The Archipelago on Fire

The archipelago in flames is a novel by the French writer Jules Verne. The novel was first published on August 14, 1884 by the publisher Pierre -Jules Hetzel under the French title L'Archipel en feu. The first German -language edition published in 1878 under the title The archipelago in flames. The English title of the novel is The Archipelago on Fire.

Action

The action of the novel takes place during the Greek Revolution in the 1820s. The Ottoman Empire suppressed the Greeks and sold over prisoners to countries in North Africa. In this environment, the Greeks begin to fight back against their oppressors, here they are supported by European volunteers, the Panhellenes. One of these volunteers is the young French naval officer Henry d' Albaret. During this time he fell in love on the island of Corfu in the banker's daughter Hadjine, daughter of the wealthy Greek banker Elizundo that he wants to get married soon. Since his love is reciprocated by her and her father agrees, now speaks quite Corfu from the upcoming wedding.

At the same time the reader gets to the captain of the ship Nicolas Starkos Karysta fishing town Vitylo know, communicating with pirates. During his stay in Vitylo he accidentally meets his widowed mother, who has joined the Greek freedom fighters and has turned away from her son because of his predatory business. At their meeting she forbids him ever to enter his father's house again, and then lights it on fire, to give to their demand emphasis.

Starkos has an obscure role in the slave trade, seems to have connections to Sacratif, which is the most famous pirates of the Greek archipelago. This is one of the most infamous creatures that time. As an ally and beneficiary of the Turkish oppression he is involved in the slave trade, and provides for the shipment of their own countrymen to North Africa. One also learns that Hadjines Elizundo father is involved in the slave trade. Since Elizundos shops are secret, Starkos can blackmail him and in turn demand the hand of his daughter and his millions. The banker then triggers the engagement between Hadjines and Henry. Shortly thereafter Elizundos suffers a stroke and dies, but Starkos stops are firmly efforts and threatens to expose Hadjines. You are Henry now finally jilted and then disappears with the fatherly friend and protector Xaris. D' Albaret closes again on the fleet and the freedom fighters.

Henry d' Albaret was appointed captain of the heavily armed corvette Syphanta. This is managed by merchants and well-armed ship is supposed to liberate part of the sea by the increasingly bold pirates of the archipelago by private initiative. d' Albaret continue by boat to hunt down pirates and brings well some pirates to the track. Furthermore, the young captain is looking Starkos because he suspects that this is responsible for his misfortune. While he uses the time to to look in hidden coves of Crete after lairs of pirates, he Browsed with his Corvette Syphanta just past the Cape Matala, a mysterious brig on. Despite great effort, the clipper can not catch up and soon he disappeared in the maze of peninsulas and bays of Crete. The Corvette embarks on the way to the island Scarpanto, known as the pirate camp and slave market. In a shore discovered Henry Hadjine and her companion as slaves at an auction. So he offers the Starkos also present at the wager and succeed to free him of his mistress and other slaves. Starkos increases to come up with Hadjine in the possession of the million Elizundos and Henry wants to rescue his true love from the slavery. By making the final bid at the sound of the shot, announcing the end of the market, he is taken with the use of all his assets in the possession Hadjines and other slaves.

On the way to the home of the Corvette meets a federation of pirate ships under the command of the upper pirates Sacratifs which also includes the mysterious brig belongs. It kindled a naval battle in the course of which killed the crew of the sloop or captured. When the capture is clear that Starkos and Sacratif are the same person. This still wants the hand Hadjines and their inherited millions. Hadjine but explained that she had used the money to free as many slaves and thereby got themselves in captivity. They also bought the Corvette to make Henry to their captain.

In a desperate attempt succeeds the prisoners to escape. In the ensuing battle Sacratif is killed by Xaris with an ax. Since the pirates are now headless, succeeds d' Albarets people to gain the upper hand and the struggle to decide for themselves. Now the way for the lovers Henry and Hadjine is paved.

Expenditure

• Julius Verne: The archipelago in flames. With 51 illustrations. In: Known and unknown worlds. Adventurous Travel by Julius Verne. 46 A. Hart Publisher 's life, How. Plague. Leipzig. 1887 ( digitized, retrieved on 27 April 2010).