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The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
The Mysterious Island is another exquisite novel written by the master of adventure writing, Jules Verne. The novel has been seen as the sequel to two other famous novels written by the same author: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and In Search of the Castaway. The story revolves around five Americans who live in a dark and harsh environment as prisoners of the American Civil War. Depleted by famine and death all around them, the five war prisoners take a big risk and escape by hijacking a hot air balloon. The five fugitives, an engineer, a servant, a former slave, a sailor and a journalist have to face an ugly and destroying storm, crashing on a mysterious volcanic island. The five men start a new living there, but circumstances soon become mysterious when a message in a bottle turns up on the beach. With pirate attacks and erupting volcanoes these five escapees get more than they bargained for. This book is a fun read for anyone with an adventurous spirit deep inside.
Ogura Hyakunin Isshu by Fujiwara no Teika
Hyakunin isshu (百人一首) is a traditional style of compiling Japanese waka poetry where each contributor writes one poem for the anthology.
Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini
An adventure novel with an unexpected hero, Captain Blood follows the unintended journey of chivalrous and well-educated gentleman Peter Blood, who without much choice was plunged into the world of piracy forcing him to leave his tranquil lifestyle behind. Sabatini first introduced his protagonist in a series of eight short stories published in magazine installments, until later weaving them together in 1922 as a novel. Set in the late 17th century, the novel begins with the image of Peter Blood, a physician, casually attending his geraniums and smoking a pipe. However, things in the quiet town of Bridgewater are everything but ordinary. The town is in the midst of the Monmouth rebellion and despite not wanting to take part in the matter, Blood’s duty as a doctor prevails as he goes to tend the wounded rebels. Unfortunately for Blood, his duty of caring for the wounded is seen as aiding the rebellion and after being put to trial, he is unjustly convicted of treason and sentenced to slavery. Following his imprisonment and services to the malignant Colonel Bishop, Blood plans an escape with fellow captives from their miserable conditions and treatment. Fortunately, all is not gloomy in the life of the protagonist, as he also experiences the enchantment of love as he becomes acquainted with Bishop’s kind-hearted niece Arabella. Captain Blood is marked by its exciting high seas adventures, exotic locations, historical elements, clever characters, romance, and its generous contribution of swashbuckling. Cast away from his tedious lifestyle as a physician, Blood must rise and take responsibility as his character develops to fit the description of the very rebel he initially opposed. Apart from creating an interesting piece of literature, Sabatini shows his determination for precision as he keeps the historical background in the book as close to the actual events as possible. Moreover, the memorable characteristics of the protagonist leave readers returning to his gripping adventures. A tempting fusion of love, high seas adventure, swashbuckling, and clever maneuvering allures one to capture every detail in this classic.
An American Robinson Crusoe by Samuel B. Allison
An American Robinson Crusoe is a short version of the original story. An indolent, rebellious teen goes on a marine voyage against his parents’ wishes. The ship (and all of its crew) is lost in a storm, but Robinson makes it to a deserted island. He has no tools, no weapons, but he lives for over 28 years on the island. He befriends many animals on the island and after over 20 years living solo, he is joined by a young “savage” who becomes his constant companion. The transformation from the young, lazy teen to a self-sustaining, incredibly knowledgeable adult is one of the major themes in the story.
After London, or Wild England by Richard Jefferies
First published in 1885, After London, or Wild England is considered to be one of the earliest instances of post-apocalyptic fiction, describing the effects of an unspecified catastrophe that dramatically changes the face of England and its population. Divided into two parts, the first depicts the fall of civilization, as society reverts to its more primitive roots, while the second part is set years after the apocalyptic event and examines the evident changes in both natural scenery and social structure. In addition, Jefferies offers a remarkable portrait of the natural world with his colorful imagery and evocative descriptions, which highlight his enthusiasm and devotion to nature. The first part of the novel begins with Jefferies’ description of a mysterious natural disaster that has taken its toll on England, and later goes on to provide a detailed account of the resurgence of nature in the aftermath of the dire calamity. Although the source of the disaster is not clearly distinguished, its effects on society and nature are immense, as the area has been substantially depopulated and engulfed by a newly formed lake. Slowly covering any traces of the industrial world, the land welcomes the return of wildlife to its unspoiled state, as trees, flowers, and plants begin to take over the area, while animals return to their feral states. Furthermore, the society that has remained reverts to its medieval roots, divided into tribal groups and a somewhat educated class. Subsequently, the novel shifts its focus to Felix Aquila, a dignified young man who sets out on a dangerous adventure, exploring the mystifying wilderness. In addition, Felix must face numerous predicaments along the way that test his durability and fortitude. Presenting a unique take on a post-apocalyptic world, with a generous supply of botanical detail, After London, or Wild England served as an inspiration for many writers to follow in Jefferies’ footsteps and make a contribution to the post-apocalyptic genre. Interestingly, Jefferies effectively employs nature as the dominant feature in the novel, emphasizing its presence and influence in an altered landscape. Painting a vivid illustration of unspoiled nature and illustrating the gripping notion of natural reversion and the downfall of civilization, the novel is a sure to enthrall nature enthusiasts.
