Talk:Jules Verne

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Reviewed version: April 7, 2006
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[edit] old talk

What about copyright? Has it expired? Is the text freely available? Are translations freely available? Can i post them? -- 193.226.167.123 17:10, 17 March 2006 (UTC)


I don't have the material in front of me, but it should be noted that most English editions are based on a very early translation where the translator excised a little more than a third of the book.

Uh, of what? --Brion VIBBER

Portions of the biography section are based on material from the 1911 encyclopedia. ---

Nothing about the fact that Verne is considered as pionner in Science Fiction ?

Around the World in Eighty Days is variously listed as published in 1872 and in 1873. The 1911EB says 1872 as do various other sources. I set both references on the page to 1872, because it was better than having one saying 1872 and the other 1873. But it would be good to clear this up. Dachshund --- I think the original version is 1872 and the English translation is 1873. Deb

[edit] Paris in the Twentieth Century

Are we sure that Paris in the Twentieth Century is an actual Verne work and not a modern fake? The history of the found manuscript seemed very odd to me in 1994. Do we have more than the family's word for it? --Error 00:18, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I would also like to know if "Paris in the Twentieth Century" is an actual JV book, the style varies from JV's normal style. also i have read many similar books on the same subject as "Paris in the Twentieth Century" and in a strangly similar style. ??????? Seb Britton --212.140.121.221 22:26, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

Apparently, yes it is. It was not accepted by the eoditor, hence the 130-year delay before publication. Rama 00:07, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

In fact, the style is quite typical for Jules Verne. Countless enumerations, a cynical sense of humour, and a great affection for music and literature. Also, the list of authors mentioned by Uncle Huguenin reflects Verne's own preferences, as well as some serious flattery aimed at Hetzel.

[edit] Jules Verne vs Nathaniel Hawthorne

Verne is often referred to as "the pioneer" of the science fiction genre. I would beg to differ. Granted Verne speaks of space. The genre of science fiction does not, however, deal only with space. Manipulation of biology is, also, a plot device in science fiction. Hawthorne used just such a plot device in his short story entitled "Rappaccini's Daughter". It deals with a scientist who tries to manipulate the biological nature of his daughter in order to produce a different type of human being. Rappaccini also tries to manipulate the biological nature of his daughter's suitor with the thought of breeding the differences. This short story was published prior to the publication of Verne's short "space" saga.

Please feel free to check this premise by accessing the pages in the Wikipedia that refer to Nathaniel Hawthorne.

DM - in Sask.CND

Well, there have been such stories since Antiquity. Also, noone tries to say that Jules Vernes in the man who invented Science Fiction -- it would be silly anyway, since such genres emerge progressively over the works of several authors. He is, however, unquestionably one of the pionners of the style, and arguably amongst the ery most proeminents. Rama 06:34, 19 May 2005 (UTC)

Jules Verne was truly the pioneer of science fiction, do not argue. He influenced the king of science fiction, H.G. Wells!!!!!!!!! --152.163.101.13

[edit] Verne and pederasty

Historical_pederastic_couples lists him with Aristide Briand. Nameme 04:37, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

The claim appears to be properly attributed, so we may want to add it along the following lines: "In 1878 Verne was closely associated with the future president of the French Republic, Aristide Briand, 16 at the time, whom he picked up from school to bring to his own home. Some researches (Larivière, p.332; Moré, 2005) have argued that the evidence suggests that the relationship was pederastic in nature." Ahasuerus 18:36, 1 March 2006 (UTC)
First of all, Aristide Briand has never been president of the French Republic. So I have my doubts about the rest of your assertions... Hektor 15:17, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

Others might see these as instances of mentoring relationships without any particular subtext.
The theory and the material brought forward in its favor are interesting, but must in the final analysis be regarded as unproven. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and in this instance the evidence can point as easily to more innocent conclusions. The notion may say more about the mindset of its proponents than about Verne's own proclivities.

