Canadian Jules Verne Books
I AM Canadian!!!
I have been a Jules Verne collector since 1968.
Two of JulesVerne's novels take place in Canada, Fur Country and Family Without a Name and other book have at least a partial Canadian presence.
The novels with a Canadian presence include:
- Fur Country (Le Pays des fourrures)
- Family Without a Name (Famille-sans-nom)
- Golden Volcano (Volcan d’or) {Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver ...}
- César Cascabel (César Cascabel) {British Columbia}
- Robur the Conqueror (Robur-le-Conquérant) {Niagara Falls, Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa}
- Master of the World (Maître du monde ){Niagara Falls}
- Captain Hatteras (Voyages et aventures du capitaine Hatteras) {Canadian Arctic waters, Baffin Island etc}
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Vingt Milles Lieues sous les mers ) with the presence
of Ned Land, the great Canadian harpooner |
I have decided it is time that I started cataloging Canadian Jules Verne books and create a page to highlight them.
It may be difficult to prove if a book was published in Canada, as many times a publisher on the title page will list many cities (i.e. New York, London, Toronto). The presence of a Canadian city may not mean it was actually published there, just that the Publisher has a main office there!
Here I will show the books that I have determined to be Canadian.
At the bottom of this page, I reprint the presentation that I gave to the Mondial Jules Verne, Amiens, in 2005 entitled: Canada and Jules Verne
Jump to Verne Studies
Jump to Canada and Jules Verne
Book Collecting Information: (English + French + Ukranian)
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1875
|
**A True First Edition-same date as English First Edition**
The Wreck of the Chancellor
1875
Belford Brothers, Publishers
Toronto
Noted in Brown and Purple cloth
This book does NOT contain the story Martin Paz
The chapter heading and first 2 sentences of the book are:
"THE
WRECK OF THE CHANCELLOR
I.
Charleston, September 27, 1869. - We have just left the Battery wharf, at 3 P.M. The ebb-tide is fast carrying us out to sea."
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1876
|
First Canadian Edition (Serial) In French:
Vingt Mille Lieues sous Les Mers
tour du monde sous-marin
In: L'Opinion Publique Journal Illustré
1876
G.E. Desbarats & Co.
Montréal, Canada
Each journal is 12 pages, and is published weekly.
20k runs from Jan 6, 1876 to June 22, 1876
Ed: I own a bound copy of 1876 which includes 20k and Hatteras
Collection Andrew Nash
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1876 |
First Canadian Edition (Serial) In French:
Aventures du Capitaine Hatteras
In: L'Opinion Publique Journal Illustré
1876
G.E. Desbarats & Co.
Montréal, Canada
Each journal is 12 pages, and is published weekly.
Hatteras runs from Jul 6, 1876 to Dec 28, 1876
Ed: I own a bound copy of 1876 which includes 20k and Hatteras
Collection Andrew Nash
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1876
|
** First Canadian Edition **
Fur Country; or, Seventy Degrees North Latitude
1876
H. B. Bigney & Company
Montreal, Canada
translator: N. D'Anvers
with 100 illustrations
Pictorial brown cloth
The chapter heading and first 2 sentences of the book are:
"THE FUR COUNTRY
CHAPTER I.
A SOIRÉE AT FORT RELIANCE.
ON the evening of the 17th March 1859, Captain Craventy gave a fête at Fort Reliance. Our readers must not at once imagine a grand entertainment, such as a court ball, or a musical soirée with a fine orchestra."
Note: images to left. Top image is a scan of my book, which is an 1876 Bigney. The lower image I have identified in my folders as 1876 Bigney, but I am currently unsure, since it differs from the copy I have in my hands. So I may have mislabeled it.
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1879
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The Adventures of Three Englishmen and Three Russians in South Africa
1879 (Third Edition, with numerouos illustrations)
Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington Crown Buildings, 188, Fleet Street,
London
50 illustrations
translated by: Ellen E Frewer
This volume does not immediately seem special. It is a later Sampson printing. and it is NOT in its original binding.
