Journey to the Center of the Earth

Early Eng. trans. edition cover
Author	Jules Verne
Original title (if not in English)	Voyage au centre de la Terre
Country	France
Language	French
Genre(s)	Science fiction novel
Publisher	Hetzel
Released	1864
Media Type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
ISBN	NA

For other uses, see Journey to the Center of the Earth (disambiguation).

Journey to the Center of the Earth is a classic 1864 science fiction novel by Jules Verne (published in the original French as Voyage au centre de la Terre). The story involves a professor who leads his nephew and hired guide down a volcano in Iceland to the "center of the Earth". They encounter many adventures, including prehistoric animals and natural hazards, eventually coming to the surface again in southern Italy. From a scientific point of view, this story has not aged quite as well as other Verne stories, since most of his ideas about what the interior of the Earth contains have since been proven wrong. However, a redeeming point to the story is Verne's own belief, told within the novel from the viewpoint of a character, that the inside of the Earth does indeed differ from that which the characters encounter. Image File history File links JulesVerne_AJounreyToTheCentreOfTheEarth. ... Jules Verne. ... Some notable science fiction novels, in alphabetical order by title: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke 334 by Thomas M. Disch An Age by Brian Aldiss The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton The Atrocity Exhibition by J.G. Ballard... Categories: Stub ... A hardcover (or hardback or hardbound) book is bound with rigid protective covers (typically of cardboard covered with cloth or heavy paper) and a stitched spine. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Journey to the Center of the Earth can refer to In literature: Journey to the Center of the Earth, an 1864 science fiction novel by Jules Verne In film: Journey to the Center of the Earth, a 1959 film adaptation for the novel directed by Henry Levin. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... A novel (from French nouvelle Italian novella, new) is an extended, generally fictional narrative in prose. ... Jules Verne. ... Volcano 1. ... Earth (IPA: , often referred to as the Earth, Terra, the World or Planet Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth largest. ...

Compared to his previous works, Verne takes a radically different approach to storytelling by making the main character and narrator a 16 year old boy who relates the events as his own adventures. It is unknown whether this was done under the influence of his publisher Hetzel who wanted to distribute Verne's work as aimed towards growing teens, but the result is quite remarkable. While his previous novel and many of his later works are in fact fictionalized science, this is a gripping story of the adventures of an adolescent boy, the science taking a backdrop against his own experiences. Pierre-Jules Hetzel. ...

Plot summary

The story is narrated by Axel Lidenbrock (called "Harry Hardwigg" in many English translations; see the notes), nephew of the eminent German geologist and naturalist, Professor Otto Lidenbrock. The story begins on Sunday 24 May 1863, in the Lidenbrock house in Hamburg, with Professor Lidenbrock rushing home to peruse his latest purchase, an original runic manuscript of an Icelandic saga written by Snorri Sturluson. While looking through the book, Lidenbrock and Axel find a coded note written in runic script. (A first indication of Verne's love for cryptology. Coded, cryptic or incomplete messages as a plot device will continue to appear in many of his works and in each case Verne goes a long way to explain not only the code used but also the mechanisms used to retrieve the original text.) Lidenbrock and Axel translate the runic characters into Latin letters, revealing a message written in a seemingly bizarre code. A geologist is a contributor to the science of geology, studying the physical structure and processes of the Earth and planets of the solar system (see planetary geology). ... Table of natural history, 1728 Cyclopaedia Natural history is an umbrella term for what are now usually viewed as several distinct scientific disciplines. ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar). ... Hamburgs motto: May the posterity endeavour with dignity to conserve the freedom, which the forefathers acquired. ... Technical note: Due to technical limitations, some web browsers may not display some special characters in this article. ... A manuscript (Latin manu scriptus, written by hand), strictly speaking, is any written document that is put down by hand, in contrast to being printed or reproduced some other way. ... Look up saga in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Snorri Sturluson (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... Technical note: Due to technical limitations, some web browsers may not display some special characters in this article. ... Cryptography (from Greek kryptós, hidden, and gráphein, to write) is, traditionally, the study of means of converting information from its normal, comprehensible form into an incomprehensible format, rendering it unreadable without secret knowledge — the art of encryption. ...

