Journey to the Center of the Earth
By Jules Verne
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been reading Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. It was published in 1864, and the first English version of this incredible novel was published and released in 1871. This is a fantastic book that is full of adventure and imagination. You can tell that the author paid close attention to what he was writing and that he did research on it too.
In the beginning of the book, Professor Lidenbrock, who is one of the main characters, is introduced. He lives in Germany and buys an old book by an Icelandic author. Inside the book, he discovers some old coding and restlessly works to decipher it, refusing to eat or sleep. Finally, his nephew, Axel, accidentally solves or deciphers the code, which reveals an entrance to the center of the earth through a volcano in Iceland. At first, Axel debates whether he should tell his uncle or not. However, he eventually shows Lidenbrock what he found, and the professor is delighted! Even though Axel is nervous and scared to go, they pack up and prepare for the journey and leave.
They arrive in Iceland, and sail on a boat to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. There, they meet Hans, a strong, but calm tour guide. Hans agrees to take them across Iceland to the volcano, which is called Snæfellsjökull. The group climb the volcano and prepare to go in it. They examine three craters, one of which matches the old instructions in the book.
They travel on a steep, dark path as they first enter the volcano. The professor, Axel, and Hans go through tunnels, without any light. Axel begins to get even more nervous. The team travels even deeper underground, and they rest in an underground cavern for the night. Unfortunately, they realize that they have taken a wrong turn, and their supplies are running short. They find water again, which lifts their spirits, and they continue on their journey, this time, on the right path. The group travels on, and Axel grows more confident. However, this bravery doesn’t last long, because Axel gets lost in his own tube, and therefore, panics. Thankfully, Axel hears his uncle’s voice and is reunited with the group.
The group reaches an enormous open space, which seems both impossible and amazing at the same time. They find an underground ocean with glowing light, and it feels like another world! They explore the shore and even build a raft to cross the sea! They set sail, but strange sights start surrounding them. Unfortunately, they are caught in a storm, and are violently blown around in their raft. They even witness a battle between two sea monsters, which were the strange sights around them. Finally, the storm ends and they reach land.
Notice what a variety of settings there are in the book so far? As you can see, Lidenbrock went from being just a normal professor in Germany, to him, Hans, and his nephew Axel, miles under the crust of the earth, sailing on an UNDERGROUND OCEAN!!! They even see a fight between two live animals that are supposed to be extinct! I think it is cool how Verne includes at least five different settings in just the first half of the book. It even gets better as the book continues!
The group explores fossils and bones of extinct animals. They find huge mushrooms and ancient plant life! The team discovers signs of ancient humans and even a giant man!
They continue to travel through rock-filled tunnels, but their way ahead is blocked, so they try to find a new path. They decide to start blasting and digging to make their way forward. They have to face extreme heat, and they start to hear rumbling sounds. They realize that they are near an active volcano, so things are becoming even more dangerous…
They even discover markings from the original explorer, whose name was Arne Saknussem. They accidentally get trapped and use explosives to escape. These explosives blast them upward on a wild and crazy ride! They continue to be shot upward through lava and steam.
Finally, they shoot through a volcano. They land safely and realise that they are in Italy! The locals in Italy are obviously surprised by their story, and they head back home to Germany. Professor Lidenbrock is excited to share their findings.
They arrive in Germany and are warmly welcomed. However, scientists question their journey. Lidenbrock begins giving lectures and slowly earns respect. The scientists are proven wrong by the discoveries Lidenbrock and Axel brought back. In the last chapter of the book, Axel reflects on his amazing journey, and he feels much braver and stronger now.
This is an amazing book. It is so exciting and full of adventure and imagination. I love how Verne includes both imagination and science together, and creates a book that is so loved throughout the world. I definitely recommend this book to anyone, for school, or just for fun. It is perfect for both!