Journeys and Adventures of Captain Hatteras
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| Author | Jules Verne |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | |
| Released | 1864 |
Journeys and Adventures of Captain Hatteras (in French Voyages et aventures du capitaine Hatteras) is a science fiction novel by Jules Verne.
The novel was published for the first time in 1864. The definitive version from 1866 was included into Voyages Extraordinaires series (The Extraordinary Voyages). Although it was the first book of the series it was labeled as number two. Three Verne's books from 1863-65 (Five Weeks in a Balloon, Journey to the Center of the Earth and From the Earth to the Moon) were added into the series retroactively.
[edit] Plot summary
The novel, set in 1861, described adventures of British expedition led by captain John Hatteras to the North Pole. Hatteras is convinced that the sea around the pole is not frozen and his obsession is to reach the place no matter what. Mutiny by the crew results in destruction of their ship but Hatteras, with a few men, continues on the expedition. On the shore of the island of "New America" he discovers the remains of a ship used by the previous expedition from the United States. The travellers winter on the island and survive mainly due to the ingenuity of Doctor Clawboy (who is able to make fire with an ice lens, make bullets from frozen mercury and repel attacks by polar bears with remotely controlled explosions of black powder).
When the winter ends the sea becomes ice-free. The travellers build a boat from the shipwrek and head towards the pole. Here they discover an island, an active volcano, and name it after Hatteras. With difficulty a fjord is found and the group get ashore. After three hours climbing they reach the mouth of the volcano. The exact location of the pole is in the crater and Hatteras jumps into it. He survives but it is clear he had gone mad. After return to England he is put into an asylum for the insane; he passes his time taking long walks in a northerly direction.
