The story begins in Hamburg, 1863. The brilliant Professor Lidenbrock, inspired by an ancient, encoded manuscript, decides to take his reluctant nephew Axel on a seemingly insane mission: to travel down volcanic tunnels to the very center of the earth. With Hans, their intrepid Icelandic guide, they descend deeper and deeper, encountering terrifying prehistoric animals and passing through unimaginably beautiful landscapes. Will Axel ever again see his beloved fiancee Grauben?

In these delightful essays, Pulitzer Prize winner Dirda introduces nearly 90 of the world's most entertaining books, covering masterpieces of fantasy, science fiction, horror, adventure, epics, history, and children's literature.

Journey to the Center of the Earth is a classic 1864 science fiction novel by Jules Verne (published in the original French as Voyage au centre de la Terre). The story involves a professor who leads his nephew and hired guide down a volcano in Iceland to the "center of the Earth". They encounter many adventures, including prehistoric animals and natural hazards, eventually coming to the surface again in southern Italy.

The protagonist of the story, Axel, living in an old house in the K�nigstrasse in Hamburg with his uncle Otto Lidenbrock, a prestigious professor of mineralogy at the "Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums" (designated in book as "Johanneum"), whom he describes as a man feared for his strong character but very original, his cousin Gr�uben and her maid, Marta. One day the teacher called him to his office, where he teaches a valuable manuscript of Heimskringla, Snorri Sturluson. But that book hides a surprise: a scroll of runic origin that hides a secret message. After much effort and thanks to a chance discovery of Axel, they will achieve decipher. In it, an Icelandic alchemist named Arne Saknussemm reveals how to get to the center of the earth. Professor, euphoric, decides to go to the right place on parchment along with his nephew Axel.

A JOURNEY INTO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH BY JULES VERNE WITH BEAUTIFUL CLASSIC COVER. PERFECTLY FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES CLASSIC ACTION ADVENTURES SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS OR AS A GIFT FOR YOU LOVED ONE. GET YOURS TODAY! Specifications: Cover Finish: GLOSSY Dimensions: 5,25" x 8" (13,34 x 20,32 cm) Interior: White Paper Pages: 208

Journey to the Center of the Earth is a classic 1864 science fiction novel by Jules Verne (published in the original French as Voyage au centre de la Terre). The story involves a professor who leads his nephew and hired guide down a volcano in Iceland to the "center of the Earth". They encounter many adventures, including prehistoric animals and natural hazards, eventually coming to the surface again in southern Italy.