( No, indeed! from all parts of the hall.) Samuel Ferguson, one of her most glorious sons, will not reflect discredit on his origin. This rare specimen of eloquence terminated with the following sonorous phrases bubbling over with patriotism:Įngland has always marched at the head of nations (for, the reader will observe, the nations always march at the head of each other), by the intrepidity of her explorers in the line of geographical discovery. The president, Sir Francis M-, made an important communication to his colleagues, in an address that was frequently interrupted by applause. There was a large audience assembled on the 14th of January, 1862, at the session of the Royal Geographical Society, No. SAMUEL FERGUSON.-EXCELSIOR.-FULL-LENGTH PORTRAIT OF THE DOCTOR.-A FATALIST CONVINCED.-A DINNER AT THE TRAVELLERS’ CLUB.-SEVERAL TOASTS FOR THE OCCASION. THE END OF A MUCH-APPLAUDED SPEECH.-THE PRESENTATION OF DR. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this new edition of Jules Verne’s Five Weeks in a Balloon is a classic novel reimagined for modern readers. While Five Weeks in a Balloon endures as an exciting and adventurous text, it also provides a unique perspective on the intersection of nineteenth-century science, literature, and the exploration and colonization of Africa. The novel is a curious mix of fantasy and reality, referencing the journeys of real-life adventurers while imagining an innovative and as-yet-unperfected form of exploration, the long-distance hot air balloon. This marked the beginning of an illustrious and lucrative career for Verne, whose works have inspired scientists, writers, and filmmakers for over a century. Published in France in 1863, Five Weeks in a Balloon was translated for English-speaking audiences in 1869.

Jules Verne’s Five Weeks in a Balloon is a classic novel of hope and determination that asks today’s reader to take to the air, if only for a short time, in search of what must always defy belief. On the way, they must overcome extreme thirst, withstand assaults from hostile tribes, and stage a series of daring rescues and brilliant escapes. As they make their way through air across the unexplored regions of Africa, they attempt to do what has never been done before: discover the source of the Nile. Samuel Fergusson embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his trusted servant, Joe, and loyal friend, Dick Kennedy. Five Weeks in a Balloon is not only the first installment in Jules Verne’s celebrated Voyages Extraordinaires series, but also the first of Verne’s works to earn him widespread popularity as a writer of science fiction and adventure novels.įollowing his invention of an ingenious new air balloon capable of long-distance flight, Dr.

Five weeks in a balloon by jules verne