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(35) César Cascabel (César Cascabel, 1890) (2 volumes) 107K words


The 35th Extraordinary Voyage takes us on an epic trip from California to France... only, the long way around, along the west coast of North America, Alaska, the Behring Strait and Siberia. It's the second time we cross Siberia in this series, although in "Michael Strogoff: The Courier of the Czar" it was from west to east and here it's in the opposite direction, and farther north.


First read or reread?: First read for me.


What is it about?: The Cascabels are a French family of circus artists who plan to return home after many years touring the United States. Unfortunately their trip east is cut short when their money, all their lifetime savings, is stolen. With no money to pay for their passage across the Atlantic, they decide to return to France traveling west, via Alaska, the Behring Strait and Siberia. It's a longer, harsher, more uncertain journey, but cheaper, because they intend to travel on their horse-drawn carriage all the way. Even the Behring Strait can be crossed without the help of a ship, since it's frozen during the winter. Along the way, they encounter a Mr. Sergius (a Russian) with his companion Kayette (an Alaskan native) both of whom join the band on their trip west. However, Mr. Sergius has a secret which may jeopardize the safety of the family when they reach Russian lands.


We are in the second half of Verne's career (the author was 62 years old when he published this) but this is another book which is completely in the style of his early novels. All of it is a travelogue (after several historical novels, interspersed with some science fiction and robinsonades, we hadn't really had a travelogue since "Kéraban the Inflexible"). There are no flashy vehicles and no science fiction here. Just a large horse-drawn carriage which serves as the family's home, good humor, optimism and grit.

Part of the charm of this novel is sharing the journey with the Cascabel family, who are humble but salt-of-the-earth type of characters, almost always in high spirits and always caring for each other. We have Cesar, the father and supposed head of the family, Anglophobe but a good-natured dreamer and strongman who can be counted upon to get a bright idea when the family is in difficulties. His wife Cornelia, strong both physically (she is a prize fighter) and in character, whose practical common sense complements her husband's impetuosity. The children, starting with 19-year-old Jean, a juggler, who aspires to a better education and whose love story with Kayette, the Indian orphan who joins them, provides the romance. Then we have the young ones, 12-year-old contortionist Sander, often planning some childish mischief, and 8-year-old Napoléone, a tightrope dancer, the daughter and baby of the family.

The first volume of the story, narrating the American part of the journey, is quite cosy and relaxed, with the family having some adventures as they travel but no deadlines and no particular hurry (after all, they won't be able to cross the Behring Strait till the winter when it's frozen). This part may seem lacking in tension to some readers, since there's no overarching storyline apart from the incidents of the trip, but I enjoyed it. I always like these travelling stories where you can follow the character's progress on the map. As a curiosity, the purchase of Alaska from Russia by the united States plays a part in the story, as it directly affects the trip.

The second volume begins with the party attempting to cross the Behring Strait, and right away the stakes become much higher, with epic natural dangers and some intrigue involving one of their travelling companions, the Russian authorities and a band of bandits.

For such a long journey, the author can't describe every part of it in detail, but I think Verne finds a good balance, describing some parts more in passing and others in more detail when the adventure requires it. It's the kind of book that we could call geographical adventures, since the description of regions which were not unexplored but certainly little-known at the time plays a large role.

On the minus side, we have some of the traditional Verne implausibilities, like native tribes who are gullible to the point of stupidity or wild animals who behave in a too aggressive and coordinated way to be believable. This doesn't really ring true now, although probably it did at the time it was written.

Perhaps this novel has little to surprise a reader familiar with Verne's style. There are elements of "The Fur Country" and other Verne novels here, but those who are fans of the author will find a lot to enjoy.


Enjoyment factor: I enjoyed it. It's another very little-known Verne novel, but I found it funny and a well-paced adventure. It's not free from some of Verne's usual flaws but, despite the privations the heroes suffer in some parts of the journey, it has that optimistic charm that I always appreciate in this author.


Next up: Mistress Branican