Cesar Cascabel

by Jules Verne

Jules Verne (1828-1905) est un écrivain français, dont une grande partie de l'oeuvre est consacrée à des romans d'aventures et de science-fiction (appelés du temps de Jules Verne romans d'anticipation) comme Le Voyage au Centre de la Terre (1864) et Vingt Mille Lieues Sous les Mers (1869). Il fait ses études de rhétorique et de philosophie au Lycée de Nantes, (actuel Lycée Clémenceau) puis des études de droit après le baccalauréat. Il commence à écrire, des poèmes, une tragédie en vers. Il va terminer son droit à Paris en novembre 1848, bien plus intéressé par le théâtre. Il y fait la connaissance d'Alexandre Dumas, qui accepte de monter sa pièce Les Pailles Rompues, en 1850, dans son Théâtre-Historique, où elle y est jouée douze fois. Jules Verne publie ses premières nouvelles dans la revue Le Musée des Les Premiers Navires de la Marine Mexicaine et Un Drame dans les Airs en 1851. En 1852, Il est engagé comme secrétaire au Théâtre- Lyrique. Il publie Maître Zacharius (1854), Un Hivernage dans les Glaces (1855) et Martin Paz (1874).

Genres: Classics, Adventure, Fiction, French Literature, Science Fiction, Childrens, France

364 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1890

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

[Luís · Rating 3 out of 5]

Or the wacky adventures of a family of acrobats in the adventure landscapes of the American West and Siberia.
Here is an unknown Jules Verne. And yet, I find it much better than other works of established notoriety of the writer.
The Cascabels are a family of circus artists traveling the young United States for many years. Finally, however, they have decided to reconnect with the Old Continent: César Cascabel's patriarch is burning only to find his Normandy. Alas! That the money that was to be used to finance the sea crossing shall have a steal. "Never mind, if we can't reach France from the east, let's go through the west since the Earth is round!" : here is an excellent trait of Caesar's character (in addition to his assumed anglophobia): he always finds a solution to everything. And there are some problems to be solved when you are about to go up the entire west coast of America and cross Siberia!
Funny situations, a pretty palette of landscapes, spectacular outcomes: a good Jules Verne as it should be.

[Fearless · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tam bir Jules Verne hayrani olmaya basliyorum gibi.

Ben kisaltilmis 80 sayfalik ozeti okusamda gayet guzeldi. Sirk isleterek para kazanan bir ailenin kendi ülkeleri Fransa'ya dönmeleri bunu yaparkende akil almaz bir yola basvurarak baslarindan gecen seruvenleri anlatiyor.

Butun kahramanları sevdim. Ozellikle okumayi sevmesi sebebiyle Jan'i.

[Seriousstepan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess only real fans of Verne can enjoy this book. But I liked the absurdity of this story, the finale is simply ridiculous. Definitely not a disappointment.

[Farseer · Rating 4 out of 5]

(35) César Cascabel (César Cascabel, 1890) (2 volumes) 107K words


The 35th Extraordinary Voyage takes us on an epic trip from California to France... only, the long way around, along the west coast of North America, Alaska, the Behring Strait and Siberia. It's the second time we cross Siberia in this series, although in "Michael Strogoff: The Courier of the Czar" it was from west to east and here it's in the opposite direction, and farther north.


First read or reread?: First read for me.


What is it about?: The Cascabels are a French family of circus artists who plan to return home after many years touring the United States. Unfortunately their trip east is cut short when their money, all their lifetime savings, is stolen. With no money to pay for their passage across the Atlantic, they decide to return to France traveling west, via Alaska, the Behring Strait and Siberia. It's a longer, harsher, more uncertain journey, but cheaper, because they intend to travel on their horse-drawn carriage all the way. Even the Behring Strait can be crossed without the help of a ship, since it's frozen during the winter. Along the way, they encounter a Mr. Sergius (a Russian) with his companion Kayette (an Alaskan native) both of whom join the band on their trip west. However, Mr. Sergius has a secret which may jeopardize the safety of the family when they reach Russian lands.


