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Herbert Lottman biography on Jules Verne

From: <AEVANS~at~DEPAUW.EDU>
Date: Sat, 09 Nov 1996 13:44:33 -0500 (EST)
To: jvf~at~leeor.math.technion.ac.il

Dear Vernians,
Yes, I have received an advance copy (uncorrected proofs) of the Lottmann
biography of Verne to review. I have not yet had the time to read it all the
way through, but I can give you a few "sneak peeks" of what it is like.
  First of all, it is the English translation of the original French version
published in France (I believe) last year. It appears to be an exact
duplicate--but I'm not yet certain--and it constitutes one of the best fact-
based biographies on Verne published to date. But the author, a professional]
biographer living in France who has previously published biographies on other
French authors like Albert Camus, uses almost exclusively French resource
materials. This is both good and bad. Good because he publishes a wealth
of unpublished correspondence by Verne (many letters not included in my book
on Verne), a lot of family information not previously discussed, and much
scholarship from the Societe Jule Verne--perhaps the most cutting-edge and
reliable source for all things Vernian. He did most of his research at the
Centre Jules Verne in Amiens, at the Verne Archives in Nantes, and at the
Bibliotheque Nationale. Although highly informative and accurate, his
discussions and observations do not include any scholarship done on Verne
outside of France. This is bad, because several major studies in English
do currently exist (my own, William Butcher's, Andrew Martin's, et al.) and
it would have been nice if their/my works had been consulted and incorporated
into the discussions he offers. Nevertheless--and all authorial vanity
aside--Lottmann's biography is, in my opinion, the best available. It is
much less "chatty" than Jean Jules-Verne's and it is infinitely more reliable
than the myth-ridden glorification of JV done earlier in the century by
Allotte de la Fuye. And, in addition to providing those interested in Verne
with a fact-based biography of his life, Lottmann's book helps to provide a
much-needed "bridge" between non-Franophone and Francophone Verne enthusiasts.
But beware! Many of our most-treasured myths about Verne's life--how he
ran away from home as a child on a freighter bound for the West Indies, how
he could speak and read several different languages, how he "invented" the
genre of science fiction, etc.--will be permanently destroyed by Lottmann's
biography. Is that good or bad? Well, I suppose it depends upon your point
of view. Lottmann's book is not meant to praise Verne, but to dissect him.
And he unveils a Verne-the-man that many hero-worshippers of Verne will not
like at all. Reality is always a bit seamier than mythology, no?
  So when this book is finally published by St. Martin's Press sometime in
1997, I encourage all of you to buy, read it, and share your feelings about
it. I look forward to your comments.
Best to you all, Art Evans
Received on Sat 09 Nov 1996 - 20:44:53 IST

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