Professor Lidenbrock decides to lock everyone in the house and force himself and the others in the house (Axel, and the maid, Martha) to go without food until he cracks the code. Axel accidentally discovers the code when fanning himself with the parchment, realising that the letters simply have to be read backwards to reveal sentences written in rough Latin. Axel decides to keep the secret hidden from Professor Lidenbrock, but after two days without food, he cannot stand the hunger and reveals the secret to his uncle. Lidenbrock translates the note, which is revealed to be a medieval note written by the Icelandic alchemist Arne Saknussemm, who claims to have discovered a passage to the centre of the Earth via Snæfell in Iceland. The message reads (when reflected in a mirror): For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ... The Summit of Snæfellsjökull Snæfellsjökull is a strato volcano with a glacier (isl. ...

Journey to the Center of the Earth DVD - the 1959 film

"In Sneffels Joculis craterem quem delibat Umbra Scartaris Julii intra calendas descende, Audax viator, et terrestre centrum attinges. Quod feci, Arne Saknussemm"

which when translated into English reads: DVD cover scan from the movie Journey to the Center of the Earth, personal scan, claiming fair use (does not detract from original work, scanned from legal copy, image is of sufficiently low resolution). ... DVD cover scan from the movie Journey to the Center of the Earth, personal scan, claiming fair use (does not detract from original work, scanned from legal copy, image is of sufficiently low resolution). ...

"Descend, bold traveller, into the crater of the jokul of Sneffels, which the shadow of Scartaris touches before the kalends of July, and you will attain the centre of the earth; I have done this, Arne Saknussemm"

Professor Lidenbrock is a man of astonishing impatience, and departs for Iceland immediately, taking his reluctant nephew with him. Axel repeatedly tries to reason with him, explaining his fears of descending into a volcano and putting forward various scientific theories as to why the journey is impossible, but fails to make Professor Lidenbrock see his point of view. After a rapid journey via Lübeck and Copenhagen, they arrive in Reykjavík, where the two procure the services of Hans Bjelke (a Danish speaking eiderdown hunter) as their guide, and travel overland to the base of the volcano. They reach the volcano in late June only to find that it has not one but three craters. Rereading Saknussemm's message they conclude that the passage to the centre of the Earth is through the one crater the shadow of a nearby mountain peak touches at noon. However the text also states that this is only true for the last days of June and for the next days, with July rapidly approaching, the weather is too cloudy for any shadows. Axel silently rejoices, hoping this will force his uncle to give up the project and return home. On the last day, though, the sun comes out and the mountain peak shows the correct crater to take. Volcano 1. ... The title of this article contains the character ü. Where it is unavailable or not desired, the name may be represented as Luebeck. ... Copenhagen (IPA: , rhyming with pagan (the way the Danes themselves pronounce the name of the capital in English), or , with a as in spa; Danish   IPA: ) is the capital of Denmark and the countrys largest city (metropolitan population 1,211,542 (2006)), at present made up of 16 municipalities. ... For the town in Canada see Reykjavik, Manitoba Location in Iceland Coordinates: Constituency Reykjavík North Reykjavík South Area    - City 274. ...

