The Mysterious Island

Paperback, 612 pages

English language

Published Oct. 15, 2008 by Forgotten Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-60680-073-7

(1 review)

This sequel to "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" doesn't advertise itself as such. Most of the book concerns the efforts of a group of hot-air balloon castaways in the south Pacific ocean attempting to use modern knowledge in order to survive in near-desert-island conditions. "Robinson Crusoe" (Defoe, 1719) started a trend of survival tales that lasts in some respects to this day and "Island" (1874) is Verne's contribution to that body of work. In my estimate, no film so far has done this book justice.

38 editions

Thom reviewed The mysterious island by Jules Verne (The Wesleyan early classics of science fiction series)

Review of 'The mysterious island' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I am very glad I dug up an unabridged translation for this masterwork of science fiction. I'm sure I read a 120 page cut-down version as a kid, and there is no comparison. Next step - find the unabridged 20,000 Leagues or Journey to the Center of the Earth. Jules Verne is a an artiste, as the French would say.

While reading it, my darling 8 year old asked about the dinosaurs, or other bits she's seen in the preview for the upcoming movie. Now to explain that the new movie has more in common with the loose adaptations of the 50's than a real translation.

This book was recommended by the 2012 Book Lover's Page-A-Day Calendar. Entry was for January 2, 2012.