Jules Verne Forum

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Letter to an American

From: <ian.thompson~at~ges.gla.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2006 20:17:20 +0100 (BST)
To: jvf~at~Gilead.org.il

As promised I am forwarding my transcription on Verne's letter to Monsieur
John Eyerman, "Oakurst" Easton Pa, Etats Unis d'Amérique.

                                           Amiens, 9 Avril 98

Cher Monsieur,

Je m'empresse de répondre à votre lettre et comment hésiterais-je à le
faire, puisqu'elle est de la main de l'un de mes amis inconnus d'Amérique?
L'année dernière, je leur avais dédié le roman du Sphinx des Glaces, tout
a l'honneur de leur grand poète EdgarPoe et pour leur témoigner ma
reconnaissance. L'année prochaine ce sont les Etats-Unis dans tout leur
ensemble qui serviront de théâtre à mon nouveau roman.Puissiez-vous, quand
vous le lirez y trouver quelque plaisir. Il y a 25 à 27 ans, j'ai pu
visiter une partie de votre beaux pays, et j'en ai conserver de précieux
souvenirs.
Veillex me croire, cher Monsieur,
      Cordialement à vous
                 Jules Verne

A literal English translation is;

I hasten to reply to your letter and why should I hesitate to do so since
it is from the hand of one of my unknown American friends. Last year, I
dedicated to them my novel Le Sphinx des Glaces, and in honour of their
great poet Edgar Poe, to demonstrate my gratitude. Next year it will be
the whole of the United States which will act as the theatre of my new
novel. I hope when you read it that it will give you some pleasure. 25 or
27 years ago,I was able to visit a part of your beautiful country and have
kept precious memories.

Several points I think arise from this letter I think
1 As I mentioned in my previous posting he writes with enthusiasm
vis-à-vis the United States which by this time had replaced Britain in his
mind as the centre of technical progress and modernity.
2 The cross reference to his dedication of Le Sphinx des Glaces to Poe is
interesting.
3 He foreshadows his next novel, which he says will encompass all of the
States. Given the date, would this be Le Testament d'un excentrique?
  Ian Thompson
Received on Thu 03 Aug 2006 - 22:17:30 IDT

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