We are in the second half of Verne's career (the author was 62 years old when he published this) but this is another book which is completely in the style of his early novels. All of it is a travelogue (after several historical novels, interspersed with some science fiction and robinsonades, we hadn't really had a travelogue since "Kéraban the Inflexible"). There are no flashy vehicles and no science fiction here. Just a large horse-drawn carriage which serves as the family's home, good humor, optimism and grit.

Part of the charm of this novel is sharing the journey with the Cascabel family, who are humble but salt-of-the-earth type of characters, almost always in high spirits and always caring for each other. We have Cesar, the father and supposed head of the family, Anglophobe but a good-natured dreamer and strongman who can be counted upon to get a bright idea when the family is in difficulties. His wife Cornelia, strong both physically (she is a prize fighter) and in character, whose practical common sense complements her husband's impetuosity. The children, starting with 19-year-old Jean, a juggler, who aspires to a better education and whose love story with Kayette, the Indian orphan who joins them, provides the romance. Then we have the young ones, 12-year-old contortionist Sander, often planning some childish mischief, and 8-year-old Napoléone, a tightrope dancer, the daughter and baby of the family.

The first volume of the story, narrating the American part of the journey, is quite cosy and relaxed, with the family having some adventures as they travel but no deadlines and no particular hurry (after all, they won't be able to cross the Behring Strait till the winter when it's frozen). This part may seem lacking in tension to some readers, since there's no overarching storyline apart from the incidents of the trip, but I enjoyed it. I always like these travelling stories where you can follow the character's progress on the map. As a curiosity, the purchase of Alaska from Russia by the united States plays a part in the story, as it directly affects the trip.

The second volume begins with the party attempting to cross the Behring Strait, and right away the stakes become much higher, with epic natural dangers and some intrigue involving one of their travelling companions, the Russian authorities and a band of bandits.

For such a long journey, the author can't describe every part of it in detail, but I think Verne finds a good balance, describing some parts more in passing and others in more detail when the adventure requires it. It's the kind of book that we could call geographical adventures, since the description of regions which were not unexplored but certainly little-known at the time plays a large role.

On the minus side, we have some of the traditional Verne implausibilities, like native tribes who are gullible to the point of stupidity or wild animals who behave in a too aggressive and coordinated way to be believable. This doesn't really ring true now, although probably it did at the time it was written.

Perhaps this novel has little to surprise a reader familiar with Verne's style. There are elements of "The Fur Country" and other Verne novels here, but those who are fans of the author will find a lot to enjoy.


Enjoyment factor: I enjoyed it. It's another very little-known Verne novel, but I found it funny and a well-paced adventure. It's not free from some of Verne's usual flaws but, despite the privations the heroes suffer in some parts of the journey, it has that optimistic charm that I always appreciate in this author.


Next up: Mistress Branican


See all my Verne reviews here: https://www.sffworld.com/forum/thread...

[Esteban Martos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recuerdo que cuando lo leí, se me hizo aburrido en varias partes, me parece interesante las descripciones que hace geográficas, el final me pareció más Hollywoodense que de Julio Verne, inverosímil totalmente

