Journey to the Center of the Earth (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

By Jules Verne, Ursula K. Heise and Rachel Perkins

Journey to the Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics:

• New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars
• Biographies of the authors
• Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events
• Footnotes and endnotes
• Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work
• Comments by other famous authors
• Study questions to challenge the readers viewpoints and expectations
• Bibliographies for further reading
• Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate

All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each readers understanding of these enduring works.

Wildly popular, prolific and prophetic, Jules Verne leads his legions of delighted readers on journeys beneath the sea and beyond the stars. Here, the grandfather of modern science fiction takes us to the Earth’s core. The quest begins when irascible but dedicated mineralogy professor Otto Lidenbrock finds a centuries-old parchment inside an even older book. His nephew Axel decodes it, and discovers instructions on how to get to the center of the Earth: “Go down into the crater of Snaefells Yocul,” an extinct Icelandic volcano. As they descend, the explorers also travel backward to the past, through layers of human history and geologic time, encountering prehistoric plants and animals and ultimately coming to understand the origins of humanity itself.

Though brimming with exciting exploits, this journey is also metaphorical—a spiritual and psychological trip to the center of the human soul. While many of Verne’s scientific speculations have been proven, it is this author’s remarkable ability to fashion a rousing tale full of compelling characters, extraordinary adventures, and provocative ideas that ensures he will be read for years to come.

 

New original illustrations by Rachel Perkins.

Ursula K. Heise is Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Stanford University. She has published a book, Chronoschisms: Time, Narrative, and Postmodernism (1997), and numerous articles on contemporary American and European literature in its relation to science, ecology and new media.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble Classics
• Release date: Jun 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9781411432444

Jules Verne

Victor Marie Hugo (1802–1885) was a French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic movement and is considered one of the greatest French writers. Hugo’s best-known works are the novels Les Misérables, 1862, and The Hunchbak of Notre-Dame, 1831, both of which have had several adaptations for stage and screen.

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Reviews for Journey to the Center of the Earth (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

[fingerpost_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

There are only three characters in this tale. Henry, our narrator, seems to have only one personality trait: fear, and desire to end the journey ASAP; his uncle, Professor Hardwigg, also seems to have only one trait: eagerness to accomplish this dangerous journey; and the third character, the Icelander, Hans, has no personality at all - he's just there to perform tasks.The first two thirds of the book read like an exceedingly tedious and detailed travelogue from a group of spelunkers. In the final third, the adventure gets more interesting, but is really still just an explanation of a series of events on a journey, not a real story. And though the final third is more interesting than the endless descriptions of rock formations that make up the bulk of the book, it is also so preposterous that even the most avid science fiction lover will have difficulty suspending disbelief enough to actually like the random events of the tale.

[sara_cat-107388 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I greatly enjoyed the humor of the narrator, Axel. And some of the descriptions of what they see under the crust of the earth is wonderfully vivid and beautiful. I also enjoyed a lot of the feeling of adventure and occasional suspense of what would happen next.There are some problematic ways in which certain characters or types of people are talked about, but, the book was written in the mid-1800s, so I was very much expecting that. Though, it wasn't to the extent I had assumed.For anyone who understands geology, seismology, etc. will probably cringe if they think too hard about the 'facts' and 'discoveries' Axel and his uncle make on their journey. But, if you can put those things aside for a while, it's a fun read into someone's imagination of what it could be like to try and travel deep into the earth.(For clarity, the English translation I read was done by Robert Baldick.)

[tonifgmamtc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is somewhat interesting. It tries to stay scientific instead of totally going off some some tangent like sci-fi does these days. I'm sure in it's time, it would have been beyond amazing because so much of it could have been true for all people knew.

[glennbell_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I liked the beginning of the book with the trekking of the professor and Axel from Hamburg to Iceland. This was descriptive and realistic. The adventure of the three travelers into the passages of the earth were also interesting albeit it begins to be fanciful. The latter portions of the book are ridiculous and have no credible logic. I imagine the book was more interesting in the time in history at which it was written. I do not recommend this book as I believe that science fiction should have some logic which veers from the known to the unknown. Often it based on a supposition that is unfounded but examines the ramifications of this deviation. This book is counter to our knowledge and therefore is ridiculous.

[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.

[carlahaunted · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book made me feel agoraphobic...in a good way. Tim Curry's narration was sublime, as usual.

[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.

[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.

[lgandt · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a great fantasy story, if you take it with some serious grains of salt. The imagery is marvelous, the pace is very fast. Keeps your attention throughout. The physical demands that he expected from the human body though and the slight continuity problems in the end are the only problems I have with it.I have to say the film with James Mason tightened some things up quite well.

[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.

[5eva5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Professor Otto Lidenbrock, his nephew Axel, and their guide Hans, descend into Iceland's Snæfellsjökull volcano in an attempt to reach the center of the earth. This classic adventure tales is obviously aged, but doesn't feel dated at all; it feels as if someone contemporary wrote an adventure story in an old style - the storyline is exciting enough and has a "new" feel to it. Great story, recommended for all.

[shaunesay · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I probably wouldn't have gotten through this very quickly had I been reading it on my own rather than listening to Tim Curry's masterful performance. He was able to infuse so much character into it, and it truly helped me to appreciate how well done this story really is. There really is a lot of character there. There is also A LOT of detailed geological and instrumental description that probably would have bogged me down, even though I understand it, it's not always the most exciting reading, but definitely added realism to the story. Axel and his uncle Otto, and their guide Hans, really have very distinct personalities that add humor to the story which I believe I would have missed without having the assistance of Tim's reading.