After descending into this crater, the three travellers set off into the bowels of the Earth, encountering many strange phenomena and great dangers, including a chamber filled with combustable gas, and steep-sided wells around the "path". After taking a wrong turn, the three run out of water and Axel almost dies, but Hans discovers a subterranean river (which Lidenbrock and Axel name the "Hansbach") and the three are saved. At another point, Axel becomes separated from the others and is lost several miles from them. Luckily, a strange acoustic phenomena allows him to communicate with them from some miles away, and is soon reunited. After descending many miles, following the course of the Hansbach, they reach an unimaginably vast cavern. This underground world is lit by electrically charged gas at the ceiling, and is filled with a very deep subterranean ocean, surrounded by a rocky coastline covered in petrified trees and giant mushrooms. The three travellers build a raft out of trees and set sail on the ocean. Whilst on the water, they see several prehistoric creatures and are nearly eaten by an ichthyosaur, which fights and kills a plesiosaur. During the battle between the monsters, the party comes across a huge geyser, which Lidenbrock names "Axel Island". A lightning storm again threatens to destroy the raft and its passengers, but instead throws them onto the coastline. This part of the coast, Axel discovers, is alive with prehistoric plant and animal lifeforms, including giant insects and a herd of mastodons. On a beach covered with bones, Axel discovers an oversized human skull. Axel and Lidenbrock venture some way into the prehistoric forest, where Professor Lidenbrock points out, in a shaky voice, a prehistoric human, more than twelve feet in height, leaning against a tree watching a herd of mastodons. Axel cannot be sure if he has really seen the man or not, and he and Professor Lidenbrock debate whether or not a proto-human civilisation actually exists so far underground. Acoustics is a branch of physics and is the study of sound, mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids. ... In geology, petrifaction or petrification is the process by which organic material is converted into stone or a similar substance. ... The relative sizes of the Cap (pileus) and Stalk (stipe) vary widely. ... Prehistory (Greek words προ = before and ιστορία = history) is the period of human history prior to the advent of writing (which marks the beginning of recorded history). ... Taxonomy See text Ichthyosaurs (Greek for fish lizard - ιχθυς meaning fish and σαυρος meaning lizard) were giant marine reptiles that resembled fish and dolphins. ... Families Plesiosaurs (IPA ) (Greek: plesios, near to + sauros, lizard) were large, carnivorous aquatic reptiles. ... Clepsydra Geyser in Yellowstone A geyser is a type of hot spring that erupts periodically, ejecting a column of hot water and steam into the air. ... A Mastodon skeleton in museum in Bismarck, North Dakota. ... It has been suggested that temporal fenestra be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see Civilization (disambiguation). ...

The travellers continue to explore the coastline, and find a passageway marked by Saknussemm as the way ahead. However, it is blocked by what appears to be a recent cave-in and the three despair at being unable to hack their way through the granite wall. The adventurers proceed to blast the rock with gun cotton and paddle out to sea to escape the blast, but the explosion is larger than they expected and they are swept away as the sea rushes into the large open gap in the ground. After spending hours being swept along at lightning speeds by the water, the raft ends up inside a large chimney filling with water and magma. Terrified, the three are rushed upwards, through stifling heat, and are ejected onto the surface from a side-vent of a volcano. When they regain consciousness, they discover that they have been thrown out of Stromboli, at the southern tip of Italy. They return to Hamburg to great acclaim - Professor Lidenbrock is hailed as one of the great scientists of history, Axel marries his sweetheart Graüben, and Hans eventually returns to his peaceful life in Iceland. Quarrying granite for the Mormon Temple, Utah Territory. ... Nitrocellulose (Cellulose nitrate, guncotton) is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose (e. ... A chimney is a system for venting hot gases and smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. ... Magma is molten rock located beneath the surface of the Earth (or any other rocky planet), and which often collects in a magma chamber. ... Sciara del fuoco For other uses see Stromboli (disambiguation) This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Hamburgs motto: May the posterity endeavour with dignity to conserve the freedom, which the forefathers acquired. ...

At the very end of the book, Axel and Lidenbrock realise why their compass was behaving strangely after their journey on the raft. They realise that the needle was pointing the wrong way after being struck by lightning, and that they had indeed passed the very centre of the Earth. Compass in a wooden box A compass (or mariners compass) is a navigational instrument for finding directions on the earth. ...

Characters

• Professor Otto Lidenbrock – a German geologist and naturalist
• Axel Lidenbrock – nephew to Otto Lidenbrock
• Martha – the Lidenbrocks' maid
• Grauben - godchild to the professor, Axel's fiancee
• Hans Bjelke – a Danish speaking eiderdown hunter

A geologist is a contributor to the science of geology, studying the physical structure and processes of the Earth and planets of the solar system (see planetary geology). ... Table of natural history, 1728 Cyclopaedia Natural history is an umbrella term for what are now usually viewed as several distinct scientific disciplines. ...

