Lighthouse at the End of the World

The First English Translation of Verne's Original Manuscript (Bison Frontiers of Imagination)

At the extreme tip of South America, Staten Island has piercing Antarctic winds, lonely coasts assaulted by breakers, and sailors lost as their vessels smash on the dark rocks. Now that civilization dares to rule here, a lighthouse penetrates the last and wildest place of all. But Vasquez, the guardian of the sacred light, has not reckoned with the vicious, desperate Kongre gang, who murder his two friends and force him out into the wilderness. Alone, without resources, can he foil their cruel plans?

A gripping tale of passion and perseverance, Verne’s testament novel paints a compelling picture of intrigue and heroism, schemes and calamities. The master storyteller returns here to the theme of civilization against its two oldest enemies: pitiless nature and men's savagery.

©1999, 2007 Le Phare du bout du monde copyright Les Éditions internationales Alain Stanké. Editions de l'Archipel. Translation and critical apparatus copyright William Butcher. (P)2022 University of Nebraska Press

A good addition to the Verne audio library

As he did with the Arctic adventure “Captain Hatteras,” Patrick Barker does a good job narrating William Butcher’s translation of this late work by Jules Verne. It”s a grim story, not the kind of thing normally associated with Verne, who is sometimes viewed — incorrectly — as an incorrigible optimist. He shows here that he is well aware of the evil and brutality men are capable of, and the story ends badly for many of the participants. Other editions of the book reflect changes made by Verne’s son Michel; this is the only one based on Verne’s original manuscript.