What was it about the mid to late 1800's? Was force was at work in the air? This strange air that had only just begun to feel the singing of man made electricity in its stirrings? What was it that produced prophets in an age that had begun to spurn spiritualism? These men and women hid their revelations in the tawdry pages of penny novels and between the pages of cheap magazines and even so received little recompense in their time.
One is know to many as such a prophet. Jules Verne predicted skyscrapers, submersible warfare, Neil Armstrong's footprints, and much more. There is another author, just as well know perhaps, but not so often recognized for his scientifically prophetic bent. He is know to many for his scathing indictment of hypocrisy and social injustice in his book "The Scarlet Letter".
By the time Jules Verne was born Nathaniel Hawthorn was already an odd young man; college educated and living a strangely solitary ten year period of his life. But despite this lag in age, and and ocean between them, both authors began their visionary writing careers in 1850. While Verne, born into the scientific revolution in the forward looking nation of France, focused on the physical and technological, Hawthorn, who grew to age surrounded by the mysteries of New England, focused on the personal and sociological. Vern predicted the tech, Hawthorn predicted what people would do with it.
How so? Here is an excerpt from Hawthorn's "The House of Seven Gables"
"An almost spiritual medium, like the electric telegraph, should be consecrated to high, deep, joyful, and holy missions. Lovers, day by day - hour by hour, if so often moved to do it - might send their heartthrobs form Maine to Florida, with some such words as these: 'I love you forever!' 'My heart runs over with love!' 'I love you more than I can!' and again at the next message. "I have lived an hour longer, and love you twice as much!' "
Does any of this sound familiar?
Or rather look familiar?
One is know to many as such a prophet. Jules Verne predicted skyscrapers, submersible warfare, Neil Armstrong's footprints, and much more. There is another author, just as well know perhaps, but not so often recognized for his scientifically prophetic bent. He is know to many for his scathing indictment of hypocrisy and social injustice in his book "The Scarlet Letter".
By the time Jules Verne was born Nathaniel Hawthorn was already an odd young man; college educated and living a strangely solitary ten year period of his life. But despite this lag in age, and and ocean between them, both authors began their visionary writing careers in 1850. While Verne, born into the scientific revolution in the forward looking nation of France, focused on the physical and technological, Hawthorn, who grew to age surrounded by the mysteries of New England, focused on the personal and sociological. Vern predicted the tech, Hawthorn predicted what people would do with it.
How so? Here is an excerpt from Hawthorn's "The House of Seven Gables"
"An almost spiritual medium, like the electric telegraph, should be consecrated to high, deep, joyful, and holy missions. Lovers, day by day - hour by hour, if so often moved to do it - might send their heartthrobs form Maine to Florida, with some such words as these: 'I love you forever!' 'My heart runs over with love!' 'I love you more than I can!' and again at the next message. "I have lived an hour longer, and love you twice as much!' "
Does any of this sound familiar?
Or rather look familiar?
Jules Verne predicted the Apollo mission.
Nathaniel Hawthorne predicted text messaging and exactly what it would be used for.
Nathaniel Hawthorne predicted text messaging and exactly what it would be used for.
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