The Survivors of the "Jonathan"
A 1909 French edition published by Pierre-Jules Hetzel | |
| Author | Jules Verne; Michel Verne |
|---|---|
| Original title | Les naufragés du "Jonathan" |
| Illustrator | Georges Roux |
| Language | French |
| Genre | Political |
| Published | 1909 |
| Publication place | France |
Published in English | 2002 |
The Survivors of the "Jonathan"[1] is a novel that was written by Jules Verne in 1897 under the title Magellania (Spanish: En la Magallanía). However, it was not published until 1909, after it had been rewritten by Verne's son Michel under the title Les naufragés du "Jonathan".
Plot
The novel tells the story of a mysterious man named Kaw-djer. Kaw-djer lives in the land of Magellania, that is, the region around the Straits of Magellan. Kaw-djer, whose motto is "Neither God nor master", helps himself survive and also provides assistance to the indigenous peoples of Magellania. However, when a group of settlers is shipwrecked on a nearby island (Hoste Island), Kaw-djer assists them establish their colony, though he refuses to rule over them or control them in any way. However, when the colony falls victim to a fight for power, Kaw-djer is forced to temporarily abandon his own anarchistic principles. After he restores order, he abdicates and becomes a lighthouse-keeper, thereby retaining his individualism.
History
Piero Gondolo della Riva discovered the original manuscript in the Hetzel family archives in 1977.[2]
The two parts of the novel were subsequently translated and published separately in English as Masterless Man and Unwilling Dictator.[2]
Notes
- ^ Les Voyages Extraordinaires from epguides.com. In French, Magellania, En Magellanie, or Les Naufragés du "Jonathan".
- ^ a b Jules Verne Collecting Resource Page at julesverne.ca