[Adrianne Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro hubiese podido ser mucho mejor de lo que es si hubiera tenido un comienzo menos lento. Es una historia clásica de Verne del tipo “Viajes extraordinarios”, con una familia y sus agregados que prácticamente le dan la vuelta al mundo, muy a lo “Los hijos del capitán Grant”, con escenarios cambiantes, paisajes fascinantes, contratiempos inesperados y un grupo de personajes carismáticos con los que te encariñas con el paso de las hojas, pero tiene el enorme defecto de perderse demasiado en su comienzo. La premisa es atractiva por lo loca que suena, una familia de artistas ambulantes decide volver a su natal Francia a través del estrecho de Behring, lo que los llevará a recorrer tres cuartas partes del mundo en su pequeña caravana; bien manejado, pudo ser una historia fantástica muy a lo Verne, pero la primera parte del libro es lenta y aburrida, no sucede algo relevante durante este periodo de la travesía y la narración del recorrido raya en el tedio, esta parte del viaje pudo haberse resumido en menos hojas para hacer más ágil la trama. Quizás, como consecuencia de esto, la tercera parte transcurre muy rápido, prácticamente se atraviesa todo el continente asiático en unos cuantos párrafos cuando se perdieron varios capítulos en la parte de América del Norte. Sin embargo, considerando que Verne ya había narrado a detalle un viaje a través de la Rusia europea y la Rusia asiática en "Miguel Strogoff", se puede entender que no haya querido hacer lo mismo en esta obra, por mucho que el viaje se hubiese hecho a la inversa. Así pues, la emoción comienza hasta la segunda parte del libro, cuando Verne se acordó que debía meterles drama a sus personajes y los hizo sufrir todo lo que les escamoteó en la primera parte, aunque ya de por sí el simple hecho de narrar el cruce entre continentes a través del estrecho de Behring fue emocionante por sí solo. Desgraciadamente, la segunda parte es corta, aunque compensa parte del aburrimiento de la primera. La tercera parte no es más que el complemento y la conclusión de la obra, con más drama y emoción que la primera, pero es tan corta que no se alcanza a disfrutar. Con respecto al final, he visto a muchas personas quejarse de que es inverosímil, pero yo no considero que sea así ya que Verne fue dando pistas sutiles de lo que podría llegar a pasar, no se sacó de la nada la forma en cómo se resolvieron las cosas e incluso se podría decir que la conclusión es predecible. No fue un final sacado de la manga ni algo que fuese imposible de imaginar, creo que es un desenlace decente para un libro decente. Al final disfruté el libro más de lo que esperaba y me encariñé mucho con los personajes, pero la primera parte tan tediosa me hace dejarle una calificación final de tres estrellas, que me parece que es más que suficiente.

[Hypatia's Dream · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otra más de las maravillosas travesías que Verne magistralmente relata a detalle de cada lugar que en su época eran tan recónditos y que se admira con que presición nos describe cada paso que sus protagonistas dan hacia su destino.

Las desventuras en ocasiones acompañan a esta maravillosa familia de la que se habla en esta historia pero la unión y el amor siempre presente entre ellos permite que salgan avantes ante tales situaciones.

La novela "Cesar Cascabel" nos presenta a la familia Cascabel (compuesta por 5 integrantes y sus mascotas) de orígen francés, cuyo oficio de saltimbanquis les exige presentarse en distintos lugares y bajo el mando del jefe de familia se transladan por el continente americano para exponer su show, se inicia la narración de una forma tan positiva ya que gracias al gran esfuerzo de toda la familia y su laborioso quehacer, se han hecho de una pequeña fortuna bien merecida permitiéndoles decidir regresar a su país natal, sin embargo un inconveniente se presentará eventualmente.

Personajes:

César Cascabel (Jefe de familia)
Cornelia Cascabel (Esposa de cascabel)
Jean Cascabel (hijo mayor)
Sandré Cascabel (segundo hijo)
Napoleona Cascabel (la menor de los hijos)

Clou de Giroffe (clown americano)
Sergei Narkine (ruso)
Kayette (indígena americana)

Ortik
Kirchef
Tchou Tchou

Julio Verne se adentró en el norte de América para dirigirnos a Alaska y al estrecho de Bering y que con su muy acostumbrada forma tan específica de señalarnos coordenadas y ubicaciones nos engancha a una aventura junto a una honesta y cariñosa familia que pasa por distintas experiencias junto a sus dos caballos, un mono, un papagayo y dos perros pero sobre todo con algo más que un hogar, la "Belle Roulotte" que guarda todo aquel calor que está familia puede ofrecer.

