Paris in the Twentieth Century

Paris in the Twentieth Century, Jules Verne, Random House, 1996

This novel, written in the 1860s and undiscovered until recently, takes place in 1960s Paris. It tells the story of Michel, a dreamer and budding poet in a world where mechanization has taken over. After finishing school, at which he wasn't exactly a standout, Michel is told by his father that he will be working in the main office of a national bank. He is shifted from job to job within the bank, failing everywhere, until he meets a kindred soul who also cares about Music and Literature. Along the way, Michel is horrified to learn that the great 19th Century French writers, like Victor Hugo, have been forgotten in modern Paris; music has turned into cacophonous noise; poetry has been reduced to titles like Ode To Oxygen. Having been summarily thrown out of the bank, Michel is given a last chance at a state-run firm where theatre pieces, from operas to light comedies, are written under an assembly-line system.

As you might have guessed, this isn't the typical Verne adventure story, having been written early in his career. To those interested in future speculation and society-building, this novel is pretty good. To those interested in another Jules Verne adventure story, look elsewhere.