|
(22) L'École des Robinsons (Godfrey Morgan, aka School for Crusoes, 1882) (1 volume) 62K words
The 22nd Extraordinary Voyage is Verne's second robinsonade (after "The Mysterious Island"). Verne would later revisit the genre again in "Two Years' Vacation", "The Castaways of the Flag" and "The Survivors of the Jonathan". "In Search of the Castaways", despite the title, is not a robinsonade, since it's not really about the castaways, but about the people trying to locate and rescue them.
First read or reread?: I had read it as a kid. I enjoyed it, although it's a lighter, sillier, less detailed and epic story than "Two Years' Vacation", which was one of my favorites among the Verne novels I read in my youth.
What is it about?: Godfrey Morgan of San Francisco, California, is a good-natured but slightly pampered and naive young man. Before marrying his sweetheart, encouraged by his deportment and dance instructor, Professor Tartlett, he wants to cruise around the world and gain "life experience". His uncle, the millionaire William Holderkup, consents to this demand. Therefore, Godfrey and the much less enthusiastic Professor Tartlett set out to travel around the world. However, the two of them are cast away on an uninhabited Pacific island.
This novel is at the same time a robinsonade and a spoof on the genre. Like Kipling's "Captains Courageous", it's also a coming of age story about a young man growing up and finding his self-confidence in the face of adversity.
It's probably Verne's funniest story. The humor is provided by the ridiculeness of some of the situations and the unlikely pair of castways, particularly Professor Tartlett, who is completely unfit for any practical endeavour. People do not think of Verne as a funny writer, but he had proved he had some eye for comedy in books like "From the Earth to the Moon", and he often added comic relief characters.
One thing I like is that even if it's comedy Verne doesn't forget to tell an adventure story. As I mentioned, this story is shorter, lighter and less gritty and detailed than other Verne robinsonades like "The Mysterious Island" or "Two Years' Vacation", but there's still adventure, suspense and danger.
Verne also goes back to telling a story with a twist. When I read it as a kid I didn't see them coming, but in this novel Verne foreshadows the twists so thickly that I do not think he meant them to be a surprise.
The author has some fun with the conventions of the genre, comparing the fortunes and misfortunes of his castaways with the ones happening to Defoe's Robinson Crusoe or to the castways in The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss. It's a fond parody, paying homage to them more than making fun of them.
As in other Verne novels, expect some 19th-century clichés on "savage" people that would be considered racist today.
Enjoyment factor: I enjoyed it. It was a quite pleasant read although, you know, it's light. If you are in the mood for an epic adventure, this is not it.
Next up: The Green Ray
|