Desde un naufragio, asaltos, un ataque de focas, lobos, pérdidas y reencuentros hasta las más generosas sorpresas, Verne nos dirige en está trama tan nutrida y variada.

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

— Care-mi mai daţi ceva bănuţi? Hai, copii, scotociţi-vă prin buzunare!

— Ţine, tată! spuse fetiţa.

Şi scoase din buzunar o hârtie verzuie, mototolită şi murdară. Pe ea se putea citi cu greu: United States Fractional Currency, cuvinte ce înconjurau figura respectabilă a unui domn în redingotă, iar cifra 10 se repeta de şase ori. Hârtia valora zece cenţi, adică vreo 50 de centime franţuzeşti.

— De unde îi ai? întrebă mama.

— Atâta mi-a mai rămas de la ultima încasare, răspunse Napoléone.
— Dar tu, Sandre, nu mai ai nimic?

— Nu, tată.

— Nici tu, Jean?

— Nici eu.

— Cât ne mai trebuie, César? îl întrebă Cornélia pe soţul ei.

— Ne lipsesc doi cenţi, ca să avem o sumă rotundă, răspunse domnul Cascabel.

— Poftim, patroane! zise Cuişoară, jucându-se cu o monedă mică de aramă pe care tocmai o scosese din fundul buzunarului de la vestă.

— Bravo, Cuişoară! strigă fetiţa.

— Bun!… S-a făcut! constată domnul Cascabel.

Şi „se făcuse,” ca să vorbim pe limba acelui saltimbanc de treabă. În total erau aproape două mii de dolari, adică zece mii de franci.

Oare zece mii de franci nu sunt o avere, când scoţi bani din generozitatea publică, numai prin propriile-ţi talente?

Cornélia îşi îmbrăţişa bărbatul, copiii îl îmbrăţişară şi ei.

— Acum, zise domnul Cascabel, trebuie să cumpărăm o casă de bani, o lădiţă frumoasă cu cifru, în care să ne punem averea.

[Aitor Mahiques Bataller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una família circense francesa, de gira per Califòrnia, vol tornar a casa, però com que han perdut tots els diners per a agarrar un transatlàntic, decideixen caminar fins a França tot travessant l'Estret de Bering. Pel camí es troben alguns personatges com un príncep rus o una jove indígena americana així com moltes tribus amb les quals Jules Verne pot fer gal·la del seu racisme.

La història és original pel que fa a la seua ambientació, no tant per l'argument que recorda a moltes altres aventures de l'escriptor francés. Els personatges són molt plans, com és acostumat. El retrat psicològic del realisme no va fer efecte en Verne. De fet, tot és un pretext perquè ens puga contar 100 fun facts sobre el cercle polar àrtic i tots aquells que hi viuen.

El final és estrany, és com si s'haguera cansat d'escriure perquè acaba en Perm, a la vora dels Urals amb unes breus línies per a dir-nos que finalment la família va poder arribar a casa, en Normandia.

La novel·la fou escrita el 1890, en plena època de l'imperialisme europeu, això per a entendre tot el solatge racista que hi ha en la novel·la, i que Verne mai no hauria pogut presidir l'ONU.

Li done un aprovat perquè en les tòrrides vesprades d'estiu és refrescant imaginar-se en mig de l'Àrtic.

[Omar Nipolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una aventura fantástica de la familia Cascabel, una troupe de saltimbanquis y acróbatas de feria que después de hacer las delicias de chicos y grandes en Estádos Unidos, deciden regresar a sus natal Francia pero siendo víctimas de un robo se quedan sin dinero para pagar los boletos de regreso, por lo que deciden hacer el viaje de las tribus mongólicas a la inversa, desde América hasta el viejo mundo aprovechando un inclemente invierno que congelaría el estrecho de bering, iniciando una serie de aventuras y desventuras que lo mantienen a uno pegado al libro.
El libro lo tenía mi padre entre sus libros, que se encontraban en la librera de su casa natal, a donde yo pasaba mis vacaciones de fin de año escolar, fue mi primer encuentro con la literatura, gracias a Dios, Verne era uno de los favoritos de mi padre, si me volví un lector empedernido fue gracias a novelas como esta.
Verne se explayó con las descripciones geograficas en esta novela, cuyo género debería ser Novela Geográfica, estaba muy joven, era un niño de diez años cuando la leí y esta novela influyó mucho en mi gusto por la lectura, de modo que regresé varias veces a sus páginas, realmente fascinante y muy recomendable.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting and Very Intertaining Novel

