Journey to the Center of the Earth

By: Jules Verne

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Geologist Otto Lidenbrock is perusing an ancient Icelandic manuscript when he discovers a mysterious encrypted note. The message reveals the account of a sixteenth-century explorer who claims to have found a passageway to the center of the earth.

In his quest to penetrate the planet's primordial secrets, the impetuous professor, together with his quaking nephew, Axel, and their devoted guide, Hans, sets off immediately for Iceland. Descending through the belly of a volcano into the bowels of the earth, they discover an astonishing subterranean world of prehistoric proportions.

A classic of science fiction that helped give birth to the genre, this imaginative speculation on the earth's nature is both a rousing adventure story and an apt portrait of the psychology of the questing scientist.

Public Domain (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Amazing reading of an otherwise wordsome story

Would you consider the audio edition of Journey to the Center of the Earth to be better than the print version?

Very much so. While I do not wish to judge the story as it is a classic and has some very good parts to it, I find that the story tends to drag in places and focus on the science and geology of the setting, not on the more fantastic nature of the story.While I understand that this is a style of writing some enjoy, I cannot but feel that it makes the story feel longer and dwells on things that most readers wouldn't care for. However, the reading itself by Simon Prebble is first rate and really carries the story.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I found the ending to be a bit abrupt, we were at one place then suddenly were in another and everything worked out.

Which character – as performed by Simon Prebble – was your favorite?

Since this was told in the first person, this is a bit harder to decide. I will say that each of the characters was distinct and well defined, you wouldn't mix them up.

Any additional comments?

The narration of Simon Prebble was very good. The story itself is slow at times, but I can't give less than five stars overall for this narration.

There was some mention by others that there was an error in which recording was being offered, however as of this review this has been rectified.

I had previously purchased the Tim Curry reading of the same book and found it immensely dull. The pronunciation was careful and measured, but rather slow and didn't seem to have much excitement. I found that there were odd pauses in his speech and it threw me.

awesome story for the time

narrator was great with story telling. the story line was amazing. I highly recommend it

Excellent, Well-Narrated Adventure

Delightful! I love Jules Verne and while "20000 Leagues Under the Sea" is still my favorite, this story is absolutely excellent. Hans is very much my favorite character and the wry, sarcastic humor that is woven throughout the book is hilarious. I definitely recommend it!

The narrator did an oustanding job in capturing Axel's wry tone, his uncle's personality, and in his pronunciation of all the various languages that were used.

I still enjoy this book!

I read this novel for the first time when I was ten years old, and I loved it. I had forgotten most of the details, so l got just as much enjoyment out of listening to this audio book as I did when I read it 40 years ago. The narrator has a pleasant voice and did a good job reading the text.

Good... if you can stand the accent

I love Jules Verne. A few weeks ago, I had just finished listening to 20,000 leagues under the see read by Harlan Ellison. Mr. Ellison made the experience of listening to this well known classic fresh and immediate. I was therefore anxious to listen to this other Verne classic, Journey to the center of the earth.

Though I was positively disposed to the material and the style of the author, I found the narration unbearable between the extremely well done dialog accents.

The narrator affects a pompous, arrogant English accent that puts me off. He did not sound at all excited about the material. Indeed, the reading was rather perfunctory. Try as I might to adapt to the accent, hoping that it would become 'invisible' with enough habituation, I am still in pain as I listen even after several hours.

My image of an excited young nephew going on an an adventure of a lifetime is not met in this work. Instead, the narrator sounds like a middle aged man giving an account of his latest polo match over afternoon tea.

aged in a bad manner

I don't know to point out the exact reason, but this book didn't aged good.
It's very speculative, and imaginative, but the story is not flowing and professor know everything character is not reliable.
Vern had much better works.
the narrator is very good

Finally! I've finally "read" it!

This has been a book that I have wanted to read for quite some time. I saw the movies, but like any of them, they just can't do what a book can do. I loved it. Well read and written (of course),it allowed my mind to visualize the things they were going through, again. something that just can't be recreated in the movies. A must "read"/ listen for all!

Wow

This book is fantastic, plain and simple. Jules Verne’s characters are all very well written and the story is wonderful and exciting. With that said, the real star of the book is Simon Prebble. His narrations are sublime, and I have no doubts that I could listen to him describe paint drying with great enthusiasm.

Very good definitely recommend

It’s not as fantastic as the movies of course but I very much enjoyed it and would love to see more of this world, unfortunately there is no sequel I know of.

Excellent Narration

The narrator's performance of this reading was very well done and executed. I recommend this version.