Michel Strogoff

Jules Verne was born in 1828 in France and was the eldest of five children. As a child he developed a great interest in travel and exploration, which showed in his writing. After completing his studies Jules traveled to Paris to study law. When his father learned he was writing instead, he withdrew his financial support and Jules had to support himself as a stockbroker. His true talent was in telling stories of extravagant voyages and adventures. He married Honorine de Viane Morel in 1857 and she continued to encourage his writing. Jules met an important French publisher, Pierre Jules Hetzel who helped improve Jules’ writing and published his stories. In 1887 Jules entered politics for the next fifteen years. His books were written before the invention of airplanes, submarines, guided missiles or satellites, and he took his readers all over the world. He died in 1905 with diabetes. In 1989 Jules’ grandson found a novel written in 1863 called Paris in the 20th Century. It was published in 1994.