The Mysterious Island (Modern
Library Classics) by Jules Verne
Marvellous Translation
Based on the true story of Alexander Selkirk, who survived alone for
almost five years on an uninhabited island off the coast of Chile, The
Mysterious Island is considered by many to be Jules Verne’s masterpiece.
“Wide-eyed mid-nineteenth-century humanistic optimism in a breezy,
blissfully readable translation by Stump” (Kirkus Reviews), here is the
enthralling tale of five men and a dog who land in a balloon on a faraway,
fantastic island of bewildering goings-on and their struggle to survive as
they uncover the island’s secret.
Personal Review: The Mysterious Island (Modern Library
Classics) by Jules Verne
"Are we rising?" "No! Quite the reverse! We're sinking!" "Worse than that,
Mr. Cyrus! We're falling!" "For the love of God! Drop some ballast!" "That's
the last sack emptied!" "Is the balloon climbing now?" "No!" "I think I hear
waves crashing!" "We're over the ocean!" "We can't be more than five
hundred feet above it!" Just then a powerful voice rent the air, and the

following words rang out: "Everything heavy overboard! . . . everything!
And God save us!" Such were the cries echoing over the vast emptiness of
the Pacific Ocean on March 23rd, 1865, at about four o'clock in the
afternoon."
And thus the reader of Verne's "The Mysterious Island" is suddenly aloft
with five Union escapees from Civil war Richmond and one dog named
Top. These are men of fine spirit and good cheer and as the book pages
turned I was glad of their civil encouraging company as we became
castaways on an island. Their redeeming company is one of the pleasures
of perusing this novel. It's interesting and little commented on that Verne
uses Prince Dakkar as a symbol of divine providence in the lives of the
castaways. The men do their best and work hard to survive and thrive on
Lincoln island yet occasionally mysterious assistance is given and
accepted thankfully. Pencroff describes what he thinks their mystery
benefactor looks like "I can picture him now: handsome, tall, strong, with a
fine beard, hair like rays of sunlight, lying on a bed of clouds with a great
globe in his hand!" "Why Pencroff," answered Gideon Spilett, "you've just
drawn the portrait of God Himself!" A wounded and sick Harbert "poured
forth entreaties to that mysterious being, --that powerful unknown
protector,-- whose image was stamped upon his mind" and a little later like
an answer to a prayer the Quinine he needs appears. Prince Dakkar
speaks to the men at one point like some submergible demiurge who
surfaced into the world of men just to watch over and love his creatures.
"Captain Nemo had emerged from his prostration; his eyes had regained
their glow, and a sort of smile could be see on his lips. The colonists drew
near. "Gentleman," the Captain said, "you are courageous, good, and
upright men. You have devoted yourself unreservedly to the task that fate
has dealt you. How often I observed you in your labors. I grew to love you,
and I love you still!" From Port Balloon to Cape Claw from Granite house to
the Chimneys, Lincoln Island is a place that eventually charms. Once you
begin turning the pages of this book and receive the dubious distinction of
one marooned take heart for you will find fellowship and adventure with our
spirited cheerful castaways along with Joop and Prince Dakkar on The
Mysterious Island.
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