The Lighthouse at the End of the World
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| 2001 Fredonia Books (NL) paperback edition. | |
| Author | Jules Verne |
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| Original title (if not in English) | Le Phare du Bout du Monde |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Genre(s) | Adventure |
| Publisher | |
| Released | 1905 |
| Media Type | Print ( ) |
| ISBN | NA |
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This article is about the Jules Verne novel. For the film, see The Light at the Edge of the World. For the My Dying Bride album, see The Light at the End of the World.
The Lighthouse at the End of the World (original title in French: Le Phare du bout du monde) is a novel by French science fiction author Jules Verne. It was first published posthumously after his death in 1905. The plot of the novel involves piracy in the South Atlantic during the mid 19th century, with a theme of survival in extreme circumstances, and events centering on an isolated lighthouse. It is said Verne was inspired by the lighthouse at the Isla de los Estados, near Tierra del Fuego.
Although not as well known as Verne's other novels, it is generally considered as good by Verne's fans and the literature critics. In 1971 the novel was adapted into a movie, The Light at the Edge of the World.
[edit] Plot summary
Vasquez, Moriz and Felipe were stationed on Staten Island to look after the new lighthouse while the dispatch ship, the Santa Fe, was gone. Little do the three lighthousemen know that a band of pirates, lead by a man named Kongre, captured a schooner and planned to leave the island. They sailed into the lighthouse bay and killed Felipe and Moriz. Vasquez alone survived and hid in a cave. Kongre made sure the lighthouse was put out during their stay. They were about to leave in the newly christened Carcante, named after Knogre's right-hand man Carcante, when bad weather delayed them. Because the lighthouse was unattended, there was no light. A ship called the Century crashed. All but one died. Vasquez rescued the survivor and told him everything. The weather eventually calmed. Just when the schooner sailed out of the bay, Vasquez and the man found ammunition from the Century and fired at the schooner. The damage delayed it for another few days. Vasquez even tried to detonate a bomb in the rudder, but in vain. The Santa Fe returned. Vasquez ran into the lighthouse and killed the guards there. He lit it and the dispatch boat intercepted the schooner. The captain of the schooner learned everything and cut the pirates off their food supplies. Most surrendered. Some starved. Kongre committed suicide. Captain Laffayate made sure the island was safe for the lighthouse replacements before leaving with the man and Vasquez.
