Journey To The Center Of The Earth

Description

Axel, the enthusiastic and excitable nephew of the illustrious professor and mineralogist Otto Lidenbrock, narrates the tale of the journey to the centre of the Earth. On May 24, 1863, Lidenbrock consults a recently acquired runic manuscript of the 12th century and discovers an encrypted message from the 16th-century Icelandic alchemist Arne Saknussemm. Lidenbrock is excited, and believes that Saknussemm wants to share a scientific discovery. The professor wants to decipher the message but has trouble in doing so. Luckily, Axel manages to decrypt the document. Axel knows that his uncle will want to make a similar attempt and decides not to tell him of the finding, but eventually gives in. Lidenbrock immediately starts planning the journey and tells his nephew to come along as well. Lidenbrock and Axel leave Hamburg and travel to Iceland. Hans leaves his companions to go in search of water. He finds a source that flows through the wall of a cliff and leads the others there. After Hans has drilled a hole in the wall, a small brook flows forth: this body of water is named after Hans. At one point in the journey, Axel is separated from his uncle and guide; he despairs that he will die of hunger and thirst in the dark cavern. Thankfully, an auditory trick (much like the use of sound in cathedrals and caverns) allows them to reconnect. The travellers soon come to the shore of a vast underground sea. There they see huge mushrooms, which are identified as the giant champignons. As the journey continues, the weather shifts and a massive storm begins. They go through a lot of hurdles on their journey. Then they return home in the end and Lidenbrock becomes famous and renowned for his narrative and for lectures on his journeys.