The article is not painting Verne as a rabid colonialist, but he certainly was a product of his time, and understanding this is necessary to properly look at hi

The article is not painting Verne as a rabid colonialist, but he certainly was a product of his time, and understanding this is necessary to properly look at his works. I too have read quite a lot of his books. Having non-European heroes be subordinate to European heroes was a common trope in colonial times. Look at Jean-Baptiste Marchand's expedition though Africa, and the statue he got as a result.