Vairasse D'Alais, Denis
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author.
(circa 1635/1638-circa 1700) French soldier, linguist and author, the latter part of whose surname is sometimes given as Allais; in the UK for a number of years from around 1660 to 1772, when he returned to the Continent. He is of strong Proto SF interest for a complexly published Fantastic Voyage, its mode and contents showing the influence of Johann Valentin Andreae, though its narrative, shaped as a transaction of at least one exemplary Archipelago, may render it easier for modern readers to assimilate. Part one appeared initially in English, seemingly in his own version, as The History of the Sevarites or Sevarambi, a Nation Inhabiting a Part of the Third Continent, Commonly Called Terrae Australes Incognita [for fuller details on various iterations of the text see Checklist below] (1775). A much longer version of this title then appeared in French in five parts as Histoire de Sevarambes, Peuples qui haitent une Partie du troisieme Continent, ordinairement appellé Terre Australe (part 1 1677 and part 2 1677 2vols; part 3 1678; part 4 1679 and part 5 1679). Meanwhile in English a different part two, almost certainly not by Vairasse D'Alais, appeared under the same title as the original, The History of the Sevarites or Sevarambi (1679); these two parts were then released in one volume as The History of the Sevarites or Sevarambi (1700).
The first part of the tale carries Captain Siden [ie Denis], whose papers have been made posthumous use of to construct the narrative, on a journey in 1655 ostensibly to the East Indies; but after his ship is shipwrecked on the coast of Australia, he establishes a crypto-utopian colony, where he and his colleagues are given privileged access to the prostitutes involuntarily onboard (see Sex; Women in SF). Eventually he encounters the inland kingdom of Sporunde, a more fully-fledged Utopia whose central Cities are laid out in terms of the geometrical gigantism typical of early European utopias. Transportation is advanced (unicorns are used to draw vehicles); Eugenic principles are followed, with sex being strictly controlled.
In the French continuation of the tale, more is told about the relationship of Sporunde to the vast inner kingdom of Sevarambia, for which it serves as a satellite, almost as a Dystopia; those who are deemed unworthy of continued residence in this inner land, usually through sexual misdemeanours, are banished to Sporunde. Tall blond worthy Sevarambians proudly trace their lineage back to the Garden of Eden, when God, despairing of Adam and Eve, created a new species, from which they descend. Perhaps oddly, they worship the Sun; reason rules. All is calm.
The English-language continuation of the tale in Sevarambia is narratively more engaging. The experience of becoming a herbivore, through immersion in magical waters, is vividly conveyed. Monsters, it is learned, inhabit a secret Island at the heart of the kingdom. Sevarambians are Colour-Coded [see The Encyclopedia of Fantasy under links below]. The sexual behaviour of the natives, though ritually controlled, is arousingly displayed. Education is available for all, including women (see Feminism). Property, freely available when needed, is held in common. After a decade or so, Captain Siden "escapes", but dies before he reaches home.
