A Voyage Extraordinaire with Jules Verne
A love affair that ended with the last page of his final novel, but will stay with me for a lifetime. He has carried me around the world, to the moon and back, to the depths of the ocean and the very center of the Earth. It has taken a year of my life to complete the reading, journey and teachings of the Entire Works (~86 novels, poetry and plays) of Jules Verne, one I would willingly give to him over again. The adventures I have experienced with him have been filled with mystery, science, tragedy, hope and joy, grief and sorrow, horror and undying determination. We have flown in hot air balloons and on a comet, traversed lands on foot and by train, and spent numerous months riding the seas on ships and to the depths of the oceans in the Nautilus. I have been everywhere with this man and have in his presence learned the most extraordinary things!
"The Earth is large and time is short.
... to outline all the geographical, geological, physical and astronomical knowledge amassed by modern science and to recount the history of the universe.
~ Jules Verne
In each novel, Verne gives a detailed geography of the journey - the flora and fauna of the region and it's geology. I printed off the maps for each novel from the time period to follow along as I read (link to maps below!) as he described all the river systems, mountain ranges, and passages through the north pole. I, therefore, learned my latitudes and longitudes in detail, marking on my map where we have been and knowing where he would take me next! He
included in my studies such things as a historical account of explorers that came before him, the history of hot air balloons, and the physics of the universe. Aside from adding to my scientific knowledge, I took great interest in learning all the workings and architecture of his ships, balloons, mysterious contraptions and of course the nautilus! As we were shipwrecked often and stranded under conditions most could not endure - he took care to teach me survival skills and we survived! He is truly a creator of "something from nothing".
"Moreover, we must look upon what is to occur as having already occurred, and see nothing but the present in the future, for the future is but the present a little farther on."
~ Jules Verne (Five weeks in a balloon)
Jules Verne, the 19th century French novelist, has been granted the title as "The Father of Science Fiction". The 'Voyages Extraordinaires' is a collection of scrupulously researched adventure novels. It is not my goal to be a literary critic of his body of work (this has been done to the extreme!), but to share my intrigue of a man with an amazing mind, my journey with him through his works, and inspire one to read more than his most popular novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
More than 150 years ago, in 1863, Verne published his first novel Five Weeks in a Balloon, and this is where our journey started - exploring Africa. Each novel I read in the order written, published and/or translated ending with Invasion of the Sea (1905). There may be space but not enough time to delve into each of his 86 novels so I have chosen my favorite journeys to share that I believe everyone should take also!
I was unaware that 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is actually part II of a trilogy that are beautifully linked together in the most amazing ways. Having read this one novel a very long time ago, I was looking forward to rereading it in context. This series has become my favorite collection from any author (yes, even more than Harry Potter). I highly recommend you read all 3 and in order! If I had to choose one book as my absolute favorite it would surprisingly be The Mysterious Island!
Part I: The Children of Captain Grant (1868)
A note written in 3 different languages, taken from a bottle found in the stomach of a shark is the only clue to find the Captain.On a yacht you will travel across oceans to South America, Australia and New Zealand in search of the Captain and the shipwreck Brittania.
Part II: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1870)
An underwater of journey with Captain Nemo in the Nautilus that you must take!
Part III: The Mysterious Island (1874)
An exceptional survival story after being stranded on an island! The genius, humanity, mystery, and humor makes this novel the perfect ending to a phenomenal trilogy!
The most tragic and depressing journey, one which I could not survive again, was the Wreck of the Chancellor (1875). Travelling from South Carolina to Liverpool on board the Chancellor was wrought with unbelievable tragedies! In the way Verne writes, you are drawn in to his world and so experiencing the pain and hardship, the failings of the morality of men, starvation and thirst, one almost reaches a point where death becomes welcome. However, the strong always survive and after finishing this novel I took a few days to rest my mind as it was emotionally draining. Was it a good book? Exceedingly! I couldn't put it down until I knew what would happen to us!
A novel most unlike any of the others, in fact, if I didn't know this was written by Jules Verne I wouldn't have guessed! The Tribulations of a Chinaman in China (1879) is one to add to the list of must reads! The search for 'true' happiness when one has never felt it. Having never experienced struggle, discomfort, love... Kin-Fo creates the ultimate challenge in finding happiness and internal peace. A true masterpiece of work!
Traveling with Jules Verne
Cartography: Maps of his travels
One has to read most if not all Verne's complete works to realize that science and technology is not the only common link to be found. In almost every novel we were under the direct orders of a Captain - each one different from the next! There also exists a recurring theme in the exploration of the father - son relationship in all its ups and downs, strengths and weaknesses, mutual respect, and the love that withstands all trials!
"The chance that now seems lost may present itself at the last moment."
~ Jules Verne
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