Journey to the Centre of the Earth

By Jules Verne

Originally published in 1864, this classic science fiction novel is simultaneously a perilous adventure into the earth’s core and a reflection on the perfectibility of human understanding and psychology of explorers.

The intrepid Professor Lidenbrock and his nervous nephew Axel decode a scrap of paper written in runic script and embark on the strangest expedition of the nineteenth century. Enlisting the silent Hans as their guide, they travel across Iceland to find the secret passage to the centre of the earth via an extinct volcano, finding in it an astonishing subterranean menagerie of natural hazards, prehistoric beasts and sea monsters, and curious sights.

Penguin Random House Canada is proud to bring you classic works of literature in e-book form, with the highest quality production values. Find more today and rediscover books you never knew you loved.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Aug 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9780735253995

Jules Verne

Jules Gabriel Verne was born in the seaport of Nantes, France, in 1828 and was destined to follow his father into the legal profession. In Paris to train for the bar, he took more readily to literary life, befriending Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo, and living by theatre managing and libretto-writing. His first science-based novel, Five Weeks in a Balloon, was issued by the influential publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel in 1862, and made him famous. Verne and Hetzel collaborated to write dozens more such adventures, including 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in 1869 and Around the World in 80 Days in 1872. In later life Verne entered local politics at Amiens, where had had a home. He also kept a house in Paris, in the street now named Boulevard Jules Verne, and a beloved yacht, the Saint Michel, named after his son. He died in 1905.

Reviews for Journey to the Centre of the Earth

[fillechaude · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I guess I've been spoiled by modern fast-paced writing. While I did enjoy this book, and it had some great parts, I found a lot of it to be time-killing "filler" type material. Was it really necessary to take 90 pages to actually descend into the earth? Not in my humble opinion.The afterword by Nimoy was interesting, though.

[fothpaul · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good book eventually. I found the first few chapters rather slow, but after the group had entered the Earth things got alot more exciting. The character of Axel was extremely well written, his constant mood swings kept me entertained. The trio who journeyed into the earth are extremely different form one another and the interplay between them is enjoyable. Worth sticking with as it is a good read.

[carebear36 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Through most of the novel, I was intrigued by Verne's descriptions and scientific explanations of the time period. Overall, it was an interesting story, but I was underwhelmed by the resolution and after finishing it, the whole thing seemed pretty anticlimactic. I think one has to go into reading a Verne novel with the expectations of fascinating and outdated science instead of focusing too much on the plot to really enjoy it.

[jerry.yoakum · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I know a lot of people who don't bother to read a book that has a movie version. You don't need to worry about this book. The movie is so different from the book that you won't know what will happen.

[robert.zimmermann · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't really do formal reviews of classics. I'll say that I greatly enjoyed this story. Following the characters down into the Earth wasn't just an adventure but a lesson in the science of the time (though not completely accurate by today's views of the world). I like a good adventure, some learning, and an all-round good story. I'm fast becoming a fan of Jules Verne's work.

[igjoe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a classic for a reason. A bit technical, but so exciting and enjoyable. If you have adventure in you, you will love this book. A well written escape from the everyday.

[judygibson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well. That was nothing like the movie.

[prop2gether · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! I seriously cannot believe that I avoided Verne for decades because I found Wells somewhat plodding. Of course, I've seen the movies made of both authors' works, but it was the most recent (2008) version which piqued my interest. By following the story by telling a narrative which encompassed it, I was having so much fun that I decided to read--and what a trip! It's on my favorites list now.

[rrainer-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read a much abridged version of this as a kid but never the whole thing, and I'm glad to have finally read it. It was kind of historically fascinating, and I found Axel a really interesting and unexpected narrator. I think I was expecting something different from the tone, so that was really compelling for me.

[soylentgreen23 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have to admit that Jules Verne is harder to read as an adult than as a bright-eyed, impressionable kid. There is so much wonder on these pages, and yet I felt like I needed to work far too hard to get at it - the adventure is hidden behind steampunk techno-babble in a way that modern writers would never be able to get away with. Still, I'm glad to have revisited this book, and I will continue to work through the Verne canon, disillusioned though I am.

[daisy_may-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a fun, quick read. I did find it a bit slow to start off with but I was later swept up in the excitement of the journey and the wondrous things that the three travellers encounter on their journey. It's a short book, and didn't take me long to read, but it was definitely worthwhile reading.

