
audiobook
A daring, 17th‑century imagination carries the listener beyond the clouds to a moon populated by a parade of eccentric states and empires. The narrator’s voyage begins with a whimsical landing, where he discovers societies that mirror – and mock – the politics, customs, and pretensions of his own world. Through lively dialogue and vivid description, the work blends satire with speculative geography, inviting reflection on human folly from an otherworldly perspective.
Beyond the initial arrival, the tale unfolds as a series of amusing encounters with lunar courts, scientific academies, and curious customs that both entertain and provoke thought. The author's sharp wit shines in the exaggerated laws and philosophies of each lunar realm, offering a playful critique of contemporary ideas. Listening to this restored edition, listeners experience a rare glimpse of early speculative fiction, complete with the daring passages once omitted from earlier prints.
Language
fr
Duration
~4 hours (263K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Claudine Corbasson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2016-03-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1619–1655
Best known today as the real-life inspiration behind one of French literature’s most famous heroes, he was also a daring 17th-century writer with a sharp wit and a taste for bold ideas. His plays and imaginative prose helped make him an early voice in both satire and speculative fiction.
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