description: During the American Civil War, five Northern prisoners of war escape during the Siege of Richmond, Virginia, by hijacking a hydrogen-filled observation balloon. The escapees are Cyrus Smith, a railroad engineer in the Union army (named Cyrus Harding in Kingston's version); his ex-slave and loyal follower; Bonadventure Pencroff, a sailor; his prot�g� and adopted son Harbert Brown; and the journalist Ged�on Spilett (Gideon Spilett in English versions). The company is completed by Cyrus' dog "Top".a After flying in a great storm for several days, the group crash-lands on a cliff-bound, volcanic, unknown island, described as being located at 34�57′S 150�30′W (Southern Pacific Ocean/Asian: Oceanian side), about 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) east of New Zealand. They name it "Lincoln Island" in honor of Abraham Lincoln. With the knowledge of the brilliant engineer Smith, the five are able to sustain themselves on the island, producing fire, pottery, bricks, nitroglycerin, iron, a simple electric telegraph, a cave home inside a stony cliff called "Granite House", and even a seaworthy ship, which they name the "Bonadventure".
language: English
title: Mysterious Island
titlecomplete: Mysterious Island
characters: Herbert Brown, Nebuchadnezzar, Captain Nemo, Top, Tom Ayrton, Cyrus Smith, Bonadventure Pencroff, Robert Grant, Bob Harvey, Jupiter, Gideon Spilett
genres: Literature, Science Fiction, Classics, Adventure, Novels, 19th Century, France, Fiction, French Literature, Fantasy
ratings_count: 52685
places: Tabor Island, Richmond, Virginia, Lincoln Island
series: Capitaine Nemo
publisher: Airmont Pub Co