[nebula21-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A little is lost in translation and it's a bit dated. However this is still an entertaining story of a great adventure undertaken by two German geologists and their Icelandic guide. You just need to ignore certain scientific advances since it was written and make allowances for some attitudes of the time.

[garrison0550 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An absolute classic. Love it!

[karlstar_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A great classic!

[mccin68 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

1863 German professor Otto Lidenbrock uncovers ancient icelandic writings that suggest a passage to the center of the earth. professor takes his nephew and danish guide Hans on a trip to a world only one other person has seen. The story is inventive but boring in sections weighted down with science. I would have loved to seen more of the world he encounter as it ended a bit abruptly. I read it because it is a classic and i'm sure utterly suspenseful for it's time.

[mida0797 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this book after I had read Around the World in Eighty Days because i liked the way Jules Verne had written it. So continue my little Jules Verne obsession I read this book and was hooked. I am not a extraordinary reader. I'm not a frequent reader. I mainly read when I'm in bed for half an hour. But i was reading this everywhere, in bed, on the bus, in the middle of class sometimes, and even though there are a few slow parts here this story, I was addicted.

[simonlarsen_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Time has not been gentle to this classic.

[la2bkk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Perhaps the best part of this well known work is the basic premise, which is compelling. That said, I was somewhat disappointed with the actual story telling. Given the book's age, it is no surprise that Verne's understanding of the most basic scientific processes was lacking. More importantly, the actual story itself was overly simplistic. At times I felt I was reading a children's novel. A must read given its classic status, however do not expect any sophistication.

[michael_rose-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was the first true adult book I read. I seem to recall the story being a bit different than any of its film depictions. It makes me wish you could attempt to journey to the center of the earth in that way.

[clurb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A nice little adventure story full of peril and suspense but I was sorely disappointed with the ending.

[srboone · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Well-written, but talky and often boring account of a scientific journey through an active volcano to reach the earth's core. A book I started in high school ,but couldn't finish. I finally read it a couple of years ago and was hugely disappointed. Still, there some exciting parts and descriptions filled with wonder.

[15felfelis · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book is about a guy named Axel, his uncle, and how they go on a journey. Axel's uncle is a professor that teaches about mineralogy. One day he comes home with a piece of paper. It tells about a journey to the center of the earth. When Axel hears about this he thinks his uncle is crazy but his uncle drags him along. Many things end up happening on the journey but to find out if they make it READ the book!I didn't like this book because it was to scientific and confusing to me.

[bhutton_10 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There is a lot to get past in this book, the hysterical narator/nephew, all knowing uncle, mute, resourceful guide, the lack of character progression, the lists of flora, fuana & minerals, and diversions to show of at the time cutting edge science. But for all that it moves fast and always wanting to know what happens next. Ruined only by the lack of a compelling conclusion.

[john257hopper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a re-read. It is a very good adventure, one of his best, maintaining a real sense of threat and suffocating claustrophobia under the ground. There are some internal inconsistencies in dates and timings which would probably not get past a modern editor. Good stuff.

[rosenstern · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you like old timey science fiction this is for you. It's full of fantastical scientific explanations to getting to the center of the earth and I enjoyed reading it. Worth it.

[strandbooks_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This one is difficult for me to review and rate since I'm not much of a sci-fi fan. I can appreciate that this probably started the genre, and that Jules Verne is a great storyteller. However, my eyes kept glazing over when they'd get to the scientific parts. My favorite part was how he created a Jurassic Park-like setting in the middle of the earth. I'll probably give Around the World in 80 Days a try because it seems pretty different than this one.

[scoutj_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was ok...a little disappointing, really. Seemed to end very abruptly and I can't find it in me to like or even sympathize with Axel...

[gopfolk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very impressed. Had I read this book and not known when it was written I could imagine that it had been written in the past 60 years. Easy story to read and completely enjoyable. I was hooked at an early stage of the book.

[trhummer_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good bedtime reading for the 7 year old daughter and me. And it takes me waaaaay back: I loved Verne when I was 8 and 9 and 10. The plot of this book is preposterous, but so what?

[defrog_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not quite what I was expecting – I’m more familiar with the souped up Disney version, though I can’t say I was surprised to find out there’s no singing, no ducks and no chix in the original. It’s all right – I’ve never read Verne before, and he keeps the story moving, even though the science gets a little tedious. Also, it’s a little hard to believe you could actually walk all that way. And the ending requires some serious disbelief suspension. Still, I can see why it’s still in print.