In this episode of pplpod, we dive 20,000 leagues into the life of Jules Verne, the French author who ranks as the second most-translated writer in the world, sandwiched between Agatha Christie and William Shakespeare. While often remembered as the "father of science fiction," we explore why Verne viewed himself as a man of letters and how his true literary legacy was obscured in the English-speaking world for decades.

Join us as we discuss:

• From Law to Literature: How Verne defied his father's wish for him to become a lawyer, choosing instead to write plays and eventually the "Roman de la Science" (novel of science).
• The Hetzel Era: The pivotal and sometimes contentious relationship with publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel, who launched the Voyages extraordinaires series but  ...