Jules Verne

JMW Turner - Nantes from the Ile Feydeau

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Nantes - lycée Clemenceau

Aristide Hignard 1880

Le Musée des familles 1854-1855

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Arago, Jacques (colored)

Jules Verne (8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright best known for his adventure novels and his profound influence on the literary genre of science fiction. Born in the seaport of Nantes, Verne developed a passion for the sea and exploration at an early age. This fascination is reflected in many of his works, such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days, which remain widely popular around the world.

Early Life

Jules Gabriel Verne was born in Nantes, France, to Pierre Verne, an attorney, and Sophie Allotte de la Fuÿe. Verne's early years were spent in Nantes, where he was exposed to the maritime culture and the spirit of adventure that would later permeate his writing. He studied law in Paris, but the lure of literature proved stronger, leading him to abandon his legal career for writing.

Literary Career

Verne's literary career began with the publication of his first novel, Five Weeks in a Balloon (1863), which was an immediate success. This success established him as a writer and marked the beginning of a productive relationship with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel. Hetzel published many of Verne's novels in his Magasin d’Éducation et de Récréation, a family magazine. This partnership lasted until Hetzel's death.

Verne is considered a major figure in the development of the science fiction genre. His works, often featuring explorations of space, the ocean, and the interior of the Earth, are characterized by meticulous research and visionary scientific extrapolation. His most famous novels, apart from those already mentioned, include Journey to the Center of the Earth, From the Earth to the Moon, and The Mysterious Island.

Themes and Style

Verne's writing is notable for its prescient predictions of scientific achievements that were to come many years after his death. His novels have been admired for their sense of wonder and imagination, as well as their use of scientific principles. However, Verne's work is not without its critics, who sometimes see his character development and dialogue as lacking.

Despite these criticisms, Verne's novels have been translated into many languages and have inspired countless adaptations in film, television, and theater. His influence extends beyond literature into the realms of technology and science, with figures such as submarine designer Simon Lake and astronaut Neil Armstrong citing his work as an inspiration.

Legacy

Jules Verne passed away in Amiens, France, in 1905. His legacy, however, has endured, with his books still widely read and his ideas continuing to inspire new generations. Verne is often referred to as the "Father of Science Fiction," a title he shares with H.G. Wells. His contributions to literature and science fiction are commemorated in various ways, including the naming of craters on the Moon and Mars in his honor.

Verne's imaginative novels have also had a significant impact on popular culture, contributing to the early development of futurism and speculative fiction. His vision of scientific exploration and adventure laid the groundwork for future science fiction works, making him one of the most translated authors in the world and a central figure in the literary canon.