'An Antarctic Mystery' by Jules Verne is a sequel to Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket'. The book follows the adventures of the narrator and his journey from the Kerguelen Islands aboard the ship Halbrane to the South Pole. The story is filled with maritime adventure, shipwrecks, mutinies, and strange discoveries, all set in the age of sail. Verne masterfully weaves a tale that satisfies the reader's curiosity about Poe's characters while also creating a fascinating world of his own, with elements of science fiction and mystery.

The plot of 'An Antarctic Mystery' is engaging, unfolding in a detailed and descriptive manner that allows readers to envision the struggles and hardships faced by the characters during their journey. Verne's writing style combines elements of scientific exploration with imaginative storytelling, creating a narrative that keeps the tension high throughout the entire book. The book not only complements Poe's original story but also adds its own twists and turns, making it a captivating read for fans of maritime adventures and polar exploration.

Characters:

The characters are varied, with Jeorling as the investigative protagonist and Captain Len Guy as a key figure connected to previous stories, alongside a diverse crew.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is descriptive and reflective, filled with scientific details, and aligns with 19th-century conventions, giving it a slower pace at times.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Jeorling's expedition to Antarctica, aiming to uncover the fate of Pym and other characters, incorporating scientific discoveries and adventure.

Setting:

The setting spans Antarctica and the Kerguelen Islands, exploring the challenges of maritime exploration in a 19th-century context.

Pacing:

The pacing is variable, featuring exciting moments mixed with slower sections that can impact reader engagement.

Notes:

An Antarctic Mystery was written by Jules Verne as a sequel to Edgar Allan Poe's only novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.

The book was originally published in 1897 and is also known as The Sphinx of the Ice Fields.

Verne dedicated this novel to the memory of Edgar Allan Poe, reflecting his admiration for Poe's work.

The story follows Mr. Jeorling, an American geologist, as he joins a voyage to Antarctica aboard the Halbrane.

The novel features a mix of adventure and exploration in the uncharted territories of the South Pole.

Verne's story incorporates elements of Poe's narrative while expanding on the mystery surrounding certain characters, particularly Arthur Gordon Pym.

This book can be seen as an early example of fan fiction, as it extends the universe created by Poe.

The narrative describes the crew's encounters with various challenges, including a mysterious ice sphinx and dead bodies found on icebergs.

Critics have noted the scientific inaccuracies and moral clarity present in Verne's writing compared to Poe's darker themes.

Many readers appreciated the maritime adventure elements, though some found the pacing slow and the protagonist too passive.

From The Publisher:

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket", Jules Verne intended "An Antarctic Mystery" to complete the mystery of Pym's fate, which was left open at the conclusion of Poe's original work. A high-sea adventure written in 1897, "An Antarctic Mystery" takes readers to the very edge of the world, where the mystery of Arthur Gordon Pym's fate is eventually revealed.

SUMMARY

Eleven years after the disappearance of Edgar Allan Poe's Arthur Gordon Pym aboard the Jane , wealthy American Jeorling is returning to the United States on the Halbrane when it encounters an iceberg on which is found a note indicating the fate of the Jane and its crew. The crew of the Halbrane , under the leadership of Captain Guy (brother to the captain of the Jane ), undertakes to find and rescue the Jane 's remaining crew.

Ratings (3)

It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (4):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (1)
Did Not Finish (1)

1 comment(s)

rusbud393

Did Not Like

1 month

"an antarctic mystery" is a sequel to Edgar Alan Poe's only novel "the narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym" it has many of the hallmarks of a fan sequel or a fan fiction. In a way this is very amusing. At the same time though it doesn't really seem up to the level of Vernes other works, it follows an existing narrative (and having read Pym shortly before I began this one I was thoroughly familiar with it) doesn't introduce a large group of new characters, mostly just presents the story from before as though it had actually happened (which of course Poe had pretended in the first place, so it feels a bit redundant). There is, in fact, a chapter partway into the book that simply summarizes the events of Pym in fair detail. The story ends up being very slow and retreading a lot of ground you had already been through.

Strangely it reminded me of the film "journey to the center of the Earth" with Brendan Fraser and Josh Hutcherson, take an existing story "oh it's actually real" and show the same things in the original story, it's a bit dull if you've already read the original, and maybe even if you hadn't.

What can you read after
An Antarctic Mystery?

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

An Antarctic Mystery

Jules Verne