Mathias Sandorf Band 3

From the PublisherFirst serialized in Le Temps in 1885, Mathias Sandorf is Jules Verne's epic Mediterranean adventure. It employs many of the devices that had fared well in earlier novels: islands, cryptograms, surprise revelations of identity, technically advanced hardware and a solitary figure bent on revenge. Verne dedicated the novel to the memory of Alexandre Dumas pere, hoping to make Mathias Sandorf the Monte Cristo of The Extraordinary Voyages.

Verne claimed that Sandorf was modeled on his publisher. Like Hetzel, a former exile, Sandorf has fervent patriotism and a high moral sense. Dr Antekirtt is a mixture of Hetzel and Bixio, one of the publisher's friends. Others see similarities with Hungarian freedom fighter Lajos Kossuth and Austrian prince Louis Salvator.

Mathias Sandorf was Jules Verne's last collaboration with Pierre-Jules Hetzel, the publisher passing away a year after the novel went to press. Verne had originally planned a darker tale, with Sandorf, like Monte Cristo, bent on revenge. After much prodding, Verne was convinced to change tone; his protagonist would seek justice, a nobler pursuit.

Sandorf had been Verne's most ambitious novel to date. It contained the largest cast of characters he'd ever brought to life, and the action took place in over 20 cities around the Mediterranean, from Trieste to shores of North Africa. Verne was fascinated by the beauty of the Great Sea and wanted to share it with his readers. He often stated that the inspiration for the novel came during a family cruise to Tanger and Malta aboard his yacht the Saint Michel. The storm off Malta described in Part III is based on his own real experiences aboard ship.

A play and several movies were based on the novel,the most recent production being a miniseries for European TV filmed in the late 70s.

From the AuthorTO ALEXANDRE DUMAS,

I dedicate this book to you while dedicating it also to the memory of that genius of a storyteller who was Alexandre Dumas, your father. In this work, I have tried to make of Mathias Sandorf the Monte Cristo of the Extraordinary Voyages. I ask you to accept this dedication as a testimony of my deepest friendship.

JULES VERNE