BUT
It is the rebinding that makes it special to me and my collection.
When you look at the leather spine, you will see that it is from the
Library of Parliament, Canada
The top of the spine has an image of a Beaver, with a log and a maple leaf,
and the lower part of the spine had Library of parliament in an oval with Canada in the center.
The front and back boards are marvelously marbled AND the edges of the book, though not gilt, are also beautifully marbled (top, side and bottom) to match the cover and the end papers!
There are NO markings inside to indicate is was from the Library of Parliament!
I add this book proudly to my Canadian Jules Verne Collection.
Endpapers
|
French-Play
nd (circa 1880)
|
French Play
Michel Strogoff
Piece a Grand Spectacle
en Cinq Actes et Huit Tableaux
nd(circa 1880 - 1881)
Montréal
par: MM. A. D'Ennery et Jules Verne
Arrangée spécialement pour les Cercles
de jeunes gens
par
J. G. W. McGowan, Avocat
en vente chez tous les librairies
in wraps
|
nd (1882)
|
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
nd (1882)
John W. Lovell, Publisher
Nos. 14 and 16 Astor Place
New York
Cover title is:
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
while the title page title reads:
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas;
or,
The Marvellous and Exciting Adven
tures of Pierre Aronnax, Conseil
his Servant, and Ned Land,
A Canadian Harpooner.
The chapter heading and first 2 sentences of the book is:
"CHAPTER I.
A Shifting Reef.
The year 1866 was signalled by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and inexplicable phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgetten. Not to mention rumors which agitate the maritime population, and excited the public mind, even in the interior of contintents, seafaring men were particularly excited."
This book is inscribed:
Jimmie E Farrell
From
Lizzie and Mamr(?)
Christmas 1882
You may ask why I consider this a Canadian edition.
Well, the base of the spine says Belford , Clarke & Co. which began as a Canadian publishing company.
I am not 100% sure this IS a Canadian book, but according to some sources on the web, both Lovell and Belford Clarke had a reputation for publishing pirated works, and Belford Clark was even sued for it. Maybe Belford Clarke wanted this title in Canada and used the printed insides by Lovell and put their own cover on it.
The history of Belford Clarke(external link) seems to indicate that the partnership between Alexander Belford and James Clarke began in 1875 and at some point they moved from Toronto to Chicago. The company was disbanded in 1893.
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1888
First English Edition: |
Flight to France
1888
National Publishing Company of Toronto
Toronto, Canada
Choice Copyright Fiction series, No. 34
published by Oct 1888
|
1890
|
Family Without a Name
1890
The Musson Book Company Ltd
Toronto, Canada
Same as the Sampson Low Edition
|
1893, May |
Mistress Branican
xx (May 1893)
Copp, Clark Co.
Toronto
"Profusely illustrated"
Hardcover
|
1893, May |
Mistress Branican
xx (May 1893)
Rose Publishing Co. Ltd.
Toronto
translated by A. Estoclet
"paper edition, with a very neat cover
... accompanied by many illustrations by L. Bennett."
50 cents
Octavo Demy, 470 pages
|
1902 (copyright)
|
Verne's Vingt Mille Lieues sous les Mers par Jules Verne
copyright 1902
The Copp Clark Co. Limited
Toronto
Heath's Modern Language Series
Abridged and Edited with Notes and Vocabulary
by C. Fontaine, B.L., L.D.
CopyRight, 1902, by D. C. Heath & Co., Printed in U.S.A.
Seen in Maroon and Blue covers
This a school textbook. 1 of my copies has the names of at least 3 students who used it in Grade 13.
There is a 2 page English introduction, dated New York, April 1902 by C. Fontaine
11 pages of Notes, and 49 pages of vocabulaty (French-English dictionary)
|
nd(circa 1910)
|
The Fur Country
or Seventy degrees North Latitude
nd (circa 1910)
Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd
London
The Musson Book COmpany, Ltd
Toronto
translator: N. D'Anvers
334 pages
16 illustrations, 8 b+w, 8 colour
This book is the Musson variety, because of the name Musson at the bottom of the spine.