Vairasse d'Alais's tale was extremely popular for a number of years, but disappeared from view. Its extremely early use of two bound-together societies within a single text – one utopian, the other dystopian – marks a concentration of the potential of the Fantastic Voyage that may not have registered fully. Given its obscurity it seems unlikely that twentieth century double tales like Sándor Szathmári's Kazohiinia (1941; final rev 1975) or Ursula K Le Guin's The Dispossessed (1974) were written in awareness of this example. A full English translation as The History of the Sevarambians (2006) [see below] may spark renewed interest. [JC]
Denis Vairasse D'Alais
born Aies [ie Alais], Languedoc, France: circa 1635/1638
died ?Aies [ie Alais], Languedoc, France: circa 1700
works (selected)
- The History of the Sevarites or Sevarambi, a Nation Inhabiting a Part of the Third Continent, Commonly Called Terrae Australes Incognita: With an Account of their Admirable Government, Religion, Customs and Language: Written by One Captain Siden, a Worthy Person, Who, Together with Many Others, Was Cast upon those Coasts, and Lived Many Years in that Country (London: Henry Brome, 1675) [comprising part one: binding unknown/]
- Histoire de Sevarambes, Peuples qui haitent une Partie du troisieme Continent, ordinairement appellé Terre Australe ... (Paris: Claude Barbin, 1677) [trans by the author (or French version of the above): binding unknown/]
- The History of the Sevarites or Sevarambi, a Nation Inhabiting a Part of the Third Continent, Commonly Called Terrae Australes Incognita: With an Account of their Admirable Government, Religion, Customs and Language: Written by One Captain Siden, a Worthy Person, Who, Together with Many Others, Was Cast upon those Coasts, and Lived Many Years in that Country: The Second Part More Wonderful and Delightful than the First (London: Henry Brome, 1679) [comprising part two: almost certainly not by Vairasse D'Alais: binding unknown/]
- The History of the Sevarites or Sevarambi, a Nation Inhabiting a Part of the Third Continent, Commonly Called Terrae Australes Incognita: With an Account of their Admirable Government, Religion, Customs and Language (London: W Whitwood, 1700) [omni of the above two: binding unknown/]
- Histoire de Sevarambes, peuples qui habitent une partie du troisiéme continent, communément appellé la terre Australe: contenant un compte exact du gouvernment, des moeurs, de la religion, & du langage de cette nation, jusques aujourd'huy inconnuë aux peuples de l'Europe: traduit de l'Anglois (Paris: Claude Barbin, 1677) [part two: text entirely different from the English part two cited above: binding unknown/]
- Histoire de Sevarambes, peuples qui habitent une partie du troisiéme continent, communément appellé la terre Australe: contenant un compte exact du gouvernment, des moeurs, de la religion, & du langage de cette nation, jusques aujourd'huy inconnuë aux peuples de l'Europe (Paris: Claude Barbin, 1677) [part three: text entirely different from the English part two cited above: binding unknown/]
- Histoire de Sevarambes, peuples qui habitent une partie du troisiéme continent, communément appellé la terre Australe: contenant un compte exact du gouvernment, des moeurs, de la religion, & du langage de cette nation, jusques aujourd'huy inconnuë aux peuples de l'Europe (Paris: Claude Barbin, 1678) [part four: text entirely different from the English part two cited above: binding unknown/]
- Histoire de Sevarambes, peuples qui habitent une partie du troisiéme continent, communément appellé la terre Australe: contenant un compte exact du gouvernment, des moeurs, de la religion, & du langage de cette nation, jusques aujourd'huy inconnuë aux peuples de l'Europe (Paris: Extienne Michalet, 1679) [part five: text entirely different from the English part two cited above: binding unknown/]
- The History of the Sevarambians: A People of the Sub-Continent: in Five Parts: Containing An Account of the Government, Laws, Religion, Manners, and Language of that Nation: Translated from the memoirs of Captain Siden, Who lived fifteen Years amongst them (London: John Noon, 1738) [trans anonymous of the five French parts above: binding unknown/]
- The History of the Sevarambians: A Utopian Novel (Ithaca, New York: State University of New York Press, 2006) [vt of the above trans: also contains the English part two of 1677: edited by John Christian Laursen and Cyrus Masroori: hb/]
- The History of the Sevarambians: A People of the Sub-Continent: in Five Parts: Containing An Account of the Government, Laws, Religion, Manners, and Language of that Nation: Translated from the memoirs of Captain Siden, Who lived fifteen Years amongst them (London: John Noon, 1738) [trans anonymous of the five French parts above: binding unknown/]
about the author
- Everett F Bleiler. Science-Fiction: The Early Years: A Full Description of More Than 3,000 Science-Fiction Stories ... (Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press, 1990) [nonfiction: p754 ff: hb/nonpictorial]
- Raymond John Howgego. Encyclopedia of Exploration: Invented and Apocryphal Narratives of Travel: A Comprehensive Guide to Invented, Imaginary, Apocryphal and Plagiarized Narratives of Travel by Land, Sea and Air, from the Earliest Times to the Twentieth Century (Potts Point, New South Wales: Hordern House Rare Books, 2013) [nonfiction: p465 ff: hb/from J M W Turner]
links
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