Journey to the Center of the Earth

Journey to the Center of the Earth, also translated as A Journey into the Interior of the Earth, is one of the most famous novels by the French writer Jules Verne. The book was first published in 1864 by publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel. It is a science fiction novel, and Verne is considered a major influencer of that literary genre. He wrote visionary and highly detailed adventure novels.

Recommended for: Readers who enjoy classic adventure stories, science fiction fans looking for imaginative journeys into the unknown, and those fascinated by scientific exploration and the wonders of the natural world. This timeless tale of discovery will captivate readers of all ages, from young adults to seasoned fans of Jules Verne’s visionary works.

You will:

Embark on a thrilling descent into the earth’s mysterious interior, experiencing the awe and wonder alongside the intrepid explorers.
Discover the boundless potential of science and human ingenuity to unlock the secrets of the natural world.
Explore themes of courage, perseverance, and the pursuit of knowledge in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Encounter a vivid and richly detailed depiction of the strange and fantastic environments that lie beneath the earth’s surface.
Marvel at the imaginative extrapolations of scientific principles and the plausible integration of real-world geological concepts.
Appreciate the enduring appeal of Jules Verne’s masterful storytelling and his ability to spark the imagination of readers.
Contemplate the transformative power of adventure, discovery, and the human drive to expand the boundaries of the known.
Witness the timeless conflict between cautious skepticism and unwavering scientific curiosity.
Engage with the philosophical questions that arise about the nature of existence, the limits of human knowledge, and our place in the grand scheme of the universe.

Plot

Professor Lidenbrock Makes a Great Discovery

The story begins on May 24, 1863, when Professor Lidenbrock acquires an ancient manuscript written in runic characters. The manuscript was authored by the Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson, a historian and jurist. Runes were the ancient alphabetic characters used by Germanic peoples.

Runic alphabets are a group of alphabets sharing the use of letters called runes. These alphabets were used to write Germanic languages in Scandinavia and the British Isles.

Furthermore, Professor Lidenbrock discovers an encrypted message within the manuscript. It is from a fictional 16th century alchemist named Arne Saknussemm, an allusion to Árni Magnússon. The professor forces his assistant Axel to decipher the encrypted message, which contains a major scientific discovery.

An Astounding Discovery

Axel deciphers the document by chance, even though he remains silent first. Thus, when hunger has overcome him, he tells the professor about his discovery. Arne Saknussemm writes how to travel to the very center of the earth in the crater of the Icelandic volcano. Therefore, Professor Lidenbrock decides to travel to the center of the earth with Axel as a companion.

We Start on The Journey

The impatient Professor Lidenbrock and the anxious Axel leave Hamburg. After they stay in Copenhagen, they travel to Iceland. In Reykjavík, they engage the hunter Hans Bjelke as a guide leader. Then, the three explorers climb the volcano which has three craters. In fact, one of them has the entrance to the center of the earth.

A Voyage of Discovery

After a lightning storm, they arrive at the shore of an underground sea. During their exploration in the unknown coast, they found extinct species of animals and plants.

The Journey Ended

Moreover, a revolving movement takes hold of the raft. They swing on the waves of lava in the middle of a shower of ashes and got shoot through the orifice of the crater. Finally, when they open their eyes found themselves on the surface of the earth.

Main Characters

The main characters of the book Journey to the Center of the Earth are:

Otto Lidenbrock

He is 58 years old, lives in Hamburg and teaches mineralogy and geology at the Johanneum. People described Lidenbock as a man feared for his strong character.

Axel

He is the narrator of the story. He is Professor Lidenbrock’s nephew and apprentice. Axel likes to work with his uncle and learn about mineralogy and geology. Also, he seems throughout the novel as a pessimistic person about making the trip. In a certain degree, Axel is an anxious and cautious person.

Hans

Before the expedition he was a birds’ hunter called eiders in Iceland. Lidenbrock hires him as a guide leader for the trip to the center of the Earth. In the novel, he looks like a calm and wise man. Moreover, he saved their lives several times during the trip. After the trip, Hans returns to his homeland of Iceland.

Licensing

Jules Verne. Journey to the Center of the Earth. Publisher: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co (New York), 1877. Translated from the french by Frederick Amadeus Malleson. Originally published in 1864. This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author and translator died at least 100 years ago. Text from Wikisource: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journey_into_the_Interior_of_the_Earth
This digital edition is provided by Ebooks-net in 2024 under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license. The full text of the license is available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.