This book is identified as the Twentieth Edition
(I believe all copies say that, based on the 2 copies I have seen)
Image courtesy of B Kutzera
|
nd
|
Around the World in 80 Days
nd
James Texts Educational and Art Publishers,
Belleville, ON, Canada |
nd (192?)
|
Nezvichajni prigodi Matija Sandorfa (Mathias Sandorf)
192?
Ukrainian voice of the Ukrainian association
of publishers
Winnipeg, Man., Canada
(Note: The publication in Canada is due to the large Ukrainian population in Winnipeg.)
|
1926 (copyright)
|
Le Tour du Monde en Quatre-Vingts Jours par Jules Verne
copyright 1926
The Copp Clark Publishing Co. Ltd.
Vancouver Toronto Montreal
Copp Clark Modern Language Series
with Introduction, Notes, Direct-Method Exercises, and Vocabulary
by Alexander Green , Ph.D.
"L'art tout entier, c'est d'instruire et de plaire"
D.C. Heath and Company, Boston
Copyright,1926 by D. C. Heath and Company, Printed in Canada
The boards of the cover are heavy cardboard, with no cloth covering!
This is a school textbook.
There is a 3 page English preface by A.G., New York City, September, 1925
an 8 page English Introduction, Notes, Exercises d'Application, Maximes, et Vocabulaire.
There is also 1 map, 1 image of Jules Verne, and 22 illustrations in the text
NOTE: there is an edition with identical content published by D.C. Heath and Company, Boston with no Canadian mention. in Heath's Modern Language Series and a true hard cover binding.
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1933
|
Macmillan Matriculation French Series
Voyage au Centre de la Terre par Jules Verne
1933
The Macmillan Company of Canada Limited
at St. Martin's House
Toronto
Adapted and Edited by Eugene Pellissier
Formerly Assistant Master at Clipton College
and Lecturer at University College, Bristol
Prescribed for use in the Province of Ontario
Copyright, Canada, 1933 Printed in Canada
This is a school textbook.
It has a 2 page English Prefatory Note, a 4 page English Introduction
and includes Notes, Alphabetical List of Irregular Verbs occuring in the text
Vocabulary, Words and Phrases, Questionnaire, Sentences on Syntax and Idoms, Passages for Translation into French and Sujets de Rédaction.
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French
1928
|
20,000 Lieux Sous Les Mers (I et IIeme Partie)
1928
Montréal
Bon. H. Galland (illustrator).
|
French
Librairie Hachette
1939
|
Le Tour du Monde en 80 Jours
1939
Librairie Granger Frères Ltée
Montréal
Nouvelle collection illustrée des oeuvres de Jules Verne
Bon. H. Galland (illustrator).
Librairie Hachette, Paris
During the 1920's to 1940s (?) Librairie Hachette published their series of Jules Verne books in Québec. Printed and distributed in Canada by Librairie Granger Frères Ltée
12.5x19 cm, with dustjacket
|
French
Librairie Hachette
19xx
|
De la Terre a la Lune
19xx
Librairie Granger Frères Ltée
Montréal
Nouvelle collection illustrée des oeuvres de Jules Verne
Bon. H. Galland (illustrator).
Librairie Hachette, Paris
During the 1930's and 1940s (?) Librairie Hachette published their series of Jules Verne books in Québec. Printed and distributed in Canada by Librairie Granger Frères Ltée
12.5x19 cm, with dustjacket
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1952
|
The Blockade Runners
1952 (prior to Aug 15)
A Studio Publication
Toronto, Canada
"Junior Adventure Library"
Paperback
Printed on the reverse of the title page is this text:
"Junior Adventure Library books are manufactured in
Canada by Studio Publications, Bloorhill Building,
Kingsway, Toronto, Ontario. Books are printed in
easy to read type on a special grade of book paper.
