Tři učenci se vydávají na dobrodružnou cestu lodí, aby rozhodli svůj vědecký spor o umístění pramenů venezuelského veletoku. Po cestě se k nim připojují dva Francouzi, seržant Martial a jeho mladý synovec Jean. Brzy vychází najevo, že Jean je ve skutečnosti převlečená dívka Jeanne, která se vydává za chlapce, aby pro ni byla cesta napříč divočinou o něco bezpečnější.

Like many people, I have not read any of the works of Jules Verne, I just saw the movies. When I told one friend I was reading the first English edition of Verne’s The Mighty Orinoco, I got a look of pity and the comment that Verne was a dry read. But not so! As Walter James Miller points out in the introduction to this book, the standard English versions of Verne are flawed by inaccurate translations, political editing, and removal of some text. This new translation is not only better, but includes numerous annotations that increased my enjoyment of the work. These show that The Mighty Orinoco is a novel of scientific discovery, of adventure and of the human need for each other.
The plot revolves around two expeditions going up the Venezuelan river Orinoco. One is a group of three scientists who are searching for the source of this river: echoes of the search for the source of the Nile are not accidental, as Verne knew the public was thrilled by such adventures. The second group of travelers is Sergeant Martial and his nephew Jean. They are searching for Jean’s father who settled along the river after an accident killed his wife and he believed also his son. One could say they are also search for a source: the source of Jean.
The trip up the river has beauty, mystery and excitement. Verne includes many details of the region, touching on the wildlife and the people living near the river. In parts, it is almost a travelog. But there is danger, both from the Orinoco with its rapids and wild animals, and from hostile Indians and bandits that prey on river traffic. Throughout, there are hints that show the various opinions of the author. Not all are comfortable to us: Verne describes many of the natives as “savages�? and he is careful to point out that the three Venezuelan scientists are of European background with “not a single drop of Negro blood�?. In other areas, he is ahead of his time: after describing a large river turtle, Verne commented that over-hunting of the eggs had already reduced the population so that “the species could disappear someday�?.
There is more to The Mighty Orinoco than a travel narrative. Adventures come from nature and man: earthquakes and fires threaten the travelers as much as the violence and greed of men. Beyond adventure, Verne touches on social topics and has an intriguing look at gender roles with an interesting view on the appropriate place for young women. As with many of his works, his French bias shows, which is one of the reasons The Mighty Orinoco was not translated into English when first published. His political and social comments were somewhat radical for his day and he often used the British as the villains of his works, a issue for contemporary translators who were British themselves. By the time this work appeared, there were other authors of scientific romance who did not espouse Verne’s problematic opinions, so The Mighty Orinoco was not known to English readers until now.
This delay is to your advantage. Before you is an accurate translation, with no missing parts or gratuitous edits. It is a work full of science, wonder, and adventure, the hallmark of a Jules Verne story. It cannot be overstated how much the Miller’s notes add to this work: not only does he explain contemporary issues, but he also enriches the text with current information on the area. If you have never read Jules Verne, this is a good start and if you have, try this work and see if it exceeds your previous Verne experience.
Originally published in The Alexiad: contact jtmajor[at]iglou.com for more information. ( )