Notes

• In many English translations, the last name 'Lidenbrock' is changed to 'Hardwigg.' In addition, Axel and Graüben are called Harry and Gretchen, respectively.

• The book has a nearly all-German cast of characters (except for Hans, the Icelander) who are quite sympathetic, and the expedition's success evidently adds to Germany's intenational prestige. In 1864, Verne evidently saw nothing wrong with that. However, following France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 his books show a marked anti-German bias, such as The Begum's Millions. Had the present book been written after 1870, Verne would have likely given its protagonists a different nationality.

1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with south German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III Helmuth von Moltke Strength 500,000[citation needed] 550,000[citation needed] Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian [citation needed] 100,000 dead or wounded 200... The Begums Millions (in the original French Les Cinq cents millions de la Bégum) , is a 1879 novel by Jules Verne , with some elements which could be described as utopian and others which seem clearly distopian. ...

Adaptations

Film

The novel has been made into several film versions:

• Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959 film). This film is also known as Trip to the Center of the Earth.
• In 2004, adapted by D.V. DeVincentis and directed by Eric Brevig. It is currently slated for a Summer, 2007 release, with plans for the film to be done using 3-D technology developed by James Cameron and Vince Pace. Brendan Fraser, Anita Briem and Josh Hutcherson are the only members of the cast announced for the movie.

Journey to the Center of the Earth is a 1959 adventure film adapted by Charles Brackett from the novel by Jules Verne. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Brendan James Fraser (born December 3, 1968 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is a Canadian-American actor. ... [[ImageBold text:Zathuraj. ...

Television

• Several "made for television" versions in 1977, 1993, and 1999 (the latter by Hallmark Entertainment).
• An animated television series first broadcast in 1967, starring the voices of Ted Knight, Pat Harrington Jr., and Jane Webb. This was not a serialized version of the story, but non-contingent episodes which, after the first, could be shown in any order. There was no ending episode.
• A 1976 Spanish version (Viaje al centro de la Tierra) was adapted by John Melson, Carlos Puerto, and Juan Piquer Simón, and was directed by Simón. It stars Kenneth More, Pep Munné, Ivonne Sentis, Frank Braña, Jack Taylor, Ana Arco, Lone Fleming, and Emiliano Redondo. It was dubbed into English as The Fabulous Journey to the Center of the Earth, but sometimes referred to as "Journey To The Center Of The Earth".
• A 1989 movie called Journey to the Center of the Earth took only the title and a general idea from the Verne novel, and had a unique plot aimed at a teen audience. It was written by Debra Ricci, Regina Davis, Kitty Chalmers, and Rusty Lemorande, and was directed by Lemorande and Albert Pyun. It stars Emo Philips, Paul Carafotes, Jaclyn Bernstein, Kathy Ireland, Janet Du Plessis, Nicola Cowper, Lochner De Kock, and Ilan Mitchell-Smith. It was based on an incompleted version, more faithful to Verne's text, written and directed by Rusty Lemorande, but it was not completed because of Cannon Film's premature closure.

For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Old Farts by the Sometimes-United Nations. ... Hallmark Cards, a privately owned company based in Kansas City, Missouri, is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Ted Knight (December 7, 1923–August 26, 1986) was an American actor. ... Pat Harrington, Jr. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Kenneth Gilbert More CBE, (20 September 1914 - 12 July 1982) was a successful British cinema, television and theatre actor. ... Jack Taylor (born 21 October 1936) is an actor. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... American high school students Adolescence (Latin adolescentia, from adolescere, to grow up) is the period of psychological and social transition between childhood and adulthood (gender-specific, manhood or womanhood). ... Albert Pyun is a Hawaiian-born film director best known for having made many B-movie and direct-to-video action films. ... Philip Soltanec (born February 7, 1956), better known by his stage name as Emo Philips, is a stand-up comedian from Downers Grove, Illinois. ... Paul Carafotes is an American actor, possibly best known for playing Harold Dyer in the television drama Knots Landing from 1988 to 1990. ... Ireland on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Kathy Ireland (b. ... Ilan Mitchell-Smith (born June 29, 1969 in New York City) is an American actor, probably best known for his starring role in the movie Weird Science (1985). ...

