Le Indie nere

by Jules Verne

How can humans survive and prosper 1500 feet below the earth's surface? Jules Verne successfully weaves a dark yet magnificent story set in a coal mine, deep within a cavern world. Life in the mine is peaceful, with its beautiful lake and attractive homes.
Yet there lurks an evil presence in the form of the Harfang owl, and fire maidens who dwell in the ruined castle. Unexplainable, malicious, and life threatening occurrences begin. Why? The wicked force could destroy the underground world and everyone in it!

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, France, Audiobook

152 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1877

About the author

Novels of French writer Jules Gabriel Verne, considered the founder of modern science fiction, include Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864) and Around the World in Eighty Days (1873).

This author who pioneered the genre. People best know him for Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870).

Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before people invented navigable aircraft and practical submarines and devised any means of spacecraft. He ranks behind Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie as the second most translated author of all time. People made his prominent films. People often refer to Verne alongside Herbert George Wells as the "father of science fiction."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_V...

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what I was expecting from the title and Verne’s usual imagination, but still an “extraordinary” journey and a great mystery.

[Elentarri · Rating 2 out of 5]

With a title and setting of "Underground City", you would think Verne could come up with a more exciting novel.  The story revolves around the fortunes of a Scottish mining community called Aberfoyle, and specifically of the family of the former Mine Overman (who have been living in a cottage deep in the mine).  The coal mine was assumed to be depleted and closed a decade preceding the start of the novel.  However, a letter from the former Mine Overman to the former Mining Engineer implies differently.  So, an adventure to the old mine is commenced, with many lengthy diversions into the history of coal, coal mining and the surrounding scenery, not to mention the local goblins and bogey-men.  There are also a few not-so-coincidental happenings, which imply that someone doesn't want the mine re-opened, and a surprise finding somewhere in the middle of the book.  The mystery and general plot of the novel is rather lackluster and not that interesting.  I suggest reading Journey to the Centre of the Earth instead of this one.

[Anfenwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone should really rewrite this book as a fairy story with no pretensions to representing real mining in 19th century Scotland. Nell, the child of the caverns, who has never seen the light of day evokes ancient stories of human children raised in underground kingdoms, and supernatural children adopted by humans. There is something bewitchingly and tantalizingly unreal about her, so long as you stick to seeing the story as fantasy. Harry, a born miner (almost literally) prefers life in the underground city founded by his father. After saving each others’ lives, he and Nell fall in love but he wants her to experience the world above before they commit. Meanwhile, her almost demonic guardian in the underworld will do anything to stop the marriage. It’s very 19th century, but still… it would make a great Disney animation, or better yet, a Studio Ghibli.

Now, when we come to the supposedly realistic mining aspect of the book, I was less at ease with Verne's portrayal which was very, very idealistic compared to the reality. On top of that, it disturbed me not to be able to distinguish fact from fantasy in his little story without looking it up. I think that's just comes from being descended in part from northern (English) miners.

A note for Pratchett fans - you may be interested in the portrayal of the 'fireman', the original source for the dwarfish grags who are the villains of Raising Steam and appear in some of his other books. The firemen really existed, although not quite like this, I think.

[Aslı Dağlı · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayrintili yorumum ve #heraybirjulesverne etkinligim icin -> instagram: dagli_asli

[John Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although it spends most of its time in a coal mine, this quaint little adventure story doesn't offer much depth. All of the characters are static and direct, and the main thrust of the plot is resolved almost by chance.

From a sustainability perspective, the story is rather ironic, as it glorifies the use of fossil fuels, coal, and mining; and it looks forward to an unending supply of the same.

[dragonhelmuk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kindled for free. This is one of Verne’s very worst books and I would strongly urge you to avoid it. The setting is an abandoned mine near Edinburgh where a family of dissatisfied miners still lurk, chasing shadows and hoping to find more coal to chase. The plot may appear tempting, with a trip to Scotland and some quaint folklore, but not only is there very little of Verne’s usual brilliance, the book is completely spoilt by the hard to understand biases of the time. One of the central plot-lines involves a girl found in the caves who the male characters all decide must be civilised and married off at once. The way I’m describing it probably doesn’t seem so bad, but somehow the narrator’s cavalier attitude and blatant sexism is much more disquieting when it makes one of the central plot lines. Quotes to illustrate:


{Traces of Verne’s true brilliance – predicting electricity and hydraulic motors}
"There is no fear of that now, Mr. Starr. But yet, the mines will be exhausted, no doubt, and more rapidly than the statistics make out!" "That will happen, Harry; and in my opinion England is very wrong in exchanging her fuel for the gold of other nations! I know well," added the engineer, "that neither hydraulics nor electricity has yet shown all they can do, and that some day these two forces will be more completely utilized. But no matter! Coal is of a very practical use, and lends itself easily to the various wants of industry.


