« Paris in the twentieth century », the forbidden novel by Zhyl Vern, the whim that predicted our « apocalyptic » time

By Albert Vataj

He would be one of the most famous writers of the scientific triller. His fame would increase in the startling way, and for the main reason, the predictive spirit, the shocking prophesies and the confrontation of his contemporaries with the future, with one that would inspire any creative imagination and redemption. Among the most surprising books of the Jules Verne column is « Paris in the 20th century », the novel that would anticipate a world that even today, which the book explained, has some sad truths that have not been unanimously accepted yet. The world usurped by technology and business, by the man automated and spiritually executed, from that reality occupied by the death that gives life every day killing; knowledge, poetry, sexuality, romanticism, music, art and everything that exhausts living beings from the lymph of life. A horror novel? No! A true novel in all its fabricated spirit. A book that awares us of our end of a modern life that has exhausted being from every nerve and sensation, passion and dedication, making it into a puppet into the hands of money and technology.

« Paris in the Twentieth Century » (French: Paris au XX and Siècle) is one of the scientific novel by the French writer Jules Verne. The book represents Paris in August 1960, the reality of the next 97 years, where according to the writer, society will only place values ​​in business and technology.

Written in 1863, but first published 131 years later (1994), the novel announces the life of a young boy who fights unsuccessfully to live in a technologically advanced but with backward culture. Often this book is referred to as the « Lost Roman » and the main reasons that the work paints a gloomy, dystrophic view of a technological civilization.

Many of the Verne predictions were extremely accurate as they often regard it as the prophet of technology. His publisher, Pierre-Jules Hetzel, would not allow the publication of the book because he thought he was incredibly unbelievable, and the prospects of his sale would be inferior to Verne’s previous work, “Five weeks in a balloon.

The main character of the novel is 16-year-old Michel Dufrénoy, who graduates with a master’s degree in classical literature, but reveals that they are forgotten in a futuristic world, where only business and technology are valued. Michel, whose father was a musician, is a poet born too late.

Michel had lived with his respectable uncle Monsieur Stanislas Boutardin and his family. The day after graduation, Boutardin tells Michel that he will start working in a banking company. Boutardin suspects that Michel can do anything in the business world.

The rest of that day, Michel demands literature from nineteenth -century classical writers, such as Hugo and Balzac. Nothing but technology books are available in the bookstores he is looking for. Michel’s latest solution is the imperial library. The librarian turns out to be his long -hidden uncle Monsieur Huguin. Huguen, who is still devoting to art, and for this he is considered to be a « shame » for the rest of the family, and thus was forbidden to attend Michel’s birthdays, graduations and other family events, though he has followed Michel’s life – from a family unstoppable. This is the first time they have met in person.

In his new engagement, Michel fails in each task with Casmodage & Co. Derikur the bank appoints it to The Ledger (the leader, where Michel dictates accounts for the book Monsieur Quinsonnas. Quinsonnas, a group of 30 members, writes book keeping information on The Ledger. Quinsonnas tells Michel that this is a job that can do so to make a bread, to work on a mysterious music project that will bring him fame and wealth.

The Pairift visits Uncle Huguin and have joined by other visitors, former Michel Monsieur teacher, Richelot and his granddaughter, Mademoiselle Lucy. Quinsonnas and Michel both dream of being soldiers, but this is impossible because the war has become so scientific that there is no longer needed soldiers – only chemists and mechanics are the ones who command and put the killer cars. But this profession is also denied to them, because the « war motors » have become so efficient that war is inconceivable and all places are in a permanent stalemate.

Lots of time, Michel and Lucy are in love affair. Michel discusses women with Quinsonnas, who sadly explains that there are no more things at this time. From work to the factory and home where everything is automated and lifeless, routine and apathetic. Everything left to do and think is the same thing for careful attention to finance and science. Most women have become women who have dedicated everything to careers, they are cynical, ugly and neurotic. In the rage of this sad truth, Quinsonnas pour paint on The Ledger, and … he and Michel are rested in the country. Quinsonnas leaves for Germany.

