Profile of the Day: Jules Verne

Posted February 8, 2021 by Amanda | No Comment

“What one man can imagine, another will someday be able to achieve.”

On this day in 1828, the “Father of Science Fiction” Jules Verne, was born in Nantes, France.

Image: Jules Verne / Bibliothèque nationale de France

The son of bourgeois parents, it was intended that Verne would follow in his father’s footsteps to become a lawyer. However, it was during his studies that Verne discovered his passion for literature and theater. He earned his law degree, but ultimately decided to quit law and pursue a career as a writer.

Considered a major writer in French literature, Verne’s adventure stories depicted technologies that were far ahead of their time, many of which have become commonplace today. He depicted underwater and space travel before the invention of submarines and space shuttles.

His work has inspired generations of scientists, inventors and explorers. Many people, including journalist Nellie Bly, have attempted to circumnavigate the globe in record time, just like Verne’s character Phileas Fogg, the protagonist of Around the World in Eighty Days.

What’s your favorite Jules Verne adventure story?

Explore Jules Verne’s family tree on Geni and discover how you’re related to the French author.