The Mysterious Island

By: Jules Verne

Narrated by: Berny Clark

Length: 19 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Great tie in to 20000 Leagues Under the Sea!

If you read 20000 Leagues Under the Sea then this is a great tie in to it. Jules Verne is a little long winded, but the character development is great. The story is set during the civil war and shows the courage of great men in a struggle for survival as castaways in the Pacific Ocean. Slow to start, but a great read. You should also read Journey to the Center of the Earth another great one by Verne. He is the grandfather of sci-fi.

Excellent story masterfully performed

One of Verne’s best. Albeit perhaps not an equal to its predecessor (20,000 Leagues), it is nevertheless a highly engaging tale and well worth the time. Definitely recommend.

Fantastic but the narration was a little dry.

The story was great. I love Verne. I had never read the story before and didn’t know if it’s existence until just a little while ago. I’m glad I downloaded and listen to it. I wish the narrator wasn’t as dry in his delivery though. 

Wish I read this long ago

Great story and adventure. It’s a long listen well worth the time. The details and descriptions and characters pull you into the story and you feel like you are on the island with them. I couldn’t wait to hear what happened next. Recommend this.

Great For It's Day

When you read something written in 1874, then you have to keep in mind, when it was written, the culture at the time and if Science Fiction, the knowledge at that time. There is no doubt in my mind that at the time this was written it was one of the best if not the best story you could obtain. Even reading it today as a 54 year old man, it brought back the wonder and the adventure I felt as a boy, going out and playing in the woods and pretending to be on a mysterious island. As a young boy the movie Mysterious Island was my favorite next to The Wizard of Oz.

The 60's movie and the book have very little in common. There are no giant birds, no girls, etc. If you buy the book, then you need to be ready for long sections, where they tell you step by step how to make gun powder, bricks, ovens, etc.

There is a lot that can be criticized about the book, which is fairly common for novels of the time period. The engineer is a perfect man, his knowledge is total, he is calm at all times, he is a great leader, etc. So many things just fall into place, such as one of them just happens to find a corn seed in the lining of his coat, one of them mentions they could really use a beast of burden and the next day two show up at there doorstep, everything they make or attempt comes out perfect, never a mistake. The ending is a super cop out of a miracle. It also bothers me that there are no women, that of these five men, none are married, don't seem to have families and never once miss anyone from home. Anytime someone is given up for dead, you can expect some miracle to bring them back to life. I believe this to be typical of 19th century adventure novels.

The book has a whole is very interesting, there are some really good parts, some intense parts and as long as you don't expect it to compete with modern writing then it is an enjoyable read.

The narrator was good for this type of book, I am not sure I would want him to read something which involved lots of emotion.

What a story!

Even though it invokes something of the true story of Alexander Selkirk, thought to be the model for the character of Robinson Crusoe, The Mysterious Island is a creation quite unlike other castaway tales. The plot is a fantastic one from the start, as four men, a teenage boy and a dog escape a Civil War prison camp in Virginia by way of a balloon that is promptly blown thousands of miles by a hurricane, dropping them on a remote and unknown island in the Pacific. These learned, professional fellows fall from the sky without so much as a pocketknife, but within a few months apply their talents to create a thriving little community. Their feats of chemistry, botany, seamanship and engineering conquer one challenge after another, almost without effort or misfire, and their little group is unfailingly courteous, cooperative, and brilliant. There is never any dispute over leadership that would eventually afflict most mortals.

The “mysterious” aspect of the island is an unknown and invisible helping hand, and it steadily swells in the background from minor coincidence to the near-supernatural. No spoiler here—it is a terrific and engaging story.

A few words about the translation, even though it’s not a specialty I know much about. This one is quaint and stilted, a kind of period piece with elaborate, flowery dialogue on every occasion. On the one hand, it can at times use overly simplistic language. But at other times, it almost seems the translator has selected a few of the most complicated and impressive words possible from the thesaurus, and then used them to death. The verb “expiate,” for instance, in a variety of conjugations, must appear more times in this book than in all the other literature of the 19th century combined.

Perhaps it’s true to Verne’s intentions and his times. Maybe it’s more authentic. But it would be interesting to hear this amazing story written in a more accessible and conversational, and therefore less distracting style.

Mysterious Island

I first read Mysterious Island as a fifth grader over fifty years ago. Like Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, it stretched my imagination and built my sense of adventure. This book is a true classic. You'll love it!

Why in the Heck should you Care what I think!

Would you listen to The Mysterious Island again? Why?

No, I heard it the first time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

the dog.

What does Berny Clark bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

That voice in my wife's head.,

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Global warming causes Submarine death.

Any additional comments?

Put down the PS4 and read the Master. This is the mind that the Gamers wish they had.

Loved it!

I wish I had read this when I was younger, it was so engaging and informative...

Written by a genius! Fantastic novel.

Written over 144 years ago and it is one of my favorites. An adventure story I have listened to many times and will never tire of. Excellent narration.