The Mysterious Island

The Mysterious Island, published in 1875, follows five Union prisoners who escape from a Confederate prison camp during the American Civil War by stealing a balloon — and are blown thousands of miles off course to land on an uncharted volcanic island in the Pacific. Engineer Cyrus Harding leads the group in building a civilisation from nothing, using knowledge, ingenuity, and teamwork to survive. But the island holds secrets, and a mysterious benefactor appears to be watching over them.

The novel is Verne's most optimistic work — a celebration of science, intelligence, and human cooperation. It is also a sequel to Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and Captain Nemo makes a memorable return. The Mysterious Island is less well-known than Verne's other works but widely considered his richest. The book is in the public domain and streams free here — no signup, no subscription, no ads.