{Verne’s more disturbing ideas}
Although unfit for any vegetable production, the place could be inhabited by a whole population. And who knows but that in this steady temperature, in the depths of the mines of Aberfoyle, as well as in those of Newcastle, Alloa, or Cardiff—when their contents shall have been exhausted—who knows but that the poorer classes of Great Britain will some day find a refuge?


{women as objects}
"Ah, Jack!" replied Harry, "I am glad to see you. I've got something to propose."
"I can listen to nothing till you tell me how Nell is," interrupted Jack Ryan.
"Nell is all right, Jack—so much so, in fact, that I hope in a month or six weeks—"
"To marry her, Harry?"
"Jack, you don't know what you are talking about!"
"Ah, that's very likely; but I know quite well what I shall do."
"What will you do?"
"Marry her myself, if you don't; so look sharp," laughed Jack. "By Saint Mungo! I think an immense deal of bonny Nell! A fine young creature like that, who has been brought up in the mine, is just the very wife for a miner. She is an orphan—so am I; and if you don't care much for her, and if she will have me—"
...
"I mean just this—that, it being certain Nell has never been outside this coal mine in the very depths of which she was born, it stands to reason that she knows nothing, and can comprehend nothing of what exists beyond it. Her eyes—yes, and perhaps also her heart—have everything yet to learn. Who can tell what her thoughts will be, when perfectly new impressions shall be made upon her mind? As yet she knows nothing of the world, and to me it would seem like deceiving her, if I led her to decide in ignorance, upon choosing to remain all her life in the coal mine. Do you understand me, Jack?"
"Well done, Harry! that's how I like to be spoken to! Let's settle, then, that, before you marry Nell, she shall go to school in Auld Reekie."
"No indeed, Jack; I am perfectly able myself to educate the person who is to be my wife."
"Sure that will be a great deal better, Harry!"


{Reliable geography of Edinburgh except Arthur’s seat as an easy-to-climb hill! – the main character later climbs back down carrying his fainted woman-possession}
Between the silent dwellings of the city, the party passed along Leith Walk, and went round the Calton Hill, where stood, in the light of the gray dawn, the buildings of the Observatory and Nelson's Monument. By Regent's Bridge and the North Bridge they at last reached the lower extremity of the Canongate. The town still lay wrapt in slumber.
Nell pointed to a large building in the center of an open space, asking, "What great confused mass is that?"
"That confused mass, Nell, is the palace of the ancient kings of Scotland; that is Holyrood, where many a sad scene has been enacted! The historian can here invoke many a royal shade; from those of the early Scottish kings to that of the unhappy Mary Stuart, and the French king, Charles X. When day breaks, however, Nell, this palace will not look so very gloomy. Holyrood, with its four embattled towers, is not unlike some handsome country house. But let us pursue our way. There, just above the ancient Abbey of Holyrood, are the superb cliffs called Salisbury Crags. Arthur's Seat rises above them, and that is where we are going. From the summit of Arthur's Seat, Nell, your eyes shall behold the sun appear above the horizon seaward."
They entered the King's Park, then, gradually ascending they passed across the Queen's Drive, a splendid carriageway encircling the hill, which we owe to a few lines in one of Sir Walter Scott's romances. Arthur's Seat is in truth only a hill, seven hundred and fifty feet high, which stands alone amid surrounding heights. In less than half an hour, by an easy winding path, James Starr and his party reached the crest of the crouching lion, which, seen from the west, Arthur's Seat so much resembles.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Verne wrote some fantastic pieces of fiction, but this is just an above average adventure/love story about people living in a coal mine. It is very interesting with an eye toward how coal used to be mined, and the book is a fun read. Just not something to write home about.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jules Verne manages to create unique worlds and stories. This one could have been much longer and more detailed, I would have loved to learn more about the characters and the city under the earth.

