Hetzel, Jules
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Publisher, Editor.
(1814-1886) French publisher and editor, best known outside of France for his significant (at times almost co-creative) relationship with Jules Verne, most of whose work first appeared in his magazine, the Magasin d'éducation et de récréation ["Magazine of Education and Entertainment"], and subsequently in book form in the Voyages Extraordinaires ["Extraordinary Voyages"] sequence, from Voyages et aventures du capitaine Hatteras (1864 Magasin d'éducation et de récréation; 1866; trans as The Adventures of Captain Hatteras 1874) until Verne's death. Hetzel created the concept of the Voyages Extraordinaires to showcase Verne as not only an author of individual fictions but of a kind of synoptic encyclopedia of the scientific knowledge and the dream of encompassing/conquering the entire planet through the effective use of science and technology. That this concept of the sequence required constant editorial censoring of Verne's original ideas has become increasingly clear in recent decades, with critical studies and publication of the original manuscripts; Hetzel's reputation has suffered in consequence. The sequence was frequently imitated.
Hetzel was active in his early years as an author in his own right, under the name P-J Stahl; none of this work contained any fantastic content. [JC]
Pierre-Jules Hetzel
born Chartres, France: 15 January 1814
died Monte-Carlo, Monaco: 17 March 1886
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