I highly recommend listening to this version, as we like to say Tim Curry could read the phone book and it would be a 5 star performance. He brings this classic adventure story to life and I'm happy to have experienced it!

[zottel-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Das Buch war deutlich besser als erwartet. Da ich kein großer Fan von Science Fiction bin, hatte ich nicht viel erwartet, es war einfach ein Experiment, den alten Klassiker einmal zu lesen. Faszinierend war für mich dann auch eher die Reise in die Vergangenheit, die das Buch mir ermöglichte, als die zum Mittelpunkt der Erde. Die alte Sprache meiner Übersetzung, die Beschreibung der Reise nach Island und vor allem die wissenschaftlichen Vorstellungen dieser Zeit. Äußerst faszinierend, gepaart mit einer spannenden Geschichte, die das Lesen leicht macht. Die von mir gelesene Ebook-Ausgabe von NTS Editions hatte des öfteren komplett falsche Wörter im Text, wo die OCR-Software offenbar s und f nicht unterscheiden konnte. Einmal erkannt machte das aber nicht mehr viel aus. Insgesamt eine klare Empfehlung, allerdings mehr an den historisch Interessierten als an Science-Fiction-Fans.

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

A solid science-fiction adventure novel, though characterisation was a little weak I thought.

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

Well. That was nothing like the movie.

[garrison0550 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An absolute classic. Love it!

[karin7-11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I read this in high school, I loved it, but I have no idea what I'd thnk of it now.

[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.

[kellswitch_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was a bit surprised how much my expectations with this book were colored by the 1959 movie based off of it, I was surprised because I knew going in they weren't really the same but I still found myself missing the whimsy of the movie, which made the book seem a bit drab in comparison. I found the characters a bit flat, not quite believable by today standards, I never really bought them as real people or believed in their motivations and I found the ending a bit rushed and convenient, though I'm not sure how else it could have ended. That said, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would and it was a much faster read then I had expected and was an interesting adventure story. It was also a fascinating look back at the early days of Earth science, of science as we know it in general, and its easy to forget just how much we had to learn.

[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.

[amerynth · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I really didn't enjoy Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth." As you'd expect, there was lots of adventuring through dark caves until the big "payoff" at the end, which wasn't terribly exciting. Verne's narrator is constantly saying how they are all going to die on this journey, but it's clear he's writing the book after the journey, so you know right off they don't.This reminded me a lot of H.P. Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness" in that there is a lot of description that gets tedious and then the ultimate conclusion doesn't really make everything worthwhile.Perhaps this just hasn't aged well.

[simonlarsen_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Time has not been gentle to this classic.

[missizicks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I first read Journey to the Centre of the Earth when I was 8. My local supermarket sold pocket editions of classics at pocket money prices. I loved this one. It was incredibly exciting and nerve tingling. 35 years later, I decided to read it again. My pocket money pocket edition is long gone, so I got a copy for my Kindle from Project Gutenberg. It is as good as I remembered. Fast paced and funny, if a little implausible at times (I can take ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs living in a subterranean sea, not sure about the ability to acclimatise to differing air pressures as you travel towards the earth's core on foot, though), it is deserving of its classic status.I discovered that my childhood version and the one I downloaded are an abridged translation with the names of the main characters changed, so I've downloaded another version from PG, which is supposed to be more accurate. To read another day, though!

[giraldus_papyrus · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great adventure story and tale of discovery. Axel and his uncle, the Professor, set out for the centre of the earth via an Icelandic volcano, with the help of their intrepid and unflappable porter. A human drama about Axel's overcoming of his fears and facing up to many uncertainties. His cool, sceptical and questioning attitude is contrasted with his uncle's impatience and immense self-confidence. The exchanges between Axel and his uncle keep the drama going, as well as their amazing journey with all its dangers. Also has its funny comic moments! Is the centre of the earth a boiling furnace or not? is just one of the scientific questions which inform the narrative with intelligence and curiosity. A true original of science fiction, and definitely worth re-reading.

[ilirwen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is my favorite Jules Verne book. I don't know exactly what it is I like about it, but I find it absolutely fascinating and I like the characters, especially Axel, the professor's nephew. Today, we know that such a journey would most likely be impossible, but I can't help being pulled into the adventure. The copy I read - probably this edition - had notes, with explanations for everything - making the book easy to read, for anyone, with no prior knowledge of French or history. For me, at least half of those notes were a bit unnecessary, but I read them anyway. Someone went to the trouble of explaining every single thing in a book from the 19 century. I didn't need all that help, but it's comforting to know that it's there for those who need it.

[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.

[jvioland_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This had an incredible impact on me when as a young teen I read it the first time. The descriptions of quartz and minerals and subterranean canyons spurred me on to study geology, fossils and a whole slew of sciences. Still a great read.

[csweder · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is to me the ultimate of the Science Fiction genre. You take an event that's impossible--say, traveling to the center of the Earth, and then add a bunch of scientific terms to it and make the reader think it might be possible. The addition of a character who he (typically he, sometimes she) doubts the possibility of completing the task is a nice one--he is there so the audiance will not feel too bad in their disbelief of what is happening in the book.

This was my first book by Jules Verne, and it was pretty much what I expected (what you would find in any science fiction novel?). But what I need to remind myself of, is that this book was written a lonnnnnggggg time ago, and I'm sure at the time, I could see how this book would be a huge hit.

[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.

[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.