[Ricardo Carrión Libros · Rating 5 out of 5]

La historia tiene lugar en aquel mundo subterráneo que tanto despertó la imaginación de Julio Verne, el subsuelo. Indias negras es el nombre que los británicos le daban a las minas de carbón o hulla, un elemento indispensable en plena era industrial del siglo XIX. Es allí donde Verne imagina esta misteriosa aventura encabezada por un equipo de hombres con diferentes talentos y particularidades, algo ya clásico en las historias del autor francés.
Como siempre, cuenta con un personaje con arduos conocimientos técnicos y mucha experiencia. En esta ocasión es un ingeniero, el reconocido James Starr, cuya reputación creció luego de explotar las galerías carboníferas de Aberfoyle. A esta mina se le extrajo hasta el último filón de carbón por lo que cesó sus actividades quedando casi deshabitada, ya que el viejo capaz Simon Ford, su hijo Harry y su esposa Margaret por no poder acostumbrarse a vivir en la superficie y por amar tanto la mina, siguieron viviendo en sus profundidades, en el subsuelo. Estos últimos son los que acompañan al ingeniero Starr en una aventura llena de misterio al interior de la mina abandonada.

Reseña completa: https://eligeunlibro.blogspot.com/201...

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful short story and one of the lesser known novels of Jules Verne. It took me only about two hours to get through it and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It tells the tale of the Scottish city Aberfoyle. The former mine foreman Simon Ford is still living in the mine he used to work in ten years ago. Now, he has found a new vein and informs former friend James Starr of his findings. Strange things start happening as if someone or something didn't want anyone to find the new vein.
The descriptions are wonderful, like always with Verne he makes you feel as if you're actually there and the claustrophobic description of the coal mine actually made me shiver.
And of course, there's the good and brave hero, the innocent girl and the slightly mad evil antagonist.

[Céline Sabiron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book which is too little known in comparison to other books by Verne. Well worth the read especially if you have read some of Scott's Waverley novels since Verne was very much inspired by the Wizard of the North.

[Tavish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting a more "supernatural" story like Journey to the Center of the Earth, but this was an OK read for a quick book.

[Anemoian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was 10 or 12. One of the least known works by Verne, yet a very exciting one!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't what I thought it would be, but I still really enjoyed the story.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bunch of weirdos decide to build houses deep underground in a coal mine. A claustrophobe’s nightmare.

[Tanya Fabrychenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Для мене це був трохи інакший Жуль Верн. Якийсь ніби більш похмурий і ніби в певній мірі жорстокіший, ніж я собі памʼятаю.

Якщо брати окремо повісті, то «Зоря Півдня» сподобалась більше за «Чорну Індію», бо сюжет був цікавіший і поступовіший.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.1

[Gwenaelle Vandendriessche · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un roman d'aventure qui, contrairement à ce que le titre pourrait laisser croire, nous emmène dans les profondeurs des mines écossaises.

[Marco Beneventi · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Starr, ingegnere sessantenne, riceve una lettera dall’amico Saimon Ford, capo minatore, dove viene avvisato che nella miniera di Aberfoyle, ormai esaurita da 10 anni, in cui entrambi lavoravano, grazie alla sua tenacia e a quella di suo figlio venticinquenne Harry, è stato trovato in una zona inesolorata, un nuovo e immenso filone di carbone.
La scoperta di quella zona porterà con se oltre che ad un amore inaspettato anche strani e terribili incidenti su cui aleggia una misteriosa “firma”.

“Le Indie nere” scritto nel 1877, uno dei romanzi meno conosciuti di Verne, è un racconto che puó risultare un pó “nebuloso” non riuscendo bene ad inquadrarsi in un genere così chiaro come altri lavori di Verne ma comunque capace di mantenere curiosità e attenzione del lettore abbastanza alti, a parte forse qualche passaggio a vuoto (giusto uno o due capitoli).
Specie nella prima parte, il romanzo stringe molto l’occhio, soprattutto per metodi descrittivi, a "Ventimila leghe sotto i mari", per poi avere un simbiotismo fra uomo e terra simile a "Viaggio al centro della terra", a tal proposito è particolarmente curiosa la descrizione che Verne fa della miniera, vista più come culla protettrice e non come invece era nella realtà dei fatti, come ad esempio viene magistralmente e crudamente raccontata in "Germinal" di Zola.
Lungo il dipanarsi del racconto, infarcito di superstizioni e leggende scozzesi (luogo in cui è ambientato il romanzo), la tensione risulta palpabile e il mistero ancor di più.
I personaggi principali risultano ben caratterizzati e credibili così come le ambientazioni (al netto dell’appunto sulla miniera menzionato poco sopra), così dettagliate da far apparire alcuni capitoli forse troppo simili a guide turistiche che non aggiungono niente alla storia raccontata ma anzi rallentano la narrazione stessa.
Due menzioni le meritano i passaggi davvero poetici della descrizione della notte ad uno dei personaggi che incontreremo nel libro e per il climax finale che conclude degnamente un libro che seppur non risulti un capolavoro si fa leggere volentieri.

