The Underground City by Jules Verne
Author: Jules Verne | Published: 1877
The Underground City Synopsis
The Underground City (French: La Ville sous la mer), also known as The Child of the Cavern, is a novel by Jules Verne, first published in 1877. It is set in Scotland and tells the story of a group of people who live in an underground city called Aberfoyle.
The story begins with the discovery of a large vein of coal in the Aberfoyle mine. The mine owner, James Starr, decides to reopen the mine and hire a group of miners to work there. Among the miners is Harry Ford, a young man eager to prove himself. Harry soon discovers that the mine is less safe than it seems. Strange noises are coming from the tunnels, and the miners are getting scared. Harry decides to investigate and soon finds a secret passage leading to an underground city.
Excerpt from The Underground City Online Book
To Mr. F. R. Starr, Engineer, 30 Canongate, Edinburgh. If Mr. James Starr will come to-morrow to the Aberfoyle coal-mines, Dochart pit, Yarrow shaft, a communication of an interesting nature will be made to him.
“Mr. James Starr will be awaited for, the whole day, at the Callander station, by Harry Ford, son of the old overman Simon Ford.”
“He is requested to keep this invitation secret.”
Such was the letter which James Starr received by the first post, on the 3rd December, 18—, the letter bearing the Aberfoyle postmark, county of Stirling, Scotland.
The engineer’s curiosity was excited to the highest pitch. It never occurred to him to doubt whether this letter might not be a hoax. For many years he had known Simon Ford, one of the former foremen of the Aberfoyle mines.
About Jules Verne
Jules Verne, born on February 8, 1828, in Nantes, France, was a celebrated French author and science fiction pioneer. He is often regarded as the "Father of Science Fiction." Verne's works have had a profound impact on literature and popular culture. Verne showed an early inclination toward writing and literature, despite his father's wishes for him to pursue a legal career. He wrote plays and short stories, but his breakthrough came with the publishing of his novel "Five Weeks in a Balloon" in 1863. This marked the beginning of his exploration-themed novels, which became his trademark. Find out more about Jules Verne on sevenov.com.