Theater

• A stage version of Journey to the Center of the Earth, written by Gerald Fitzgerald and directed by Steven-Shayle Rhodes, was produced at Pegasus Theatre in Dallas, Texas in 2000.

Allusions/references from other works

• Doctor Emmett Brown, one of the two main fictional characters of the Back to the Future film series, attributed the origins of his lifelong devotion to science to having read as a child the works of Jules Verne in general, and Journey to the Center of the Earth in particular.
• The first part of the second season of Around the World with Willy Fogg by Spanish studio BRB Internacional was Journey to the Center of the Earth.
• The episode "Hot Diggity Dawg" of the PBS series Wishbone was about Journey to the Center of the Earth.

A few video games called Journey to the Center of the Earth were released: in the early 1980s by Ozisoft[1] and in 1988 by Chip Software[2] for the Commodore 64, and in 2003 by Frogwares. Doctor Emmett Lathrop Doc Brown is a fictional character, one of the lead characters in the Back to the Future motion picture trilogy, played by actor Christopher Lloyd in the three films and the live action sequences of the animated series. ... Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) watching the first test of the time machine. ... Wishbone was a television show, originally aired from 1995 to 1998 in America featuring a Jack Russell terrier of that name. ... It has been suggested that Multiplayer Video Games be merged into this article or section. ... Sega Ozisoft is an Australian and New Zealand video game distributor. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Commodore 64 is the best selling single personal computer model of all time. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A concept album called Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Rick Wakeman, was released in 1974. The Beach Boys Little Deuce Coupe album, one of the first concept albums In popular music, a concept album is an album which is unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical (Shuker 2002, p. ... Journey To The Centre Of The Earth is Rick Wakemans second solo album, released in 1974. ... Richard Christopher Wakeman (born May 18, 1949 in Perivale, London, England) is a British progressive rock keyboard player. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

A second concept album called Return to the Centre of the Earth by Rick Wakeman, was released in 1999 and features a full orchestra and narration by Patrick Stewart. The Beach Boys Little Deuce Coupe album, one of the first concept albums In popular music, a concept album is an album which is unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical (Shuker 2002, p. ... Richard Christopher Wakeman (born May 18, 1949 in Perivale, London, England) is a British progressive rock keyboard player. ...

Another album is Journey to the Center of the Mind by The Amboy Dukes, released in 1968 whose main song (same title as the album) includes the lyrics: "But please realize, You'll probably be surprised, For it's the land unknown to man, Where fantasy is fact, So if you can, please understand, You might not come back." AmboyDukes CD cover for the album, Best of Amboy Dukes The Amboy Dukes were an American rock music band of the late 1960s and early 1970s from Detroit, Michigan, best remembered for their hit single Journey to the Center of the Mind. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

Trivia

There is a serious proposal, by a scientist, about sending a probe to the center of the earth. David J. Stevenson (September 2, 1948-) is a professor of planetary science at Caltech. ...

See also

• Hollow Earth
• Subterranean fiction

A Hollow Earth theory posits that the planet Earth has a hollow interior and probably a habitable inner surface. ... A subgenre in fiction which mostly focus on subterranean myths, magic, mysteries, legends, horrors, sci-fi and occultism and so on. ...

External links

• Journey to the Center of the Earth from JV.Gilead.org.il
• Jules Verne - easy to read HTML format of Verne's books.
• Journey to the Interior of the Earth - in easy to read HTML format.
• Voyage au Centre de la Terre - in easy to read HTML format (French text).
• A Journey to the Interior of the Earth, available freely at Project Gutenberg (English)
• Voyage au Centre de la Terre, available freely at Project Gutenberg (French)
• Literary analysis of the novels of Jules Verne (French text)
• Free audiobook of "Journey to the Center of the Earth" from Librivox
• [3] - a photoessay of the ride