This Verne adventure is indeed a mystery and also a satire on the Crusoe genre. Our characters are larger than life, as well they should be - Verne expects Americans to perform epics. Young Godfrey goes to sea for adventure before settling down with his bride to be. His incredibly wealthy uncle sets him aboard one of his steamers which founders some days out, leaving Godfrey and his companion, a dance and comportment instructor, near the shore of a uninhabited island. They set up residence, benefiting from livestock, some supplies and tools which apparently also wash ashore. Later, a canoe full of savages land in order to cook up a prisoner. Godfrey helps the latter escape, and the grateful native becomes a "Friday". While the island initially seems free from any predators, it is not long before Friday saves Godfrey from a bear, a tiger and a poisonous snake. But when swarms of lions, tigers, hyenas and crocodiles attack it is more than they can handle. Where do all the beasts come from? What is the cause of the occasional plume of smoke Godfrey notes on the island? Those are some of the mysteries about which the reader will be enlightened.
By : Jules Verne (1828 - 1905)
01 - Chapter I - In Which The Reader Has The Opportunity Of Buying An Island In The Pacific Ocean
02 - Chapter Ii - How William W - Kolderup, Of San Francisco, Was At Loggerheads With J - R - Taskinar,..
03 - Chapter Iii - The Conversation Of Phina Hollaney And Godfrey Morgan, With A Piano Accompaniment
04 - Chapter Iv - In Which T - Artelett, Otherwise Tartlet, Is Duly Introduced To The Reader
05 - Chapter V - In Which They Prepare To Go, And At The End Of Which They Go For Good
06 - Chapter Vi - In Which The Reader Makes The Acquaintance Of A New Personage
07 - Chapter Vii - In Which It Will Be Seen That William W - Kolderup Was Probably Right In Insuring..
08 - Chapter Viii - Which Leads Godfrey To Bitter Reflections On The Mania For Travelling
09 - Chapter Ix - In Which It Is Shown That Crusoes Do Not Have Everything As They Wish
10 - Chapter X - In Which Godfrey Does What Any Other Shipwrecked Man Would Have Done Under The..
11 - Chapter Xi - In Which The Question Of Lodging Is Solved As Well As It Could Be
12 - Chapter Xii - Which Ends With A Thunder-bolt
13 - Chapter Xiii - In Which Godfrey Again Sees A Slight Smoke Over Another Part Of The Island
14 - Chapter Xiv - Wherein Godfrey Finds Some Wreckage, To Which He And His Companion Give A Hearty..
15 - Chapter Xv - In Which There Happens What Happens At Least Once In The Life Of Every Crusoe,..
16 - Chapter Xvi - In Which Something Happens Which Cannot Fail To Surprise The Reader
17 - Chapter Xvii - In Which Professor Tartlet's Gun Really Does Marvels
18 - Chapter Xviii - Which Treats Of The Moral And Physical Education Of A Simple Native Of The..
19 - Chapter Xix - In Which The Situation Already Gravely Compromised Becomes More And More..
20 - Chapter Xx - In Which Tartlet Reiterates In Every Key That He Would Rather Be Off
21 - Chapter Xxi - Which Ends With Quite A Surprising Reflection By The Negro Carefinotu
22 - Chapter Xxii - Which Concludes By Explaining What Up To Now Had Appeared Inexplicable
The narrative begins with the auction by the US Government of fictional Spencer Island, located 460 miles off the California coast (32°15′N 145°18′W). The island is uninhabited and there are only two bidders, William W. Kolderup, a very wealthy San Franciscan, and his arch-rival J. R. Taskinar, a resident of Stockton, California. Kolderup wins the auction, buying Spencer Island for four million dollars. J. R. Taskinar mutters, "I will be avenged!" before retiring to his hotel.
Godfrey, an idle twenty-two-year-old, lives with Kolderup, his uncle, and Kolderup's adopted goddaughter, Phina, whom Godfrey has grown to love. Prior to marrying Phina, Godfrey asks to undertake a world tour. Acceding to his desire, his uncle sends Godfrey on a sea voyage around the world on board one of his steamships, the Dream, commanded by Captain Turcott. Godfrey is accompanied by his mentor, teacher, and dance instructor, Professor T. Artelett aka "Tartlet".
After some time at sea, Godfrey is awakened one foggy night and told to abandon ship as the Dream is foundering. After jumping into the sea, Godfrey is washed ashore on a deserted island, where he soon finds Tartlet has also been marooned. Godfrey, with scant help from Tartlet, will have to learn to survive, to organize his life, face hostile intruders, and overcome other obstacles. Eventually, they are also joined by Carefinotu, whom Godfrey rescues from Polynesians visiting the island. By the end of the story the formerly jaded young man has discovered the value of independent effort, and he gains poise and courage. The marooned group are rescued and returned to San Francisco, where Godfrey is reunited with Phina. They agree to marry before continuing the world tour, this time together.
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