The novel about a troupe of circus entertainers who travel From America BACK to France via the polar 'bridge'. The family encounters many obstacles along the trek and FINALLY , after MUCH PAIN AND HARDSHIP,
the troupe finally makes it back to France. The novel ends in a romping play performed By the troupe of performers... not to mention a WEDDING . . . THUS SEALING THE NOVEL ! ! VERY RECOMMENDED READING FOR A JULES VERNE READER ! It is a rather slow reading book,
But, THE BOOK IS DEFINITELY WORTH THE TIME SPENT TO READ IT ! ! !

[Maria Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, am terminat cartea asta aseară și pot să spun că nu m-a dezamăgit. Jules Verne e cu siguranță autorul meu preferat, iar poveștile lui m-au fascinat întotdeauna.
Mă simțeam goală după ce am terminat-o, nu știam ce să fac cu viata mea. Dar cartea asta m-a făcut să-mi dau seama cât de mult îmi place creativitatea lui, de fapt.

[Sudefteri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cascabel Ailesi'nin, yaşadığı Amerika'dan çıkıp memleketi olan Fransa'ya yaptığı yolculuğu anlatıyor. Gezgin Cambazlar'ın tehlikeli ve bir o kadar da heyecanlı olan serüvenini okumak keyifliydi ama Jules Verne'den daha önce daha iyi kitaplar okumuştum.

[That Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't love this one. The treatment of the native tribes was quite off putting and I didn't like Cascabel's character. However the idea of travelling with a circus company travelling throughout the Arctic ring is interesting.

[Gfec · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75

[Veroni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another tale told by Jules Verne.

[Micaaa Turrado · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Al fiiiinn termineee. Fue un libro entretenido, medio lento a veces, muchas, muuchas descripciones geográficas (como todos los libros de Verne), pero me gustó bastante.

[Juli :p · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me costo un montón leerlo, es demasiado denso y no tiene emoción. La historia está buena pero como mencioné antes, no avanza y los sucesos que deberían ser emocionantes no lo son.

[Deniz Baysal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doğa & Deniz 4.5

[Adam Madalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤍🤍Iubesc stilul lui Jules Verne, are un stil care curge lin, care te poarta în poveste linear, prinzându-te în ea fără să te facă sa vrei sa renunti la carte.
Ni se prezintă familia Cascabel, o familie de circari, care își propun sa ajungă din America în Franța. În drumul lor trec prin mai multe aventuri și peripeții, care par scoase în cale pentru a-i împiedica sa își atingă scopul. Întâlnesc în cale și persoane rele, care vor încerca să le facă rău, dar și persoane cu, care leagă o prietenie pe viata.
Vor fi de ajuns răbdarea, perseverenta și istețimea lui Cesar Cascabel pentru a-și completa călătoria ajungând în Franța?🤍🤍
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Viktor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Big fan of Verne, but this book was a great disappointment.
Characters are flat and boring. Story is dull and absurd. Finale is boring, ordinary and unimaginative. Hardly could finish the book, but I expected it to get better at the end. It wasnt...
The worst thing when you start the book and getting to know all the characters, you can assume the rest of the story and how they will end and behave for the rest of the book. Sadly not the best one from the great imaginative Jules.

[laurentiu]

0

[PeacefulHideaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a child/teenager. I remember it being very fun, always loved adventure books and movies. Plus, it`s Jules Verne! What else can one add to that? :))