Cyrano de Bergerac: Voyage dans la lune: et aus états du soleil

The cover of the book covered with cream colored cloth. At the top the title and authors name are framed with pink and green flower motive.

Cyrano de Bergerac: Voyage dans la lune : et aus états du soleil
Paris: Nilsson, 1950.

Savinien de Cyrano Bergerac (1619-1655) was a French playwright whose works combined political satire and science fiction. His most famous works, Histoire comique des états et empires de la lune (1656) and Histoire comique des états et empires du soleil (1662), were published posthumously. The books describe a journey to the moon and sun and their inhabitants. Cyrano is considered one of the earliest writers of science fiction.

The works are also satirical depictions of the religious and astronomical beliefs of the 17th century, which placed man and the Earth at the centre of the Universe. The works contributed to the popularity of new scientific theories, although this was not Cyrano’s main aim. His primary aim was to ridicule authorities such as the Church and to encourage free thinking.