
The story opens amid the great North‑East storm of March 1865, when a balloon carrying five men is torn from the sky and tossed over the Pacific. With the gale raging, they are forced to jettison every heavy object, watching helplessly as the sea rushes beneath their gondola. When the tempest finally eases, the craft descends onto a remote, unmapped land that seems to have risen from nowhere.
Stranded on this strange island, the survivors must turn their scientific knowledge and resourcefulness into tools for daily life. They construct shelter, secure food, and begin to map the bizarre geography, all while confronting the island’s hidden dangers and puzzling phenomena. Their struggle becomes a test of ingenuity, cooperation, and the human spirit as they seek a way back to civilization.
Language
fr
Duration
~20 hours (1200K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-12-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1828–1905
A master of adventure fiction, he turned bold scientific ideas into stories of submarines, moon voyages, and journeys to the center of the Earth. His novels helped shape modern science fiction while keeping the sense of wonder and danger that still draws readers in.
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