Journey to the Centre of the Earth
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Synopsis
The novel follows three people on their journey to the center of the earth: Axel Liedenbrock (the narrator), his eccentric uncle Otto Liedenbrock (a professor of geology), and their Icelandic guide Hans Bjelke. One day in May 1863, Otto discovers a cryptographic message in a copy of Snorre Sturluson's "Heimskringla", and after some trouble decipthering its message, makes it out to read:
Go down into the crater of Snaefells Jökull, which Scartaris's shadow caresses just before the calends of July, O daring traveler, and you'll make it to the center of the earth. I've done so. Arne Saknussemm
They proceed on their journey to the inside of the Earth. To say much more would be to spoil the story!
Review
I found it an exhilarating read, even if the story and the way of writing is a little dated. This is a timeless classic for a reason! Go pick it up if you want a fun, relatively short ride.
Table of contents
- GENERAL INTRODUCTION
- INTRODUCTION
- I The Professor and His Family
- II A Mystery to Be Solved at Any Price
- III The Runic Writing Exercises the Professor
- IV The Enemy to Be Starved into Submission
- V Famine, Then Victory, Followed by Dismay
- VI Exciting Discussions About an Unparalleled Exercise
- VII A Woman's Courage
- VIII Serious Preparations for Vertical Descent
- IX Iceland, But What Next?
- X Interesting Conversations with Icelandic Savants
- XI A Guide Found to the Centre of the Earth
- XII A Barren Land
- XIII Hospitality under the Arctic Circle
- XIV But Arctics Can Be Inhospitable, Too
- XV Snæffel at Last
- XVI Boldly down the Crater
- XVII Vertical Descent
- XVIII The Wonders of Terrestial Depths
- XIX Geological Studies in Situ
- XX The First Signs of Distress
- XXI Compassion Fuses the Professor's Heart
- XXII Total Failure of Water
- XXIII Water Discovered
- XXIV Well Said, Old Mole! Canst Thou Work in the Ground So Fast?
- XXV De Profundis
- XXVI The Worst Peril of All
- XXVII Lost in the Bowels of the Earth
- XXVIII The Rescue in the Whispering Gallery
- XXIX Thalatta! Thalatta!
- XXX A New Mare Internum
- XXXI Preparations for a Voyage of Discovery
- XXXII Wonders of the Deep
- XXXIII A Battle of Monsters
- XXXIV The Great Geyser
- XXXV An Electric Storm
- XXXVI Calm Philosophic Discussions
- XXXVII The Liedenbrock Museum of Geology
- XXXVIII The Professor in His Chair Again
- XXXIX Forest Scenery Illuminated by Electricity
- XL Preparations for Blasting a Passage to the Centre of the Earth
- XLI The Great Explosion and the Rush down below
- XLII Headlong Speed Upward through the Horrors of Darkness
- XLIII Shot out of a Volcano at Last!
- XLIV Sunny Lands in the Blue Mediterranean
- XLV All's Well That Ends Well