AS THE SON OF A SHIPOWNER FROM NANTES, the sea was always close at hand. According to his biographers, Jules Verne wanted to set sail on a sailing ship to discover the world when he was just eleven years old. However, his escapade as a ship’s boy was discovered in time and the young adventurer was brought home. Yet his wanderlust and romanticised vision of maritime adventures remained, becoming a recurring theme in his work. At his father’s insistence, he initially tried his hand at studying law after finishing secondary school, but in the end, his desire to become a writer proved stronger. After writing several plays, he achieved his breakthrough in 1863 with »Five Weeks in a Balloon« (»Cinq Semaines en ballon«). With this work, he discovered his formula for success: what is technically feasible is extended into the future, embedded in a new context and presented in an exciting way. Thus, the Atlantic crossing on the 211-metre-long giant steamship Great Eastern served as inspiration for floating islands and steel cities. For Verne was very much a child of his time. The Industrial Revolution had brought a host of technical achievements and awakened a belief in complete mastery of nature. In this optimistic era, everything seemed possible – and what was not possible was woven into a realistic vision with great imagination. With his seemingly boundless love of storytelling, discovery and adventure, Verne effortlessly embraced these topical themes. Airships, submarines, lunar rockets, propeller-driven islands and distant lands – the Verne mix became a bestseller. His enterprising publisher Hetzel had the right instinct and launched the »Extraordinary Journeys« series. Through Hetzel, Verne also came into contact with naturalists and inventors who broadened his knowledge, offered him expert advice and provided him with further ideas. Verne spiced up his works with details from his vast card index on fauna, flora, geography and history. And he delivered further bestsellers year after year: »Journey to the Centre of the Earth«, »From the Earth to the Moon«, »The Adventures of Captain Hatteras«, »In Search of the Castaways«. According to the UNESCO Translation Index, the French writer is the second-most translated author in the world, with 4,223 translations, just after Agatha Christie but before William Shakespeare. 83
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