The Man Who Would Be King by Rudyard Kipling
The Man Who Would Be King tells the story of two British adventurers in British India who become kings of Kafiristan, a remote part of Afghanistan. It was inspired by the exploits of James Brooke, an Englishman who became the “white Raja” of Sarawak in Borneo, and by the travels of American adventurer Josiah Harlan, who claimed the title Prince of Ghor. The story was first published in The Phantom Rickshaw and other Tales (Volume Five of the Indian Railway Library, published by A H Wheeler & Co of Allahabad in 1888). It also appeared in Wee Willie Winkie and Other Stories in 1895, and in numerous later editions of that collection. It is the basis for John Huston’s 1975 film of the same name, starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine as the “kings”, and Christopher Plummer as Kipling.
Robin Hood by J. Walker McSpadden
Robin Hood is a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes. The origin of the legend is claimed by some to have stemmed from actual outlaws, or from ballads or tales of outlaws.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
The Art of War is a 6th Century BC Chinese treatise on war and military strategy known for its timeless examples of strategy and planning. There is intense interest in this ancient work since it teaches how to be victorious in conflict and that the final victory ultimately is to see war as an effort to win minds and hearts rather than a mere acquisition of territory and wealth. The Art of War by Sun Tzu is a two thousand year old work, reputedly authored by a famous military general and strategist who lived in ancient China. Apart from this, he is also revered and respected in many South Asian countries as a learned philosopher. The book is divided into thirteen chapters and there is historical evidence to prove that it was written over a period of time and perhaps with many borrowings and collaborations with other similar works of the period. However, it was also heavily criticized by generations of scholars and thinkers in later centuries as it advocated deception and spying as accepted strategies in war. Many scholars have also doubted whether a figure such as Sun Tzu existed at all and have found several inaccuracies in terms of the timeframe in which the book was supposed to have been written. Many feel that the original work may have undergone several revisions over the centuries before being consolidated in its present form. Whatever the nature of these opinions The Art of War remains a fascinating, valuable and extremely interesting work. Each chapter explores a different aspect of war. Beginning with elaborate plans that should be put in place before the commencement of war, the book goes on to describe different situations in which wars are fought, the kind of strategies employed in various types of terrain, understanding the nature of the enemy and finally positioning, timing and methods of attack. For present day corporate warriors, The Art of War is an invaluable text. Business management, sports and politics are some of the fields where it has found immense application. Conflict resolution theory has been immeasurably enhanced with the addition of Sun Tzu's millennia-old tried and tested methods. It also provides valuable assistance in the grooming of leaders, understanding and appreciating the opponent and leveraging one's own advantages. The Art of War provides compelling reading for anyone who is interested in the dynamics of negotiation, competition, mediation, planning and arbitration.
Round the Moon: A Sequel to From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne
Part of the Voyages Extraordinaires series by French novelist Jules Verne, and also a sequel to his classic science fiction novel From the Earth to the Moon, Round the Moon presents the continuation of the gripping tale which ended with a cliffhanger and left readers to ponder over endless possibilities. Published in 1870, the novel presents an unprecedented journey into space, while focusing on space navigation, scientific calculations, unforeseen circumstances and dangerous encounters, which in turn mark the novel as prophetic of its time. The novel launches with the reappearance of the distinct trio and first space travelers, Barbicane, Nicholl and Ardan, who have been launched out of a projectile and begin their visionary mission of lunar exploration. Having blacked out after being fired out of a space gun, the three adventurers later regain consciousness, extremely lucky to have escaped serious injury. However, their luck and sense of achievement is short-lived after the journey takes a shaky turn of events as an asteroid just barely misses the projectile. Although they escape near collision, the event marks the beginning of the misfortunes fixated on the journey including the death of Ardan’s dog, deviation, and intoxication by gases. Nevertheless, the valiant group maintains a positive attitude as they proceed with their initial objective to unravel the mysteries of space. Abundant in descriptive language, imagery and fantasy, the novel proves to be a successful sequel while additionally providing a resolution to a gripping story. Verne’s Round the Moon only further strengthens his reputation as a visionary adventure novelist, as the novel proves to be a unique representation of space expedition and man’s curiosity about the unknown. Bearing in mind that the novel was written a century before the first lunar mission, the novel provides an interesting contrast between modern and past views concerning the topic of space travel, and demonstrates the extent of technological progression.
