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Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne is a 19th century novel following Professor Lidenbrock and his nephew Axel. The two, alongside Icelandic native guide Hans Bjelke, travel through Europe to Iceland to enter Mount Snæfells. Their journey begins in Germany after discovering a coded letter, which leads the eccentric Professor to attempt this dangerous journey.
Being an archaeology student, I’d heard a few of my friends’ cite this as one of their main influences in choosing their degree (alongside Percy Jackson, like the rest of us). While the book has a more geological focus because of the journey through a volcano, an archaeologist interests’ in this book isn’t too shocking, given some of their discoveries throughout the book.
Trying to review this book has been difficult because the only issue I had with it was its fairly rigid writing, but that is most likely because of the genre and era. For example, a lot of the dialogue between Lidenbrock and Axel is for the purpose of the bringing the reader up to date with the scientific aspects and terminology. I understand the motive of Verne, however, for a modern reader, it reads a little too much like a script or recipe book that feels the need to explicitly describe things.
Other than that aspect, the book is phenomenal. Verne is known as one of the best storytellers of the 19th century and I don’t doubt it. The vibrant and exhilarating descriptions of the journey leaves the reader with a bubble of energy and the only thing that will calm this feeling is doing something productive or creative, or anything outside your comfort zone. Currently being in isolation has made doing anything of that sort difficult, I’d like to mention.
There has been some debate to the meaning behind a book like this, and while I love arguing that there doesn’t have to be a universal meaning and the reader will never know the full intention of the author, this book radiates with messages about familial love and passion for your career and hobbies. Lidenbrock is so deep into his research and career path he is willing to discover the undiscoverable, despite the danger involved. As mentioned before, this book filled me with such a buzzing joy and got me wanting to go out and do ~anything~ , a feeling makes me have to recommend this book to everyone.
From loveable characters and really brilliant themes about how quickly scientific theories need to be re-analysed and re-evaluated in the face of modern experience (highlighting how flexible and complex the industry is *cough cough*, the book is a timeless classic which I hope ignites something in you.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5