Jules was the youngest of the three. He was off at university, studying law, which he hated, when he quietly left law school and began trying to get published. Once his strict, abusive father found out, he cut him off financially, forcing Jules to support himself as a stockbroker, another profession he loathed. Jules found a couple of older writers, Vic and Alex, who gave him advice and support.
Alex and Jules would become pretty good friends over the long hall. Alex was a witty and erudite older gentleman who, having a mulatto mother and black grandfather, had experienced quite a bit of history's negativity towards people of color. His father had been a general, so his life hadn't been all bad. He'd become rather famous through writing, and his novels, when collected, were quite long for the time, as they'd been serialized.
Vic, also from a militarily aristocratic background, had parents that became radicals--his father was an atheist republican in the time of a divine emperor--and his outlook was shaped as a rebellion to that. Eventually he was exiled, and is known outside his home country for works that are less important inside his country than his poetry, verse that is not usually conversed about away from home. A few months older than Alex, he lived fifteen years longer.
It's safe to say that Jules has proven to be the most famous with the general population of today's age.
Here're some pictures:
Victor Hugo is best known outside of France for The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Miserables, and less so for his poetry, which is considered pre-eminent in France. He lived from 1802 until 1885.
Alexandre Dumas is remembered for Three Musketeers series of books, as well as The Count of Monte Cristo, among others. Born in 1802, he entertained and helped folks like Jules until his death in 1870.
Jules Verne, along with England's HG Wells, basically created what we call science-fiction, and some of his stories conceive of some of today's technologies; automobiles, space travel, rocketry, telecommunications, submersible technology et al. Known best for From the Earth to the Moon, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Journey to the Center of the Earth, Jules lived from 1828 until 1905.
I love discovering the interconnectedness of some of history's famous writer's, scientists, and other people of importance in the realms of art and politics. I guess that's the motivation behind this "First Name basis" idea. Expect a few more of these on occasion in the future.
Wow I didn't know any of that, well I knew they were authors and I've read some of all of their works. But I didn't know they helped each other. Thanks for the new information.
ReplyDelete