions. In many cases, it seems as though Michel rewrote them outright, based on scholarly comparaisons from these novels to Verne's other works. Reactions to this discovery have been mixed. Some view this as contamination of Verne's style, others see it as the next chapter in Verne's experimental story.
In any case, Verne's legacy has had an impact on much of what followed. Verne was one of the founders of the science fiction genre, one of the first to imagine how fiction can influence and become a part of reality.
People have tried to follow in the footsteps of Phileas Fogg, the adventurer in Le Tour du Monde en Quatre-vingts Jours (Around the World in 80 Days), and travel the world around in record-breaking times.
In 1954 when the US Navy launched the first nuclear-powered submarine, it was named the Nautilus, after Captain Nemo's ship in Vingt Mille Lieues sous les Mers.
Verne was influential in the world of literature and beyond, and his stories are still enjoyed by many today.
Written by Jasmine Grace
University Intern
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