Jules Verne was born in Nantes in 1828 and trained as a lawyer before choosing writing instead. He published 54 novels collectively titled “Extraordinary Voyages.” The stories took readers in directions fiction rarely went - underwater, underground, to the moon, and around the world.
He wrote before submarines, airplanes, or electric lights existed, but his novels describe these inventions with accuracy. The Nautilus submarine in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea has electric propulsion and seawater conversion systems like modern submarines. From the Earth to the Moon describes rocket launches and orbital mechanics precisely enough that scientists later pointed out its technical correctness. When actual submarines and spacecraft appeared, the similarities to Verne’s descriptions were obvious.
The novels blend scientific detail with adventure plots. Journey to the Center of the Earth sends Professor Lidenbrock down a volcano to reach Earth’s core. Around the World in Eighty Days follows Phileas Fogg’s bet that he can travel the globe in 80 days. These books have suspense, danger, and plot complications, not dry technical exposition.
English translations damaged Verne’s work for decades. British publisher Sampson Low hired translators who didn’t understand the science involved. They cut technical passages and mistranslated terms. Modern translations fix these problems. They show scientific sophistication and political commentary that the early versions removed.
Captain Nemo, the submarine commander in Twenty Thousand Leagues, hates human oppression but isolates himself in his vessel after helping oppressed peoples. The castaways in The Mysterious Island survive on a deserted island using scientific knowledge, solving practical problems rather than waiting for rescue.
Verne ranks among the most translated authors. Scientists, engineers, and explorers grew up reading his books. Simon Lake, an early submarine inventor, said the Nautilus inspired his work. Jacques Cousteau called Verne’s writing prophetic. His ideas about technology and discovery still connect with readers.