Description
Book SynopsisPresents the first unabridged English translation of Jules Verne's original story featuring a famous French string quartet that is abducted by an American businessman and taken to Standard Island to perform for its millionaire inhabitants. Here, for the first time, readers have the pleasure of reading
The Self-Propelled Island as Verne intended it.
Trade Review“We’re in the midst of a marvelous Verne renaissance. . . . The Self-Propelled Island is a novel of great appeal, especially to Americans: by sending northern and southern aristocrats to sea in literally the same boat, it not only features one of Verne’s fabulous futuristic vehicles but also unfolds one of his shrewdest, wittiest political satires.”—Frederick Paul Walter, Verne translator and former vice president of the North American Jules Verne Society
Table of ContentsIntroduction by Volker Dehs
Translator’s Note
Part One
I. The Concerting Quartet
II. The Power of a Cacophonous Sonata
III. A Chatty Mentor
IV. The Concerting Quartet Disconcerted
V. Standard Island and Milliard City
VI. Invitees . . . Inviti
VII. Heading West
VIII. Navigation
IX. The Hawaiian Archipelago
X. Crossing the Line
XI. The Marquesas Islands
XII. Three Weeks in the Tuamotus
XIII. Stopping at Tahiti
XIV. Parties and More Parties
Part Two
I. In the Cook Islands
II. From Island to Island
III. Concert at the Court
IV. British Ultimatum
V. The Taboo at Tonga Tabu
VI. A Collection of Wild Animals
VII. The Hunt
VIII. The Fiji Islands and Their Inhabitants
IX. A Casus Belli
X. Change of Owners
XI. Offense and Defense
XII. Taking the Helm, Starboard or Larboard?
XIII. The Last Word by Pinchinat
XIV. Denouement
