{"product_id":"five-weeks-in-a-balloon-9781513266336","title":"Five Weeks in a Balloon","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFive Weeks in a Balloon\u003c\/i\u003e is not only the first installment in Jules Verne's celebrated \u003ci\u003eVoyages Extraordinaires\u003c\/i\u003e series, but also the first of Verne's works to earn him widespread popularity as a writer of science fiction and adventure novels.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFollowing his invention of an ingenious new air balloon capable of long-distance flight, Dr. Samuel Fergusson embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his trusted servant, Joe, and loyal friend, Dick Kennedy. As they make their way through air across the unexplored regions of Africa, they attempt to do what has never been done before: discover the source of the Nile. On the way, they must overcome extreme thirst, withstand assaults from hostile tribes, and stage a series of daring rescues and brilliant escapes. Jules Verne's \u003ci\u003eFive Weeks in a Balloon\u003c\/i\u003e is a classic novel of hope and determination that asks today's reader to take to the air, if only for a short time, in search of what must always defy belief.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublished in France in 1863, \u003ci\u003eFive Weeks in a Balloon\u003c\/i\u003e was translated for English-speaking audiences in 1869. This marked the beginning of an illustrious and lucrative career for Verne, whose works have inspired scientists, writers, and filmmakers for over a century. The novel is a curious mix of fantasy and reality, referencing the journeys of real-life adventurers while imagining an innovative and as-yet-unperfected form of exploration, the long-distance hot air balloon. While \u003ci\u003eFive Weeks in a Balloon\u003c\/i\u003e endures as an exciting and adventurous text, it also provides a unique perspective on the intersection of nineteenth-century science, literature, and the exploration and colonization of Africa.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWith a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this new edition of Jules Verne's \u003ci\u003eFive Weeks in a Balloon\u003c\/i\u003e is a classic novel reimagined for modern readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eVerne, Jules:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJules Verne\u003c\/b\u003e(1828-1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright who is credited as being one of the originators of literary science fiction. His \u003ci\u003eVoyages extraordinaires\u003c\/i\u003e series of novels include such classics as \u003ci\u003eJourney to the Center of the Earth\u003c\/i\u003e (1864), \u003ci\u003eTwenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea\u003c\/i\u003e (1870), and \u003ci\u003eAround the World in Eighty Days\u003c\/i\u003e (1872). Although he was often regarded derisively as a writer of genre fiction or children's literature, his influence extended to French avant-garde and surrealist circles, and to this day he is considered one of the finest writers of his generation and a key figure in world literature.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mint Editions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50378810949906,"sku":"9781513266336","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_89cae132-950a-46d7-9858-84a98cf27692.jpg?v=1728652748","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/five-weeks-in-a-balloon-9781513266336","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}