Titles and stories are recommended to the publishers
by parents and others interested in providing children
with suitable reading.
First Printing 1952"
The reason I have indicated "before Aug", is because on the cover, is stamped:
Aug 15 '52 BR
This date could be when the book was received at a store, or a library (though there is no evidence that this was a library book)
Notes:
- not listed in Jules Verne Encyclopedia by Taves and Michaluk
- 25 cent price printed on cover
- 4 illustrations plus cover art but no credit given
- very poor printing (some pages too much ink, other pages too little)
- includes a short story by Kenneth Payson Kempton, The Deep Disguise
- 93 pages in total (75 pages for The Blockade Runners)
- The spine of the book reads: J1 The Blockade Runners - Jules Verne MDS
The chapter heading and first 2 sentences of the book is:
"Blockade Runners
CHAPTER ONE
The "Dolphins"
The Clyde was the first river whose waters were lashed into foam by a steam-boat. It was in 1812 when the steamer called the Comet ran between Glascow and Greenock, at the speed of six miles and hour."
On the Rear Cover is the following text:
A Mesage to Parents about the New
JUNIOR
ADVENTURE
LIBRARY
We have not entered an era of enlightenment during
which we and our children will benefit. Those things which, to-
gether, make the child of today the fine and successful man or
woman of tomorrow should be encouraged. Good reading habits
are one of the most important of these.
All Mediums of communication can influence a child's
maturing mind;- radio, television, the theatre, your own voice -
but one of the most powerful factors in the proper development of
our young is the printed word.
Today we can entertain our child and at the same time
increase his knowledge, shape his character, IF he is inspired to
take and interest in suitable literature. At newsstands everywhere
you or your children may purchase ADVENTURE LIBRARY books
with the assurance that they will be the finest in reading entertain-
ment. You will find fiction and fantasy, realism and riot, history
and humour, but - and this above all - knowledge that will help
your children mature into the finer men and women in the years
to come.
JUNIOR ADVENTURE LIBRARY editions are printed
on specially processed paper in large, legible type which will not
strain the vision of even the most voracious reader.
If you like this book which you are about to buy for you
boy or girl, then look around for other printed members of the
JUNIOR ADVENTURE LIBRARY. All editions are priced at 25c
and we think your children will want to have them al !
A STUDIO PUBLICATION
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French
1970
|
Famille-san-nom
Roman sur les Rébellions
au Québec en 1837-38
1970
La Maison Réédition Québec Inc.
Montréal, Québec
ISBN: 0-88515-000-7
Illustrated with the original engravings (82)
Collection: Visage de l'Homme
Nouvelle préface de Jean Chesneaux,
12 pages entitled: Jules Verne et le Canada Français
Paris, mai 1970
|
French
1978 (Mar)
|
Famille-sans-nom
1837...les patriotes...le Québec
1978
Québec dix sur dix
Québec
Dessins de G. Tiret-Bognet
"Collections Québec dix sur dix" publiée sous la direction de Jeanine Féral
Achevé s'imprimer en Mars 1978 sur les presses de Payette & Simms Inc. a Saint-Lambert, P.Q.
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1982
|
Family Without a Name
A Romance of the Rebellion of 1837 in Quebec
1982
NC Press Limited
Toronto
ISBN: 0-919601-86-3
Translated by Edward Baxter, Stratford, Ontario, Canada
This was a brand new translation of an important book about the history of Canada.
It is hardcover (red-maroon) with a dustjacket
My copy is autographed by the translator.
On reverse of Title page:
New Canada Publications, a division of NC Press Limited, Box 4010, Station A, Toronto, Ontario, M5W 1H8
The chapter heading and first 2 sentences of the book is:
"Historical Prelude
A Few Facts, A Few Dates
What a sorry sight the human race is," remarked the philosophers at the end of the eighteenth century, "cutting each other's throats for the sake of a few ice-covered acres of land." It was not their wisest observation, for they were referring to Canada, over which the British and French were then at war."
