Jules Gabriel Verne was born in 1828, in Nantes, France. Jules' parents were of a seafaring tradition, one factor that influenced his writings. As a boy, Jules Verne ran off to be a cabin boy on a merchant ship, but he was caught and returned to his parents. In 1847 Jules was sent to study law in Paris. While there, however, his passion for theatre grew. Later in 1850, Jules Verne's first play was published. His father was outraged when he heard that Jules was not going to continue law, so he discontinued the money he was giving him to pay for his expenses in Paris. This forced Verne to make money by selling his stories. After spending many hours in Paris libraries studying geology, engineering, and astronomy, Jules Verne published his first novel "Five Weeks in a Balloon." Soon he started writing novels such as "Journey to the Center of the Earth," "From the Earth to the Moon," and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." For books filled with exotic places and great adventures, spend some time with Jules Verne.