20 - Begums Fortune by Jules Verne

Step into a world where utopia clashes with dystopia in Begums Fortune. This gripping novel follows a French doctor and a German professor, both heirs to a monumental fortune from a French soldier who married an Indian princes wealthy widow. Eager to forge their own ideal societies in America, Dr. Sarrasin, the visionary French doctor, constructs Ville-France on the stunning Oregon Coast, prioritizing public health and well-being. In stark contrast, the militaristic and prejudiced Professor Schultze lays the groundwork for Stahlstadt, a city dedicated to the relentless production of advanced weaponry, all in a bid to overpower Sarrasins peaceful community. With the U.S. ceding sovereignty to these two cities, the stage is set for an epic showdown between their contrasting ideologies. Where will the pursuit of fortune and the quest for an ideal society lead? - Summary by Kate Follis