The Mighty Orinoco
The proud Orinoco is a novel by the French writer Jules Verne. The novel was first published with the first part on 23 June 1898 and the second part on November 14, 1898 by the publisher Pierre -Jules Hetzel under the French title Le superbe Orenoque. A preliminary list was published in Magasin d' Éducation et de Récréation in the volumes 7 and 8 from 1 January to 15 December 1897., The first German-language edition was published in 1898 under the title The proud Orinoco. The English title of the novel is The Mighty Orinoco.
Action
The plot of the novel takes place in Venezuela on the entire length of the river Orinoco from the mouth to the source. Three scholars have differences of opinion with regard to the clarification of the exact course and in particular the definition of the "right " source flow. You are going on a journey to explore the course of the river. They begin their voyage to the headwaters of the Orinoco in the provincial capital of Bolívar. They meet at the beginning of their research trip two travelers from France, the old professional soldier Sergeant iR Martial and his nephew Jean. When Jean is in fact the young woman Jeanne Sergeant. This has dressed for safety as a man. The two expect the journey through the wilderness of Venezuela for a man is more secure than for a woman. The couple seeks a few years ago disappeared officer Colonel of Kermor. From Kermor has left his home several years ago. He has lost his wife in a shipwreck and is of the opinion that his daughter is also killed.
On the way to the headwaters of the Orinoco travel company meets two other Frenchmen. The researchers Germain Paterne and Jaques Helloch want to explore the botanical features of a tributary of the Orinoco. You think that the trip with the group is secure and eventually join the trip out of curiosity society. On another trip, the group is in an area that is dominated by dangerous villains and wild Indians. The journey follows the footsteps of Alexander von Humboldt, whose explorations led him through this area.
Martial Uncle, Jean / Jeanne Germain and Jacques finally separate from the rest of the group. Go to the upriver past Mission Santa Juana. The head of Father Esperante should have information about the missing colonel. He has been in the mission and the surrounding villages spread through his work education, faith and prosperity.
The seedy Spaniard Jorres is also on the way to the mission station. He is actually the searched throughout the area villain Alfaniz and has committed on his path that leads him to the predatory Indians of the quivas murders. Jorres separates into the night by the group. He puts the tour group an ambush, which is captured by the quivas. The Indian boy Gomo, who has joined the group recently, escapes the ambush, and can penetrate to the nearby mission station. He alerted there Father Esperante who goes out with his security force to fight the gang of robbers and to free their prisoners. Once this has been achieved, it turns out that he is in fact looking for the Colonel of Kermor.
Films
- The novel was in Venezuela under the original title in 1888, el extraordinario viaje de la Santa Isabel (also 1888, el extraordinario viaje de Jules Verne ) filmed in 2005 by director Alfredo Anzola and under the title in 1888, The Extraordinary Voyage of Jules Verne on DVD in the USA sold.