Paris in the Twentieth Century

Paris in the 20th century is a novel by Jules Verne, who wrote in 1863, but not until 1994, 131 years later under the French title Paris au siècle XXème by Hachette in Paris. was published. The novel, often "lost " as Verne's called work, plays in August 1960 and paints a bleak, dystopian vision of the future. Verne's publisher Pierre -Jules Hetzel suspected, the pessimism of the novel would destroy Verne's career, and suggested to delay the publication 20 years.

Action

The story is about a young man, Michel, who lives in a world of glass skyscrapers, high-speed trains, gas-powered automobiles, calculators, and a worldwide communications network. In contrast to the triumphal march of science and technology literature, music and visual arts are, however, despised. Michel, carrier of a prize for Latin literature, is not happy in this world and takes a tragic end.

Comments

The manuscript was in 1989 by Piero della Riva Gondolo found in a safe Michel Verne, whose key was lost and it was believed empty. The French edition ( 1994 Hachette ) is provided with illustrations by François Schuiten.