I am sorry to say that when I first saw this book, it was in a remainder bin at a one of our Canadian Book chainstores.
It is an excellent translation and does not deserve to be remaindered!!!
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Below
Les éditions internationales Alain Stanké
Stanké, Montréal, Québec
|
From the 1980s to present, Alain Stanké has published numerous Jules Verne books.
Many of these were the same books that were being published in France by Cherche Midi for the Société Jules Verne
En Magellanie, Stanké, 2005
Le phare du bout du monde, Stanké, 2005
La chasse au météore, Stanké, 2005
Le Beau Danube jaune, Stanké, 2005
Le secret de Wilhelm Storitz, Stanké, 2005
A TRAVERS LE MONDE SOLAIRE, Stanké, 2003
FAMILLE-SANS-NOM, Stanké, 1999
PHARE DU BOUT DU MONDE, Stanké, 1999
CHASSE AU METEORE, Stanké, 1998
BEAU DANUBE JAUNE VERSION D'OR, Stanké, 1997
EN MAGELLANIE, Stanké, 1996
SECRET DE WILHELM STORITZ, Stanké, 1996
VOLCAN D'OR VERSION ORIGINALE, Stanké, 1995
FAMILLE-SANS-NOM DD0007, Stanké, 1988
PAYS DES FOURRURES DD0069, Stanké, 1985
and
Voyage à travers Jules Verne - Une incursion dans le monde fascinant du père de la science-fiction 2005, par l'auteur Olivier Dumas
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French
1995
|
Le Volcan d'or (Version originale)
1995
Les éditions internationales Alain Stanké
Stanké
Montréal, Québec
ISBN: 2-7604-0499-4
Préface et notes d'Olivier Dumas,
président de la Société Jules Verne
|
French
1996
|
Le secret de Wilhelm Storitz (Version d'origine)
1996
Les éditions internationales Alain Stanké
Stanké
Montréal, Québec
ISBN: 2-7604-0520-6
Préface et notes d'Olivier Dumas,
président de la Société Jules Verne
|
French
1996
|
En Magellanie (Version d'origine)
1996
Les éditions internationales Alain Stanké
Stanké
Montréal, Québec
ISBN: 2-7604-0550-8
Préface et notes d'Olivier Dumas,
président de la Société Jules Verne
|
French
1997
|
Le Beau Danube jaune (Version d'origine)
1997
Les éditions internationales Alain Stanké
Stanké
Montréal, Québec
ISBN: 2-7604-0574-5
Préface et notes d'Olivier Dumas,
président de la Société Jules Verne
|
French
1998
|
La Chasse au météore (Version d'origine)
1998
Les éditions internationales Alain Stanké
Stanké
Montréal, Québec
ISBN 2-7604-0614-8
Préface et notes d'Olivier Dumas,
président de la Société Jules Verne
|
|
Le Beau Danube jaune
Version d'origine
1ere Trimestre 2005
Les Éditions internationales Alain Stanké
(Quebcor Media)
Outremont, Québec
ISBN: 2-7604-0992-9
Préface et notes d'Olivier Dumas |
|
La Chasse au méteore
Version d'origine
1ere Trimestre 2005
Les Éditions internationales Alain Stanké
(Quebcor Media)
Outremont, Québec
ISBN: 2-7604-0993-7
Préface et notes d'Olivier Dumas |
|
En Magellanie
Version d'origine
1ere Trimestre 2005
Les Éditions internationales Alain Stanké
(Quebcor Media)
Outremont, Québec
ISBN: 2-7604-0991-0
Préface et notes d'Olivier Dumas |
|
Le Phare du bout du Monde
Version d'origine
1ere Trimestre 2005
Les Éditions internationales Alain Stanké
(Quebcor Media)
Outremont, Québec
ISBN: 2-7604-0994-5
Préface et notes d'Olivier Dumas |
|
Le Secret de Wilhelm Storitz
Version d'origine
1ere Trimestre 2005
Les Éditions internationales Alain Stanké
(Quebcor Media)
Outremont, Québec
ISBN: 2-7604-0990-2
Préface et notes d'Olivier Dumas |
|
Voyage à travers Jules Verne
Biographie
Une incursion dans le monde fascinant du père de la science-fiction
par Olivier Dumas
1ere Trimestre 2005
Les Éditions internationales Alain Stanké
(Quebcor Media)
Outremont, Québec
ISBN: 2-7604-0989-9 |
Verne Studies:
|
French
1979
|
Jules Verne et le Québec
(1837-1889)
Famille-sans-nom
April 1979
Éditions Naaman
Sherbrooke, Québec
ISBN: 2-89040-014-X
Author: Bruno-André Lahalle
Informatino: Redécouverte de Jules Verne et initiation a un aspect inconnu des relations littéraires entre la France et le Quebec.