In a society without war, or musical and artistic progress, there is no news, so Michel cannot even become a journalist. He ends up living in the empty apartment of Quinsonna while writing excellent poetry, but lives in such poverty that he should eat synthetic foods of coal. He finally writes a book of poetry entitled « Hope », which has been rejected by every publisher in Paris.

As 1961 is approaching, all of Europe enters into a winter with unprecedented savagery. All agriculture is in compromise and food supplies are destroyed, resulting in massive hunger. The temperature drops to minus 30 degrees, and every river in Europe manages to freeze completely. In despair, Michel spends his latest money on Lucy, but reveals that she has disappeared from her apartment, expelled when her grandfather, who had lost his job as the latest university rhetoric teacher. He is unable to locate it among thousands of hungry people in Paris. He spends the whole evening, soring through Paris in a delirious state. Michel becomes convinced that he is being shot by the demon of electricity, but no matter where he goes, he is unable to escape its presence.

At the height of the story, Michel heartbroken, loved by friends and loved ones, wanders through frozen electric, mechanized wonders, of Paris. The subjective story is done steadily and more surreal, as the suffering artist, in a final paroxysm of despair, unconsciously digging over a tomb in an old cemetery that collapses inside.

Forecasts for 1960

The 1960 technology book description was in some ways extremely close to the current technology of the 1960s. The book describes in detail advances such as cars powered by internal combustion engines (« Gas Cabines ») along with the necessary support infrastructure, such as gas stations and asphalted trains and trains and trains and trains. From magnetism and compressed air, skyscrapers, electric lights that illuminate entire cities at night, fax cars (« photo-telegraph »), elevators, primitive computers, who can send messages to each other as part of a somewhat internet-like network (described as sophisticated electric mechanical calculators). automated security, electric chairs and distance -controlled weapons systems, as well as weapons so devastating to make the war unimaginable.

The book also envisages the growth of suburbs and higher education produced (the opening scene has duprénoy to participate in a mass graduation of 250,000 students), stores and mass hotels. A version of feminism has also appeared in society, with women moving in the workplace and an increase in illegal births. It also makes accurate predictions of 20th -century music, anticipating the erection of electronic music and describing a musical instrument similar to a synthesizer, and the replacement of classical musical performances with a recorded music industry. It predicts that the entertainment industry was dominated by strange stage shows, often including nudity and clear sexual scenes.

NDUCTION AND DISCLUSING BOOK PUBLICATION

Jules Verne’s publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel thought that the pessimism of the book would hurt his Verne career, and suggested that he wait 20 years to publish a book. In a wild reprimand for Verne, Hetzel writes about a draft of the novel he has just seen:

« I didn’t expect perfection – to repeat, I knew you were trying the impossible – but I was hoping for something better. »

Hetzel was also critical of Verne for not covering the new terrain with the novel: « In this part, there is no single issue about the true future that has been resolved properly, no criticism that has not been made and corrected before. I am surprised with you … (it is) unclear and lifeless. »

With this, Verne placed the manuscript in a safe where he was forgotten, only to be discovered by his great -grandson in 1989. The original French version was finally published in 1994, and an English translation by Richard Hoeard was published by Random House in 1996.

Literary importance and criticism

The show of the lost novel Verne caused a shock among modern critics, who mainly took the book warmly, greeting it as « conscious and reliable ». On the other hand, some saw the book every time as pessimistic about the future, as Verne’s editor did.

The book had a surprise sale in France, where it was promoted long before the publication. Some critics were dismissed by the news of the book publisher, though most admitted it was « a work of historical importance ».

Critic Evelyn C. Leeper said Verne could be a good candidate for a Hugo award for the best novel in 1996, pointing out that he had not read a better novel than this year. As is known, the « Hugo » award is given every year to honor the best scientific fabrications of the previous year.

The work is also of importance to the scholars of the literary achievements of Verne, some of whom had long claimed that none of his works were ever approached to prophesy the future of a whole civilization, such as this book.