I might or might not agree with you on this, but the fact is that my opinion or yours is irrelevant. The above are examples of editorializing, and - right or wrong - cannot be used here.Haiduc 11:44, 29 September 2005 (UTC)

One this topic, of relevance, not ONE word is mentioned in the French WP. How peculiar. --Stijn Calle (talk) 22:41, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

  • This should be removed. I am sure that you can find on the web, for each famous person of the past, at least one source which says that she or he was homosexual. Hektor (talk) 07:17, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

I do agree this part should be delete because there is not enough for this claim. Henri Cotillard (talk) 00:07, 8 May 2008 (UTC)

Since the matter has been under academic discussion, and was originally brought up by French intellectuals, some of whom were Verne's contemporaries, and several authorities in the field have discussed the matter, it seems out of place for us unqualified nonentities to dismiss the matter. Certainly if someone can find material presenting an opposite point of view it should be added to the section. Haiduc (talk) 11:26, 8 May 2008 (UTC)

This section misleading. It makes it sound for sure Jules Verne had men for lovers and makes lots of guesses. An instance is his newphew. Its a big guess to make a claim that he was a gay lover and jealous just because he shot him. He was insane and sent to an insane asylum after. Maybe that's why he shot him. Henri Cotillard (talk) 00:58, 10 May 2008 (UTC)

You may be right, but the way we deal with that kind of thing over here is that we go out and find a opposing opinion and add it to the article to balance the one we question. However, we are not authorized to remove properly sourced material simply because we do not like it. I will not revert you at this time because I do not want to get into a tug-of-war with you, but that edit cannot stand. Please restore the material and look for a published source with an opposite point of view. Haiduc (talk) 01:18, 10 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Failed GA

No refrences mainly --Jaranda wat's sup 20:43, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Also, I would think all 54 of his novels should be listed, instead of a 'selection' of 47... -- 81.107.46.167 07:32, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Connection to Karl May

What is the connection bewteen Verne and May? Why is he listed in the see also section? -- 81.107.46.167 07:32, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

None except that May and Verne lived around the same time, one in France ane the other in Germany, and are both reverred in their own language sphere, albeit today as classical historic young adult authors. Both are colored by their time, social standing and country (therefore today considered chauvinistic and borderline racist). Theirfore their influence is as comparable as their writings are as different.Niklas o'Bee) 04:06, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Needs legacy section

There should be some discussion in the article of his lasting influence, including some reference or discussion to all the different movies. (And of course, Back to the Future III should get a mention.) AnonMoos 12:58, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Foresight

I wonder if Vules Vernes prediction of fuel cells is really noteworthy? I refer you to the wikipedia entry on fuel cells - "The principle of the fuel cell was discovered by German scientist Christian Friedrich Schönbein in 1838 and published in the January 1839 edition of the "Philosophical Magazine". Based on this work, the first fuel cell was developed by Welsh scientist Sir William Robert Grove in 1843." This being the case, how could Verne have predicted an invention 30 years after it was invented? --Crais459 13:47, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

Your right. It read like original research anyway - drawing analogies from the past and layering them on the present. -- Stbalbach 15:47, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

In fact, Verne predicted very few "invents". Mostly he used technology published in scientific periodicals which were not practical yet. Chvsanchez 02:27, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Couple changes

I made a couple changes, explained here:

  1. Removed the link to William Butcher's home page. William Butcher can have his own article, there is no need to external link to his home page. It is promotional in nature.
  2. Removed the links to the French language works. This is explained in WP:EL, foreign language external links are in the French version of the article.

--Stbalbach 16:02, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mercier and Nemo

I do not think Mercier had anything to do with Nemo being an Indian Prince. Nemo's identity is not made clear until much later in the Mysterious Island.------Varnesavant 14:11, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Tomb

I think that his tomb in Amiens is interesting enough to be worthy of a picture. --84.20.17.84 09:10, 7 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Education

There seems to be a conflict between the English page and the French page regarding Jules Verne's education. According to the French page, he went to the lycée de Nantes, and when I checked the French version of Lycée Georges-Clemenceau (Nantes) (the page where the link sent me), I found Jules Vern under the list of graduates. I could not find any refrences to the Saint Donatien College, but I will make no changes to the page until I am sure. 71.116.122.90 (talk) 07:28, 10 March 2008 (UTC) vveareed

[edit] For a new GA...

