Measuring a Meridian: The Adventures of Three Englishmen and Three Russians in South Africa [Paperback]

Jules Verne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2002

Measuring a Meridian is an African tale, first published in 1874 under the cumbrous title The Adventures of Three Englishmen and Three Russians in South Africa. The story was afterward revised and reissued under its briefer title. It is a hunting story, perhaps Vern's very ablest effort in that line. It has aroused many a youthful sportsman's throbbing eagerness for the chase, has given him his first knowledge and his earliest enthusiasm for the heart-stirring excitement to be found in "hunting big game."

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Fredonia Books (NL) (September 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410100286
• ISBN-13: 978-1410100283
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,030,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Verne's best, October 14, 2007

By 

Charles Evans "Call me Kevin" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Measuring a Meridian: The Adventures of Three Englishmen and Three Russians in South Africa (Paperback)

I have read about a dozen books by Jules Verne - and "Measuring the Meridian" is my least favorite. What is missing is Verne's sense of adventure and to some extent his ability to construct a flowing narrative.

The title "Measuring the Meridian" describes 90% of the what takes place in the novel (or novella). Three English and three Russian atronomers traveling through South Africa measuring triangles in order to accurately determine the length of a meridian. Verne has never been know for great character development, but "Measuring the Meridian" is a new low for him. The 3 English and 3 Russians are all very one-dimensional - and one of the Russians is rarely even mentioned!

At the end there is about 25 pages of adventure - however- as a whole this reads like a greatly watered down version of "5 weeks in a balloon". My recommendation - this is only for serious Verne fans and scholars.

As a side-note- I do applaud Amazon offering more of the obscure titles published by Jules Verne and other authors. While I am not overly kind to "Measuring the Meridian" in this review - I am very appreciative that I had a source to actually buy the book!