Silver Arrow Books & Video                    

The Mysterious Island follows the adventures of a group of castaways
who use their survivalist savvy to build a functional community on an
uncharted island. A hot-air balloon carrying five passengers and a dog
escapes from Richmond, Va., during the American Civil War. It is blown
off course and deposited near an obscure island. One of the castaways
nearly dies after a skirmish with pirates; he is saved by the
unexplained appearance of medicine after the pirates are unexpectedly
routed. The group later discovers that their secret helper is the
reclusive Captain Nemo (first introduced in Verne's Twenty Thousand
Leagues Under the Sea), who dies and is buried at sea in his submarine.
The castaways are eventually saved by a passing ship.
Interesting story line with a plot that folds out slowly. The details
were cumbersome to read, however, perhaps it is the writing style
rather than the depth of description that repels us youthies of
America. Characters are honest and loveable, even with the blantant
racism. I think Verne knew this and wrote in the Civil War theme of the
"colonists" cheering for the Northern Home Team and embracing the
ideals of equality.