From Earth to the Moon and Around the Moon

Written by Jules Verne

Narrated by Bill Homewood

Bored with inactivity following the end of the Civil War, members of the American Gun Club look for a project that will fulfil their passion for firearms. After much frustration, club President Barbicane proposes an exciting new endeavour – one that will cement their names in history: they will build the largest projectile ever known to man and shoot it at the moon. The bullet will be hollowed to fit the club’s president and two companions, along with their dog, and they will claim the moon as America’s 37th state.

From the Earth to the Moon describes the events leading up to the launch of the projectile, while Around the Moon follows its journey in outer space.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks
• Release date: Jul 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781781982518

Jules Verne

Jules Gabriel Verne was born in the seaport of Nantes, France, in 1828 and was destined to follow his father into the legal profession. In Paris to train for the bar, he took more readily to literary life, befriending Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo, and living by theatre managing and libretto-writing. His first science-based novel, Five Weeks in a Balloon, was issued by the influential publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel in 1862, and made him famous. Verne and Hetzel collaborated to write dozens more such adventures, including 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in 1869 and Around the World in 80 Days in 1872. In later life Verne entered local politics at Amiens, where had had a home. He also kept a house in Paris, in the street now named Boulevard Jules Verne, and a beloved yacht, the Saint Michel, named after his son. He died in 1905.