The Adventures of Captain Hatteras
A British expedition to the North Pole driven by obsession.
The Adventures of Captain Hatteras is an 1866 adventure novel by Jules Verne, originally serialized in 1864. The definitive version from 1866 was included in the Voyages extraordinaires series. Although it was the first book of the series, it was labelled as number two. Three of Verne's books from 1863 to 1865 were added into the series retroactively. The character of Captain Hatteras shares many similarities with English naval explorer Sir John Franklin.
Quick Facts
- Title orig
- Voyages et aventures du capitaine Hatteras
- Author
- Jules Verne
- Illustrator
- Édouard Riou and; Henri de Montaut
- Country
- France
- Language
- French
- Series
- The Extraordinary Voyages #2
- Genre
- Adventure novel, science fiction
- Publisher
- Pierre-Jules Hetzel
Facts from the source article.
Synopsis
Set in 1861, the novel follows a British expedition led by Captain John Hatteras, who believes the sea around the North Pole is not frozen. After a mutiny destroys their ship, Hatteras and a few men continue. On the shore of New America, they find remains of a previous U.S. expedition. Doctor Clawbonny recalls a Russian ice palace from 1740 to build a snow-house for winter. The group survives thanks to Clawbonny's ingenuity: he makes fire with an ice lens, bullets from frozen mercury, and repels polar bears with remotely controlled black powder explosions. When the ice melts, they build a boat from the wreck and sail to an island with an active volcano, naming it after Hatteras. They climb to the volcano's crater, where the pole is located. Hatteras jumps into the crater. Originally written to perish, Verne's editor Jules Hetzel required a rewrite: Hatteras survives but is driven insane. He returns to England, placed in an asylum, mute and deaf, forever walking northward with his dog Duke.
New America
In Jules Verne's novel, New America is a vast Arctic island extending north from Ellesmere Island, discovered by Captain John Hatteras and his crew. Its landmarks include Victoria Bay, Cape Washington, Johnson Island, Bell Mountain, Fort Providence, and Altamont Harbour. Verne based his geography on 1866 scientific knowledge, which later proved prescient. Ellesmere Island was rediscovered by Edward Inglefield in 1852 and explored by Isaac Israel Hayes in 1860–61. Decades later, Robert Peary and Frederick Cook each claimed to see land where Verne placed New America. The island is named by American explorer Captain Altamont, the first to set foot there. A deleted chapter originally featured a duel between Hatteras and Altamont over which nation would claim the territory.
English translations
These translations compress and truncate Verne's text to varying degrees; the Osgood translation is considered of relatively good quality. A modern translation by William Butcher was published by Oxford University Press in 2005.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who published The Adventures of Captain Hatteras?
The Adventures of Captain Hatteras was published by Pierre-Jules Hetzel.
Who illustrated The Adventures of Captain Hatteras?
The Adventures of Captain Hatteras was illustrated by Édouard Riou and and Henri de Montaut.
Which book follows The Adventures of Captain Hatteras?
The Adventures of Captain Hatteras is followed by Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
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