3 ms·
I did a book report on this in 9th grade in Germany. I was fascinated by how Jules Verne painted the French guy in exaggeratedly positive and the German guy in
by zwieback 5y ago
I did a book report on this in 9th grade in Germany. I was fascinated by how Jules Verne painted the French guy in exaggeratedly positive and the German guy in negative terms. Even for highly self-critical Germans the caricature in this book is a bit much, not one of his best.
- efaust 5y agoI disagree; it was remarkably prophetic regarding the character of the German leadership and public sentiment in Germany in the early 20th century, being written in 1879. The German protagonist founds a militaristic dictatorship, develops poison gas and super cannons, speaks of the superiority of the Saxon over the [racially] inferior, democratic French. It perfectly captures what became of Germany in the first half of the 20th century, down to the obsession with steel and super weapons (thinking of Hart wie Kruppstahl). The French character isn't as developed as the German from what I remember.