Herman Melville's book "Moby Dick" was published on November 14, 1851. It was met with mixed reviews and mediocre sales. Melville (Aug 1, 1819 – Sept 28, 1891) was an American novelist who first became well known for the "Typee" which became a bestseller and the first of three well renowned books. His popularity declined in the late 1840's and never fully recovered. Published a month earlier in London as "The Whale", it wasn't until the 1920's, thirty years after Melville's death that "Moby Dick" became immensely popular and considered to be an addition to the American literary canon.
On this date in history, November 14, 1889, Elizabeth Jane Cochran better known as Nellie Bly set about to beat Jules Verne's fictional record of circumnavigating the world in 80 days. Traveling by Ship, Train, and Burro she returned to New York in 72 days, 6 hours, and 11 minutes. She actually got to meet Jules Verne in Amiens during her trip. Her later book "Around the World in 72 Days" became a best seller.
Jules Verne a French Author (Feb 8, 1828 – Mar 24, 1905) is considered by some to be the Father of Science Fiction. His books featured many inventions and mode of travel before they were well known or in some cases invented.
A Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864)
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870)
Around the World in Eighty Days (1873)
I wonder if she went with a valet, or was followed by a detective from Scotland Yard?
In the book by Verne they do not travel by hot air balloon, although it is mentioned briefly. Because of an earlier written book by Verne, "Five weeks in a balloon" which first made Jules Verne a well known author it has emerged as mythology about the book. The 1956 movie adaptation of the book actually added to Verne's story by including a hot air balloon for part of the trip, and many latter versions of the book actually had a balloon on the books cover!
Other News Worthy Events
My second novel "No Rules Of Engagement" has received another Review on Goodreads.com!
Still sitting at a perfect five out of five stars! Which frankly I still can't believe considering it isn't selling, and it is only my second book. I am still plowing away at the sequels to both "Whisper" and "No Rules Of Engagement."
Apparently not too shabby…
http://www.amazon.com/Rules-Engagement-Alexander-Hawk-ebook/dp/B005KG60US/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1321287610&sr=1-1
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/85282
Contest Update
Amazon DE ZERO
Amazon FR ZERO
Posted in: Jules Verne Herman Melville Nellie Bly
0 comments:
Post a Comment