Journey to the Center of the EarthJourney to the Center of the Earth
Score Classic
What it's about
Geology professor Lidenbrock finds a manuscript in which a 16th-century explorer claims to have found a route to the earth's core. With his nephew Axel and the guide Hans, he sets off across Iceland to see for himself.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read.
You'll love it if you liked
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Around the World in Eighty Days
The Lord of the RingsGood to know
It's a classic adventure.
By the numbers
- Readers19 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #274 of the 333 science fiction books we rank
- #421 of the 504 fantasy books we rank
- #832 of the 924 classics we rank
- #2676 of the 3,056 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking
More by Jules Verne
If you like this, read next
Foundation
Ficciones
Rendezvous with Rama
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Gods Themselves
UbikExplore the best-of lists
All 47 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Journey to the Center of the Earth worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,676 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 58.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Journey to the Center of the Earth about?
Geology professor Lidenbrock finds a manuscript in which a 16th-century explorer claims to have found a route to the earth's core. With his nephew Axel and the guide Hans, he sets off across Iceland to see for himself.
How long does it take to read Journey to the Center of the Earth?
About 5 hours (191 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Journey to the Center of the Earth?
If you liked it, try Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne, Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne or The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.