Jules Verne’s In Search of the Castaways (1868) is an outstanding work of adventure literature and the first volume of the author’s celebrated trilogy.

The crew of the yacht Duncan, while sailing off the coast of Scotland, catches a shark and discovers a bottle in its stomach containing a mysterious message written in three languages. Captain Grant, whose ship has been wrecked, appeals for help, giving only one clue: the 37th parallel. Lord Glenarvan, his wife, and the captain’s children, Mary and Robert, embark on a perilous journey around the world. From South America to the forests of Australia and the wild shores of New Zealand, they battle the forces of nature, human treachery, and the unknown in their quest to save a loved one.

This is a story of self-sacrifice, unyielding determination, and true friendship.