I was recently listening a podcast from a guy specializing in 19th century fantastic, British literature. At one point he mentions Jules Verne and how he isn’t very well known in the English speaking world.

On the flip side, he talks a lot about H.G. Wells.

Being from a Scandinavian country, it’s the opposite here. Jules Verne is very well known but I barely knew about H.G. Wells before this podcast.

What do you think?

  • Bruncvik
    12·
    2 days ago

    I can see why Verne would be considered overlooked. While it’s true that some of his works, in particular 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in 80 Days, and The Journey to the Centre of the Earth (and to a lesser extent From Earth to the Moon) are well known, others went unnoticed. His Robur the Conqueror series is fun, and so is Off on a Comet, to name a few of his lesser known sci-fi works. I particularly liked his competence porn works, such as Mysterious Island, and some of his romances. The Green Ray had an impact on me, and I’m still trying to find it.

    Wells wasn’t nearly as prolific as Verne, so it may appear that both are equally well covered in the anglophone world, but the truth is that just a small fraction of Verne’s works received recognition.