JULES VERNE (1828-1905) was the first author to popularize the literary genre that has become known as science fiction. FREDERICK PAUL WALTER is the translator of eight novels by Verne. Past vice-president of the North American Jules Verne Society and a former NPR scriptwriter and reference librarian, he lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ARTHUR B. EVANS is a professor of French at DePauw University and winner of the 2014 Cyrano prize for his scholarly contributions to the field of French science fiction. He has published numerous books and articles on Jules Verne and other early writers of French science fiction, serves as the managing editor of Science Fiction Studies, and is the general editor of Wesleyan's Early Classics of Science Fiction series.
"[M]akes a classic piece of French speculative fiction accessible
to English readers ... catches so well the excitement and risks ...
providing us with this fine new translation and critical edition of
Verne's entertaining, historically important, and complex
breakthrough novel."--John Rieder, Los Angeles Review of Books
"Arthur B. Evans, professor emeritus of modern languages (French)
at DePauw University, is the editor of the first complete English
translation of Five Weeks in a Balloon, Jules Verne's debut novel
Art Evans, who is retiring from the DePauw faculty at the
conclusion of the academic year, won the 2014 Cyrano Prize for his
scholarly contributions to the field of French science fiction.
Forbes has called the professor, who has published numerous books
and articles on Jules Verne, 'the most prominent Verne scholar in
the US.'"--DePauw University
"While in his own land, many contemporary critics held his
commercial popularity meant he was only a mere genre-based
storyteller than a serious author (though this would soon change),
Verne, in the English speaking world, was only deemed a writer for
children and a na�ve proponent of science and technology- for which
translators and publishers were solely responsible. US academician
Arthur B Evans notes that literary scholars agree that Verne's
early English translations were 'extremely shoddy' and 'often bear
little resemblance' to their originals ... Corrective action is
underway but many are even not aware anything was wrong."--Vikas
Datta, The News Minute (India)
"[T]his is the first faithful translation. Verne was more popular
than respected, and earlier translations hurried, if not downright
sloppy. Add to this the copious notes and careful commentary, and
what we have here is another service from the Wesleyan University
Press presented for the understanding and enlightenment of the
readers of Voyages Extraordinaires from then until now."--Joseph T.
Major, Alexiad
"This new edition of his first great adventure story contains
everything a reader could desire: an excellent English translation
with an enticing introduction, reproductions of the original
illustrations, scholarly notes, an extensive Verne bibliography --
all brought together in an exceptionally well-designed
volume."--Michael Dirda, Washington Post
"[M]akes a classic piece of French speculative fiction accessible
to English readers catches so well the excitement and risks
providing us with this fine new translation and critical edition of
Verne's entertaining, historically important, and complex
breakthrough novel."--John Rieder, Los Angeles Review of Books
"Five Weeks has all the hallmarks of the best Verne works: drama
mixed with comedy, the latest technology (here, obviously the
balloon) pushed into realms of speculation (Verne imagined methods
for controlling balloons not yet in existence), and ethical debates
around war, greed, and, in this case, hunting. Walter does an
excellent job of bringing Verne's language to life; this readable
translation is accessible and modern without losing a sense of
being of the 19th century. The introduction and footnotes enhance
the experience, as do the many illustrations. The book also
includes a very useful 'gallery of heroes, ' which gives thumbnail
biographies of the more than 150 real-life scientists and
adventurers mentioned by Verne but now known primarily to
specialists only. This work will appeal to a broad audience."--A.
Castaldo, Choice
"Five Weeks in a Balloon counts among the dozen Verne books that
are the most interesting for modern readers and critics, and even
in French, no annotated or critical edition has ever appeared.
Walter is at the forefront of contemporary translators."--William
Butcher, author of Jules Verne: The Definitive Biography
"A daring adventure with huge dollops of geographical,
technological, and scientific information, touches of humor, and a
slow build-up followed by one exciting incident after another. This
is essential reading for Verneans as well as the go-to text for
ordinary readers seeking an accurate translation of one of Verne's
most popular and significant novels.""--Michael Dirda, author of
Classics for Pleasure and On Conan Doyle
"Five Weeks in a Balloon counts among the dozen Verne books that
are the most interesting for modern readers and critics, and even
in French, no annotated or critical edition has ever appeared.
Walter is at the forefront of contemporary translators."--William
Butcher, author of Jules Verne: The Definitive Biography
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