Preview
  • The Mysterious Island

  • By: Jules Verne
  • Narrated by: Berny Clark
  • Length: 19 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,788 ratings)

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The Mysterious Island

By: Jules Verne
Narrated by: Berny Clark
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Publisher's summary

Based on the true story of Alexander Selkirk, who survived alone for almost five years on an uninhabited island off the coast of Chile, The Mysterious Island is considered by many to be Jules Verne’s masterpiece.

“Wide-eyed mid-nineteenth-century humanistic optimism in a breezy, blissfully readable translation by Stump” (Kirkus Reviews), here is the enthralling tale of five men and a dog who land in a balloon on a faraway, fantastic island of bewildering goings-on and their struggle to survive as they uncover the island’s secret.

Public Domain (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
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Editorial reviews

This 19th-century adventure novel will delight Verne fans. As in other works by Verne the characters are ideal and the plot seems convenient rather than organic. Verne was not a scientist, but he was obsessed by all the scientific disciplines. Verne’s novels are full of magical inventions and pseudo-scientific rhetoric. In The Mysterious Island, five men and a pooch land their balloon on an exotic island. They undertake to learn the secret of the place. Narrator Berny Clark’s lively voice sings out the animated dialogue. His excited yet genteel tone makes the densely descriptive text sound lighter and less mannered. His voice sustains an energetic lilt throughout his performance of this lengthy and exhaustively sketched fiction.

What listeners say about The Mysterious Island

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Totally enthralling story

If you could sum up The Mysterious Island in three words, what would they be?

Exiting, intriguing, addictive

What other book might you compare The Mysterious Island to and why?

Like Swiss Family Robinson, but more focused on the science. The relationship between the characters is familial and supportive and inspiring.

Have you listened to any of Berny Clark’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I haven't. Would love to try!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it is too long for that, but I did listen in large time shares, say 45 minutes to an hour at a sitting.

Any additional comments?

Can't believe I haven't read this before. Very underrated, should be mandatory reading along with Swiss Family Robinson and Robinson Crusoe.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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wonderful wording.......

loved it.....listen to it many times.....reader did a marvelous performance
highly recommend it over other versions I have heard

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

it is a classic for a good reason

this review is a little dated only because I have listened to 3 books since I have listened to this one . but with that , this will be an honest review.

I enjoyed this book . I listened to this book right after I listened to the Martian.,also a great book .
similar in a way that man will fight to survive no matter what obstacles

this book was enjoyable because , lets be honest, what's not to like about being stranded on an island.

they create a semi-modern life for themselves considering it was civil war era.

the only thing that had me off about the book was the engineer , he could do no wrong in the eyes of his ...worshipers, I mean island mates or fellow balloon wreck-ees . whatever you want to call them .

but, that was just a slight annoyance

I do not regret this book , and I will be listening again someday

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun Listen!

Great book for night time listening. The narration was good but there were changes in tone that seemed like diffierent recording sessions. However, I enjoyed it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Hoped for a better ending

Was a tiny bit disappointed in the end. But I loved the book overall. Have started joking around with my wife in the voice of Pencroft! 😂 Definitely worth a listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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one of the only good book Jules Verne ever wrote

If you're into engineering or a survivalist it's goings to be a great book, otherwise you're wasting your time because like like Journey to the Center of the Earth and time machine it had more to do with the technical aspects that it did the story. Unlike those it actually had a compelling story to go with. I personally enjoyed the relationships that were built between all the characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great book

I love this book! I have read it many times and still get caught up in its mysteries. Young and old will enjoy it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

For fans of TV's LOST

You will discover that Jules Verne more than just inspired LOST he wrote it. Granted tv had to add to it to stretch it out over multiple seasons but it is Verne's story. Wonderful

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Simply amazing

Loved it from the first to the last minute. An amazing history we'll narrated and written.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent!

This is by far my favorite of Jules Verne's works. The story is very gripping and well laid out (some portions can be a bit tedious, but they don't last for very long and its all worth it in the end).
The narrator did a wonderful job both reading the story and voicing the characters.
I highly recommend this book as the sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as well as just by itself.

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