Published in 1887 in Barcelona,
El anacronópete (a neologism for "who flies against time") is one of Gaspar y Rimbau's most important works. It is a
science fiction novel that predates
H. G. Wells in
the 'invention' of the
time travel using a machine.
The novel, in the format of a
zarzuela, is the first to feature a machine that travels through time: the 'anacronópete'. The anacronópete is an enormous
cast iron box, propelled by electricity, which drives four large pneumatical devices ending in tubes in order to travel, as well as powering other machinery, including something that produces the
García fluid, which causes the passengers not to grow younger as they travel backwards in time. The machine's interior also contains all kinds of conveniences including, among other marvels, brooms that sweep by themselves.
The machine provided the setting for a story in three acts, in which the following group of characters travel in time: don Sindulfo García, a scientist from
Zaragoza and the inventor of the device; his friend and assistant Benjamín; Clarita, don Sindulfo's niece and
ward; a maidservant; Captain Luis, Clarita's beloved; several Spanish
hussars; and a number of old French women of 'loose morals' that the mayor of Paris wants to rejuvenate so that they "regenerate" themselves.
In the first act, don Sindulfo explains his theory of
time: it is the atmosphere that causes time as demonstrated by the conservation of food in hermetic
cans. By flying fast against the
rotation of Earth, the machine can "undo" the passing of days (a device also found in the film
Superman). They leave Paris, from the
World's Fair of 1878, and travel to the
Battle of Tetuán in 1860. Luis's troop of hussars, that Clarita expected would protect her against Sindulfo, has become children and disappear since they were not protected by the "fluid of inalterability". The machine departs, returning to Paris the day before they left, whereupon several 'rejuvenated' French girls disembark.
In the second act, they again travel into the past, seeking the secret of
immortality, stopping at various moments in history, such as the
Granada in 1492, where they recommend
Queen Isabella to listen to
a Genovese and
Ravenna in 690 (in order to obtain provisions). They end up in
Ho-nan, China in 220, where Sindulfo expected that he could force Clarita to marry him. The emperor
Hien-ti shows the travellers that many inventions such as the
printing press and
iron ships were already known. Since his empress
Sun-Che has just died, he offers to exchange Clarita for the secret of immortality. The empress had actually been
buried alive by his husband and happens to be the original of a Chinese mummy Sindulfo had bought and brought into the machine. Thus, she becomes free and wants to marry Sindulfo. The characters have evolved, with Benjamín becoming obsessed with eternal life, don Sindulfo crazy with jealousy over Clarita, and Clarita in love with Captain Luis. Benjamín discovers that the disappearing hussars had reappeared again because their immortal spirits had not left the anacronópete and that Sindulfo's first wife was the same as the empress through
metempsychosis. While they leave,
Tsao Pi founds the
Ouei dynasty.
In the third act, after a stop in
Pompeii at the time of
Vesuvius' eruption in the year 79, they arrive in the 30th century BCE, the time of
Noah. There they discover the secret of eternal life is God. Finally, don Sindulfo in his madness speeds up the anacronopede, which explodes upon arriving at the Day of Creation.
Don Sindulfo wakes up. He has slept while watching a theatre play by
Jules Verne, with the just-married Luis and Clarita.
It was written during Gaspar's mission to China
[1] (1878-1885). The novel fits with the spirit of the age, in which the works of Jules Verne were very successful. It was undoubtedly influenced by his personal friend
[1] Camille Flammarion and his story
Lumen.
El Anacronópete, written in 1881, predates
Mouton's
L'historioscope, and therefore could not have been influenced by that work.
