Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - The Mysterious Island

The Mysterious Island
The Mysterious Island
Author: Jules Verne, Jordan Stump (Translator), Jules-Descartes Ferat (Illustrator)
Five Union prisoners of war escape from a Confederate prison camp in a hot-air balloon, only to crash land on an unknown island where they must learn to survive on their own.
PBS Market Price: $8.09 or $4.19+1 credit
ISBN-13: 9780812972122
ISBN-10: 0812972120
Publication Date: 4/27/2004
Pages: 768
Rating:
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 6

3.3 stars, based on 6 ratings
Publisher: Modern Library
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Shervivor avatar reviewed The Mysterious Island on + 97 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
How is it possible that I have lived 41 years without having known the pleasure of a Jules Verne novel? This is a masterfully written novel about 5 castaways that are strewn upon an uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean with nothing except the clothes on their backs. The castaways, using their intelligence, are able to use the natural amenities of the island for their survival. This book contains beautifully written descriptions of science, natural history, geology and many other sciences. The island also holds great mysteries. I immensely enjoyed this novel and can say that it places in my top 10 novels of all time. The afterword by Isaac Asimov is humorous and thought provoking.

If you have never read this novel I highly recommend that you take the time to immerse yourself in the pleasures within.
wendybird avatar reviewed The Mysterious Island on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Do NOT use this book as a survival manual!!

Right, now that we have that straightened out...what a book! I write this review with tongue in cheek, just as the author must have written this book. Why? well...

Five Union prisoners of war escape Richmond, VA in a Rebel spy balloon, and a mere five days later end up on a remote island in the Pacific. Being very resourceful (not to mention absolute geniuses) they do what anyone stranded on a deserted island would do: they forge their own iron and steel tools, make glass, an elevator, nitroglycerin, and even a telegraph using 100% natural materials (think the professor from Gilligan's Island). But in the course of their struggle against nature, strange incidents convince them that this island may not be as deserted as they thought...(insert ominous music)...

Be prepared for a kicker ending that will leave you chocking on your lithodomus!
krisjnic avatar reviewed The Mysterious Island on
Helpful Score: 1
I picked up The Mysterious Island from a reference related to the TV series "LOST". Though a bit onerous to get my mind to accept the writing style and character descriptions, it became a joy to read and I happily read all 629 pages in no time. This would be a lot of fun as a discussion topic just in character development alone. All Verne's characters appear one-dimensional because everything he describes is so darn positive. And yet the true nature of the characters develop exactly as Verne probably intended - a really interesting difference from more modern writing styles. Definitely worth reading. I laughed out loud (though it is NOT a comedy) and shook my head many times throughout - particularly the surprise ending!
Read All 8 Book Reviews of "The Mysterious Island"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

reviewed The Mysterious Island on
Quite a mysterious place - you have to get over the disconnect of quite a few facts that just don't add up. For example, I don't know how anyone can walk 40 miles in a day. But interesting in a strange sort of way.
reviewed The Mysterious Island on + 38 more book reviews
Classic JUles Verne. THis edition has an afterword by Isaac Asimov.

Although a little dated it still holds up well. Especially exciting for the younger ones.
reviewed The Mysterious Island on + 4 more book reviews
I love this book! If you like science, adventure, and suspense this is the book to get. This is one of the most intriguing books and definitely my favorite!
Cliiffs avatar reviewed The Mysterious Island on + 26 more book reviews
Verne fans will enjoy this!
reviewed The Mysterious Island on + 68 more book reviews
Scholastic Books 6th printing 1967


Genres: