Lezersrecensie
Arguably the most excting adventure ever written
Although (controversial) science is oozing from every page in this book this is possible the least visionary book out of the works of Jules Verne. Travelling under the crust of the eart while entering through a vulcano exit will never happen, although being fired by a gigantic canon towards the moon??? And using the metro/subway is in a way travelling under the skin of the earth of course.
But gobally Jules Verne gambled here on the wrong scientific theory by assuming that the earth could be hollow, finding reasons to deny the existence of the metal core at very high temperature.
On the other hand, he wrote stories, based on scientific facts (much more interesting than what is learned at school) and that is not different this time. A journey into the Interior of the Earth is aruguably the most fascinating of all his books, was filmed several times and grasped the imagination of several generations of younsters (and some people that are only in their own mind still called youngsters).
In accordance to the believes of the time of writing, this journey is a purely masculine event. The two woman that are important to the story is a housekeeper and a youn beloved damsel who will both stay behind when their men go adventuring.
A professor, controversial in his ways and thoughts but with enough means to finance an expedition with doubtful outcome and his nephew how completely depends on him, will embark on a dangerous journey. The professor is of the single-minded, bullying type, the nephew is more self-centered, emotional and prone to psychological doubts, basically a weakling.
It is the nephew who tells he story which brings some youth in the book and allows Verne to ventilate thoughts, errors, wrong ideas and a lot of dark, even suicidal impressions.
Together with Hans, their Icelandic guide who is a silent, strong and loyal man they empark on a dangerous journey.
In the book, the build-up and preparations to the voyage take up a much bigger part of the whole than in the movie. And that part shows the talent and thorough fact-checking of Jules Verne on countries, travel conditions, sights and people. It makes for great reading even before the actual descent into the vulcano.
Under the earth crust we find a epic story of a small group of adventurers who conquer many difficulties, not of the least all the doubts of the narrator, with some very unexpected events. And finally resulting in an almost incredible escape back into the normal outside world. And that without ever reaching the actual center of the Earth. So the reader is none the wiser of what Arne Saknussem may of may not have found there, or even whether he really reached it himself.
After more than 150 years this book has lost nothing of its attraction as one of the top bestsellers and beloved books through the times. In goodreads there are almost 5000 worldwide editions documented, i guess that says it all...
But gobally Jules Verne gambled here on the wrong scientific theory by assuming that the earth could be hollow, finding reasons to deny the existence of the metal core at very high temperature.
On the other hand, he wrote stories, based on scientific facts (much more interesting than what is learned at school) and that is not different this time. A journey into the Interior of the Earth is aruguably the most fascinating of all his books, was filmed several times and grasped the imagination of several generations of younsters (and some people that are only in their own mind still called youngsters).
In accordance to the believes of the time of writing, this journey is a purely masculine event. The two woman that are important to the story is a housekeeper and a youn beloved damsel who will both stay behind when their men go adventuring.
A professor, controversial in his ways and thoughts but with enough means to finance an expedition with doubtful outcome and his nephew how completely depends on him, will embark on a dangerous journey. The professor is of the single-minded, bullying type, the nephew is more self-centered, emotional and prone to psychological doubts, basically a weakling.
It is the nephew who tells he story which brings some youth in the book and allows Verne to ventilate thoughts, errors, wrong ideas and a lot of dark, even suicidal impressions.
Together with Hans, their Icelandic guide who is a silent, strong and loyal man they empark on a dangerous journey.
In the book, the build-up and preparations to the voyage take up a much bigger part of the whole than in the movie. And that part shows the talent and thorough fact-checking of Jules Verne on countries, travel conditions, sights and people. It makes for great reading even before the actual descent into the vulcano.
Under the earth crust we find a epic story of a small group of adventurers who conquer many difficulties, not of the least all the doubts of the narrator, with some very unexpected events. And finally resulting in an almost incredible escape back into the normal outside world. And that without ever reaching the actual center of the Earth. So the reader is none the wiser of what Arne Saknussem may of may not have found there, or even whether he really reached it himself.
After more than 150 years this book has lost nothing of its attraction as one of the top bestsellers and beloved books through the times. In goodreads there are almost 5000 worldwide editions documented, i guess that says it all...
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