The Quickening: Why Jules Verne is still relevant?

On one occasion I went to buy a book by Jules Verne, Five Weeks in a Balloon. The person who sold it to me asked "What is it about?"; my answer made me realize how boring it may sound. It's about an expedition to Africa to discover the source of the Nile River, I replied.

That reminded me of other books that I've read. From the Earth to the Moon is part of his most recognized works and it's understandable that, at the time, he amazed his contemporaries; but more than one hundred years after his death, why is it still valid? It might seem like a "must-read" topic because it's a classic... But it goes beyond that.

While it's true that a hole wasn't made in Florida to melt a titanic canyon inside, Cape Canaveral is there, the race to reach the moon was between Russia and the United States and, if we ignore the conspiracy theories, they were the Americans who won this race. All these data seem to be irrelevant now and perhaps the most fascinating thing is that the story narrated in a work of fiction became part of reality.

It's not about knowing precisely where the Nile is born, but everything that had to be done in order to reach that point. Currently going around the world is done in less than a month and it would sound boring to read about someone who's betting to do it in eighty days, but again, what keeps the reader stuck are the different situations that are presented, the way in which the obstacles are overcome even when the stars seem to line up to prevent it from fulfilling its purpose.

We're in the presence of well told stories, with diverse situations and that even contain curious data. With his work, I learned that Lord Byron died in Greece while he was looking for the independence of the country, I know it's something I could have known thanks to the internet, but for me it was more valuable to find it while I enjoyed reading The Archipelago on Fire.

When you're about to read something from this renowned author, be certain that you're about to meet unforgettable characters, who will avoid all kinds of obstacles with ingenious or unexpected endings. Much of the charm of reading this icon of literature is precisely that, the great endings, the way in which situations develop and difficulties are overcome.

It's also important to note that, among the thousands of editions, there are less dense versions of his work. This doesn't necessarily mean that the plot has been mutilated, it seems more accurate to think that there are publishers that choose to omit all geographic, historical and scientific data that can be tedious. If they're in a position to choose which of their works they'll read and wish to start with one of those that are representative, they could recommend Around the World in Eighty Days or Michael Strogoff since many of their well-known works are loaded with scientific data that can reach cover entire chapters.

Comments

[Opium4TmassS]

It's also important to note that, among the thousands of editions, there are less dense versions of his work. This doesn't necessarily mean that the plot has been mutilated, it seems more accurate to think that there are publishers that choose to omit all geographic, historical and scientific data that can be tedious.

I donno. One of the many reasons I enjoy the work of Michael Chrichton was his usage of those things.