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The Mysterious Island

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The Mysterious Island

By: Jules Verne
Narrated by: Berny Clark
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About this listen

Based on the true story of Alexander Selkirk, who survived alone for almost five years on an uninhabited island off the coast of Chile, The Mysterious Island is considered by many to be Jules Verne’s masterpiece.

“Wide-eyed mid-nineteenth-century humanistic optimism in a breezy, blissfully readable translation by Stump” (Kirkus Reviews), here is the enthralling tale of five men and a dog who land in a balloon on a faraway, fantastic island of bewildering goings-on and their struggle to survive as they uncover the island’s secret.

Public Domain (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Classics Fiction Science Fiction

Editorial reviews

This 19th-century adventure novel will delight Verne fans. As in other works by Verne the characters are ideal and the plot seems convenient rather than organic. Verne was not a scientist, but he was obsessed by all the scientific disciplines. Verne’s novels are full of magical inventions and pseudo-scientific rhetoric. In The Mysterious Island, five men and a pooch land their balloon on an exotic island. They undertake to learn the secret of the place. Narrator Berny Clark’s lively voice sings out the animated dialogue. His excited yet genteel tone makes the densely descriptive text sound lighter and less mannered. His voice sustains an energetic lilt throughout his performance of this lengthy and exhaustively sketched fiction.
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Engaging to the very end! Amazing story. Amazing science. Amazing narrator. Amazing characters. New Favourite.

AMAZING!!!!!!!

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not something I would usually read. After the first couple of chapters, I wondered if I should proceed. I'm so glad I did. Well narrated and interesting characters. The end was surprising.

Great novel

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The adventures, discoveries, intelligence and companionship of the characters of this book are so captivating. The tale has so many twists and turns. I may have to listen to it again.

great listen

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although this book starts slowly it is extremely engaging and very engrossing I highly recommend this book and am currently on my 2nd play through and will listen to it again.

extremely engaging

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Jules Verne was a master of his era. This is an adventure tale of man verse wilderness. Of good and bad and the grey space between. I say adventure but a word of caution it is slow one. There is a great deal of technical detail with a healthy dose of philosophy as well. Many may struggle to get through the science and possibly find some of the ideas and ideals to be dated. Treat this novel as it deserves, a classic piece of literature from a bygone age that can still speak to us today. I couldn’t imagine a better narrator for this story. Thank you Mr Clark, your delivery was impeccable, and your performance brought the characters to life.

A classic tale read very well

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The start was a bit of an adjustment as it’s Jules Verne loves to talk in meticulous detail on flora and fauna in such scientific language however as the chapters continue I found myself accustom too it.

I put this novel off for 6 months as I procrastinated even reading it until eventually I decided too and im glad I did as I finished it in 3 days.

Performance was in my mind fine but audio quality wasn’t superb and I felt it hindered at times.

Overall I would recommend this novel!

Very Jules Verne

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