A Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Eccentric geologist Professor Hardwigg is intrigued by the encrypted message he finds between the leaves of an ancient manuscript. His nephew Harry helps him crack the code, revealing a message from a medieval alchemist claiming to have found a route to the very bowels of the Earth. The professor becomes obsessed with the quest, waving aside the siren warnings of his fearful nephew. Their subterranean adventure begins at an Icelandic volcano, where the two recruit a local guide and embark on their descent into the unknown. Along with fossils, bones and petrified vegetation, they discover creatures that are very much alive ... Written at a time when Man was pushing back the boundaries of terrestrial exploration, Jules Verne's fantastical odyssey takes us to a new frontier full of eye-popping wonders and life-threatening perils, a riveting blend of science and imagination. -- from publisher.