Around the World in Eighty Days

Jules Verne was born on February 8, 1828 in Nantes, France. He wrote for the theater and worked briefly as a stockbroker. He is considered by many to be the father of science fiction. His most popular novels included Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and Around the World in Eighty Days. Several of his works have been adapted into movies and TV mini-series. In 1892, he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in France. He died on March 24, 1905 at the age of 77. Robert R. Ingpen was born in Geelong, Australia on October 13, 1936. He began studying illustration and book design at The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He has written and/or illustrated more than 100 books including versions of The Wind in the Willows, The Jungle Book, A Christmas Carol, and Treasure Island. In 1986, he was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen medal for his contribution to children's literature.