[Atilio Frasson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hacía por lo menos más de cuatro años que no leía un libro de Julio Verne, que es el autor del que más libros leí, en parte, porque por allá en 2005 leí como catorce o quince libros seguidos del autor y me produjo como un hartazgo de Verne.

Luego, en 2011 leí dos del autor que se caracterizaban más por su rareza:
-Uno era "Paris en el siglo XX", que era una novela que Verne le había enviado a su editor Hetzel para ser publicada luego del éxito de su primera novela "Cinco semanas en globo". La novela fue rechazada por el editor ya que consideraba que nadie creería en la novela (por los adelantos tecnológicos), antes de culparlos, tengamos en cuenta si alguien en 1860 escribía una novela sobre autos, corriente eléctrica por todas las calles, trenes veloces, etc. Seguramente, lo habríamos tratado de locos. Otras de las característica de la novela era su pesimismo, muchos años antes de lo que se llama su etapa pesimista con novelas como "El castillo de los Cárpatos", "Amo del mundo" (este no lo he leído), el relato corto "El eterno Adán", donde Verne ya no trataba a la tecnología como una generadora de progreso y felicidad, sino más bien como algo que se debía temer si no se la respetaba y donde también entra en juego la crueldad del hombre.
-El otro, "El eterno Adán", un relato corto sobre el eterno retorno. En este caso, todos los inventos del hombre no pudieron frente a una especie de terremoto (si mal no recuerdo), y toda la vida de lujo y consumismo no sirve de nada frente a la destrucción del mundo tal como se conoce. Podríamos decir que es una novela apocalíptica.

Bueno, la cosa que después de tanto tiempo volví a leer uno de Verne. "Las Indias negras" es un libro entretenido, donde se encuentra esos capítulos de divulgación que caracterizan a todos los libros de Verne, aventuras y un misterio. En sí, me pareció una novela para pasar el tiempo que no me generó esas ansías por seguir leyendo como con otros libros, pero que no dejaba de ser entretenido por ello. Espero en el tiempo cercano volver a leer otro libro de Verne y que no pasen más de cuatro años.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solidly decent book by a great author, The Underground City is a fun read, but fails to live up to its potential. Sent in central Scotland very near where I once lived, I could relate to the places and activities mentioned, which gave it a firmly grounded sense of location and reality.

Not knowing what to expect, I was impressed by the slow, methodical revelation of the plot. But as I approached the end, I feel it lacked a certain sense of adventure or danger that make Verne's best book so memorable.

It's a fun, short read, but nothing to write home about.

[Flturner turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lesser known book by Jules Verne has to do with discovery of a gigantic cavern in a coal mine. People make their homes around an underground lake, but the people are plagued by accidents and strange events.
Living underground was not a unknown action by men but until recent years never on a scale envisioned by Jules Verne.

[Jesse Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had some time to read recently due to some long flights. This was a very short read (only took a few hours as I recall), but it was a fun one. Jules Verne explores the mining world of the 19th century, and weaves in a story about an enormous coal vein discovery at a previously abandoned mine. Not as good as "The Lighthouse at the End of the World" but still very entertaining.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE UNDERGROUND CITY is a short story by Jules Verne that I had never heard of until I stumbled upon it quite by accident in the library. What else can I say? It’s Jules Verne! I enjoyed it even though it was short and fell short of his typical works. Still, it was entertaining and pure Jules Verne and for that reason, I gave it four stars.

[Anna Sojourning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this -- I couldn't put it down and I finished it in two days! I'm quite a fan of Jules Verne by now, and I definitely think this is one of his better works (although pretty much all of his stories are amazing).
Taking place in an underground city of coal miners, here's a riveting story of mystery, intrigue and love. This is an easy 5 stars.

[Jemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit slow to get into, due to a typical Victorian writing style - both stodgy and with unnecessarily extensive descriptions of the main male characters. You can't help thinking that Dr Who did this better with the Silurians.

Pleasantly surprising though, especially as it doesn't go where you expect it will.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Continuing revisiting books of my childhood, in a way, by reading one from my favourite childhood author that was new to me. It's not the Journey to the Centre of the Earth but set in Scotland I was expecting. Sad. I still love Verne's writing but this is rushed and formulaic.

[Julian Litke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice casual read. The first Verne I've read. The characters weren't deep but the idea of the story is very interesting.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It starts off slowly, but the thrill just shoots to the sky at the end of the book, up until the last moment. Pretty basic, but quite good nonetheless.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Verne ... The endings are usually predictable ... Story surrounding a coal mine and a mysterious character of the dark ...