North American Jules Verne Society, Inc. - Information on the story _Around the World in 80 Days

A note to new readers...
Jules Verne (1828-1905) has been one of the world's best-selling authors, translated in over a hundred languages. He has been beloved now for over a century for his imagination and story-telling skill.
One thing about Verne you need to know. As a Frenchman who wrote in his native language, many of his stories were badly translated into English back in his own day. These versions continue to be reprinted. Further, many of these books are abridged. If you read one, you are not getting the full story (often 1/4 will be left out!). This is explained by New York University Professor Walter James Miller, a Verne translator and scholar honored by our Society. The Rehabilitation of Jules Verne in America: From Boy's Author to Adult’s Author— 1960-2003. Previous Page

Below are some recommended books, and translations, of Verne.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS is one of his better-translated books. However, avoid shortened "children's" editions. There is one good new translation of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS: - Translation by William Butcher; Oxford University Press. Especially useful for scholars. Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.

There are many other Verne books you would probably enjoy. Among these are:
20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA - Translation by Walter James Miller and Frederick Paul Walter; Naval Institute Press. This edition also contains some of the beautiful original engravings that illustrated Verne's novels on their first publication. Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. - Translation by William Butcher; Oxford University Press Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. - Translated by Mendor Brunetti; Signet Classics Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. - Translated by Anthony Bonner; Bantam Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.

THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND - Translated by Sidney Kravitz; Wesleyan University Press Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. - Translated by Jordan Stump; Random House Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (Beware editions of the book where the characters are named Hardwigg and Harry; this translation doesn't even use the names Verne gave his heroes!) - Translation by William Butcher; Oxford University Press Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. - Translated by Robert Baldick; Penguin Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.

MICHAEL STROGOFF (A Courier of the Czar) - Translator unknown; N.C. Wyeth illustrator; Scribner's Illustrated Classic Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.

In addition, many Verne stories never before translated into English have recently appeared for the first time.
The science fiction play, JOURNEY THROUGH THE IMPOSSIBLE, was published with the assistance of the North American Jules Verne Society. Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.

There are also several Verne novels recently translated into English for the very first time.
THE INVASION OF THE SEA - Translation by Edward Baxter; critical material by Art Evans; Wesleyan University Press Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble

THE MIGHTY ORINOCO - Translation by Stanford Luce; critical material by Walter James Miller; Wesleyan University Press Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble

MAGELLANIA - Translation by Benjamin Irvy; Welcome Rain Get it at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble

There are many other entertaining Verne books currently in print that you might also enjoy. HECTOR SERVADAC (journey through the solar system on a comet) MASTER OF THE WORLD (invention of a combination automobile-submarine-ship-aircraft) ROBUR THE CONQUEROR (invention of a giant helicopter) FACING THE FLAG (pirate abducts an inventor to achieve world domination) THE CASTLE IN THE CARPATHIANS (gothic of the first motion pictures) CAPTAIN ANTIFER (search for buried treasure in the Mediterranean) THE WRECK OF THE FRANKLIN (woman searches for her shipwrecked husband) NORTH AGAINST SOUTH (novel of the American Civil War) ADVENTURES IN THE LAND OF THE BEHEMOTH (adventures in South Africa)
Search for them and more at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.

You can find out more about Verne by visiting the various links on our website.
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A note to new readers...