A Voyage to the Moon With Some Account of the Manners and Customs, Science and Philosophy, of the People of Morosofia, and Other Lunarians

"A Voyage to the Moon" by George Tucker is a satirical novel written in the early 19th century. The book follows the adventurous journey of Joseph Atterley, a character who, after an extraordinary sea voyage, meets a learned Brahmin in the Burman Empire. Together, they plan a voyage to the moon, promising to explore the unique inhabitants and customs of the lunar world. At the start of the narrative, Atterley recounts his upbringing and early experiences, including his marriage and subsequent loss of his wife. Driven by grief and the desire for a new adventure, he embarks on a ship bound for the East Indies, where he becomes embroiled in conflicts and ultimately imprisoned. His fate changes upon meeting the Brahmin, who shares with him revolutionary ideas about lunar travel. The opening chapters set the stage for both Atterley's character development and the fantastical elements of scientific inquiry and exploration that will unfold as they prepare for their voyage to the moon. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

George Tucker was an American attorney, politician, historian, author, and educator in Virginia. His literary works include The Valley of Shenandoah (1824), the first fiction of colonial life in Virginia, and Voyage to the Moon (1827), which is among the nation's earliest science fiction novels. He also published the first comprehensive biography of Thomas Jefferson in 1837, as well as his History of the United States (1856). Tucker's authorship, and his work as a teacher, served to redeem an earlier life of unprincipled habits which had brought him some disrepute.