Jules Verne

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. He has been referred to as the "Father of Science Fiction" and is considered one of the greatest authors of all time. Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before the advent of practical, modern-day means of transportation and communication, often combining real-life science and technology with visionary inventions that he described in vivid detail.

Verne was born in Nantes, France, and studied law in Paris, where his ambition was to become a playwright. His first novel, Cinq semaines en ballon (Five Weeks in a Balloon), was published in 1863 and became an instant bestseller. It was soon followed by Le voyage au centre de la Terre (Journey to the Center of the Earth) in 1864 and Vingt mille lieues sous les mers (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea) in 1870, two classics of science fiction literature. Verne's fiction was enormously popular throughout Europe and around the world, and he was one of the first authors to be internationally renowned.

Verne's works remain classics of science fiction, and his visionary ideas inspired generations of inventors, filmmakers, and astronauts alike. In addition to his novels, he wrote collections of short stories, plays, and political and nonfiction journalism.

Verne was among the first to explore the potentials of space travel and the science of robotics, including the possibility of a manned mission to the Moon, in his 1865 novel Une vieille maîtresse (An Old Mistress). He wrote about electric submarines (1870's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea), electric aircraft (1886's Robur le Conquérant), and anticipates the use of robotics and other forms of automation (The Master of the World, 1904.)

In 1872, Verne co-founded the Touring Club de France, a major French travel organization. He was also a strong supporter of air travel, having flown and traveled extensively. He wrote some of the earliest works of science fiction involving airplanes, including those set in the North Pole and on the Moon.

Verne's work was translated into many languages, including English. His novels have been adapted into films, video games, and stage plays, and have been extensively studied by students around the world. The French Academy awarded him its prestigious Grand Prize of Literature in 1905.

Jules Verne became a literary sensation and global icon during his lifetime and continues to influence new generations of readers and writers today. Equal parts scientist, explorer, and storyteller, Verne envisioned a world of great discoveries and infinite possibilities that still resonates in today’s popular culture. He remains one of the greatest writers of all time and an inspiration for creatives to this day.