|
|
|
Canada and Jules Verne
By Andrew Nash and Jean-Louis Trudel
Presented at:
Mondial Jules Verne, Amiens
15H, 22 mars, 2005 by Andrew Nash
Hello,
My name is Andrew Nash, and I am from Toronto Canada. I have been a fan of Jules Verne
since 1968 when I read Franz Born’s Biography of an Imagination. I have been a member of the
Société Jules Verne since 1978.
Before writing this, and coming to Amiens, I consulted with fellow Canadians Phillipe Bedard
and Jean-Louis Trudel and some of their thoughts are included in this presentation.
After travelling to North America on the Great Eastern, Jules Verne visited Canada for less than
1 day when he took a tour of Niagara Falls in April 1867. Despite this fact, Canada became the
backdrop for numerous of the Voyages Extraordinaires.
The novels with a Canadian presence include:
- Fur Country (Le Pays des fourrures)
- Family without a name (Famille-sans-nom)
- Golden Volcano (Volcan d’or) {Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver …etc}
- Robur the Conqueror (Robur-le-Conquérant) {Niagara Falls, Montreal, Quebec,
Ottawa}
- Master of the World (Maître du monde ){Niagara Falls}
- Captain Hatteras (Voyages et aventures du capitaine Hatteras) {Canadian Arctic waters, Baffin Island etc}
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Vingt Milles Lieues sous les mers ) with the presence
of Ned Land, the great Canadian harpooner
The Canada as presented by Jules Verne is NOT the Canada that we know today. In 1867, when
Jules visited, Canada was just coming into being and was made up of 4 provinces (Quebec,
Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick). In 1900 it had 7 provinces and 2 territories (Ontario,
Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island,
Yukon and Northwest Territories). Today, 2005, Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories.
The Canada as presented by Jules Verne, is mostly an extension of other broad categories that
appear in his fiction.
Canada the Frontier In the Le Pays des fourrures and in Volcan d’or, Canada is a frontier like the US frontier (but colder). Canada has wilderness, it has Indians, it has exotic wildlife and it has highly
skilled hunters including Ned Land who uses a harpoon instead of a gun.
Canada the Arctic In Le Pays des fourrures and Voyages et aventures du capitaine Hatteras, Canada is the Arctic sublime and majestic.
Most of the Arctic is now claimed by Canada, but it wasn’t quite the case in Verne’s time. It was seen as a nearly barren wilderness.
Canada as America In Volcan d’or, Robur-le-Conquérant, and Maître du monde, Canada
appears as an extension of the United States, as Verne saw that country, as both crassly
commercial and immensely energetic, where fortunes are made, cities are built on the go
Canada as Oppressed Nationality Canada in Famille-sans-nom is a
case of the dominant majority oppressing a minority as also seen in P'Tit Bonhomme, Mathias Sandorf etc. But let me add that this was a true conflict that, of course, could only be set in Canada. Events are based on true historical events, including the Caroline going over the falls.
Canada as France Canada is seen as French in Famille-sans-nom with Jean-sans-nom, Volcan d’or with Summy Skim and Ben Raddle from Montreal and even Vingt Milles Lieues sous les mers with Ned Land a Frenchman from Quebec.