This is what I've picked up from the situatuion of this article becoming a GA.

  • Needs more references
  • Needs fixing-up on grammar and spelling
  • Needs more photos
  • Needs more content

To all editors of this page: This page is ready for GA word-wise. The only reason it isn't passing is that it has virtually no refereces. Please add references! Feel free to add on. Meldshal42Comments and SuggestionsMy Contributions 20:33, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

OK, I've done some preliminary copyediting on the first three sections and will continue to work on the remainder, but a few notes on the first three:
  • lead paragraph: before practical means of space travel had been devised. -- I'm not aware that there were means of space travel, practical or non-practical, in the 19th century, so I changed this to "before any means of space travel had been devised." Feel free to change this back if I am wrong.
actually there had been impractical means devised : Cyrano devised a machine, with rockets that propelled it into the sky to a point where the moon started sucking up the fat he had smeared himself with, dragging him upward until he suddenly kipped over and fell onto the moon. Poe, likewise, imagined a balloon capable of reaching high enough (The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall). So yes, there were means devised, but impractical ones. --Anne97432 (talk) 11:13, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
Hmmmm, well -- those are fanciful means, but not real ones. There were patents issued on submarines in the early 18th century, and use of a crude submarine called the TURTLE was attempted against British ships in New York harbor in 1776. The late 18th century saw the first manned hot-air balloon flights. Those were real, if not at the time developed to the point where they were of practical use. I'm not convinced the qualifier "practical" is needed in the article with regard to space travel, but if someone wishes to change it back based on the fictional examples you have cited, I wouldn't object. --LBourne (talk) 23:01, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
  • Early years: At the boarding school, Verne studied Latin, which he used in his short story Le Mariage de Monsieur Anselme des Tilleuls -- As someone who has only a small bit of knowledge about Jules Verne, this confused me a little: Did he use Latin in his short story, or did he use the study of Latin in a boarding school in his story? I couldn't find anything online to tell me anything about the story itself that might clarify this.
  • Last years: On March 9, 1886, as Verne was coming home, -- This provokes the question "Coming home from where? From a trip? From a day in town?" So I reworded it to say "as Verne was approaching his own home," but it might be better if it were possible to say where he was coming home from.
  • Last years: Hetzel's son, who took over his father's business, was not as rigorous in his corrections as Hetzel Sr. had been. -- I don't like the use of "corrections". Could this perhaps be reworded to something like "...was a less agressive editor than Hetzel Sr. had been"? Would that convey the sense of what was intended? --LBourne (talk) 05:46, 1 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Scholars' jokes

I came to this page to modify a single instance of "in spite of the fact that..." and ended up doing more work on the "Scholars' jokes" paragraph that contained it to improve the clarity, but it still needs additional work. I could not quite make out the meaning of this sentence:

Also in Mysterious Island, because of its fauna and flora, the sailor Bonadventure Pencroff asks Cyrus Harding whether the latter believes that islands (like the one they are on) are made specially to be ideal ones for castaways.

If that's a scholar's joke, I don't understand where the joke is.

I assume the remainder of the paragraph following that is saying that the use of outdated technology in what is supposed to be state-of-the art manufacturing in the two books mentioned are more examples of scholars' jokes, but I am not familiar enough with Jules Verne's works to be sure I can untangle it without mangling it. Would someone else be willing to take a stab at that?

Finally, I am wondering if this paragraph might not work better if the examples were put in a bulleted list and the parenthetical phrase about the cannon in From the Earth to the Moon were removed to a footnote?

I hope I'm not taking the "be bold" charge too literally; I'm a rank newbie here, so please forgive me any social blunders I may make. --LBourne (talk) 06:44, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Yes - and also the sentence "From the Earth to the Moon (the material used for the cannon — in this case it was probably poetic license, since the description of the making of the gun became far more dramatic)" also seems somewhat obscure.Far Canal (talk) 04:09, 7 April 2008 (UTC)