To Verne, do all Canadians speak French? (I wish that were so). For Quebec, this was not entirely false, but the British heritage of other parts of Canada is almost forgotten.
English Canada’s attitude towards Jules Verne as the Voyages Extraordinaires were issued, is
probably the same as in the United States and Great Britain (and the rest of the British Empire),
very enthusiastically received. Canadians were not only reading British (Sampson Low) and US
(Scribners) editions, but in some cases unique Canadian editions:
- Fur Country, 1876, H B Bigney and Co. Montreal, Canada
- Wreck of the Chancellor, 1875, Belford Brothers, Toronto, Canada
- and the first English edition anywhere of Flight to France, 1888, National Publishing Company of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- and even Ukrainian editions published in Winnipeg, Canada where there is a large Ukrainian population
It is harder to define the attitude in French Canada. Verne was well known, but more-so for his
plays and travelogue-like novels like Around the World (Tour du Monde)
But what is clear is that Verne was well known in Canada and among the most read authors of
the day. The register of the Institut Canadien library in 1875-76 shows that only the books of
Dumas (father and son) are more popular than those of Verne, and Verne was only partway
through his Voyages Extraordinaires at that point!
I think now, like in many other countries, Verne is considered a children’s author. In the
bookstores, only the more common of Verne’s titles are seen, oftentimes the poorer translations
are the best represented. Canadian translator, Edward Baxter has tried to right this wrong by
publishing new translations of The Fur Country (1999), Invasion of the Sea (2001), and Journey
Through the Impossible (2003). Other unique Canadian editions continue to be produced and
these ones will help show Jules Verne in a new light.
Éditions internationales Alain Stanké, a publisher from Quebec, publishes the Original versions of Verne’s later works in gorgeous paperback editions, some of them reissued this year (2005):
- Beau danube jaune
- Chasse au meteore
- En magellanie
- Phare du bout du monde
- Secret de Wilhelm Storitz
As in other countries, there are numerous collectors of Jules Verne in Canada. I am constantly
reminded of this when I visit a book fair, only to be told, that a rare first edition has already been
sold to a previous visitor. The collectors and fans are not represented with our own Canadian
society, but instead we are members of the North American Jules Verne Society, of which I am
one of the founding members, and for many years was the editor of the NAJVS newsletter
Extraordinary Voyages.
There are a few Jules Verne websites created in Canada, including my own www.julesverne.ca.
Through my website and my collection I strive to pass on information about English editions of
Jules Verne’s works. In the early 1980’s, I brought to the attention of Piero Gondollo della Riva,
the existence of the short article The Future of the Submarine, attributed to Jules Verne,
published in Popular Mechanics, June 1904. Piero was able to include reference to this in
Bibliographie Analytique de Toutes les Oeuvres: II, published in 1985.
More recently I have discovered that the First English publication of the short story Fritt Flacc is
NOT the 1892 version published by the Strand Magazine, London, but instead is a version
published in an English edition of le Figaro Illustré, supplement, Paris, December 1884.
I’d like to conclude with a poem I found in the Evening Telegram, St John's, Newfoundland,
Monday March 27, 1905 (at the time, not yet a province of Canada)
Jules Verne
Magician of our boyhood's days who've led
Us where mysterious isles with treasure teems;
Who in the depths of ocean's sunless bed
Has found a charm to fetter youthful dreams.
With you we've trod the banks of sacred streams,
In ancient temples bowed the reverent head.
Alas! to-day we learn that you are dead--
Youth loved hero -- whom the world esteems.
Science advanced thro' light thy fancy's flame
Across the genius of Invention threw
The youth of many peoples know thy fame,
And while the fancy of the boy is true
To wanderings far, adventures weird and stern,
He'll seek with joy the tales of Jules Verne.
--D.C.
March 25th, 1905
Thank You,
Andrew Nash
copyright Andrew Nash, 2005, 2010
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