The Mysterious Island


Read by Mark F. Smith

(4.8 stars; 3553 reviews)

A story of castaways, similar to Robinson Crusoe and The Swiss Family Robinson, this book details the escape from Civil War-era Richmond, Virginia, of five Northern men who dared to go aloft in a balloon in the midst of a hurricane. Deposited on a lonely island in the Pacific, they make do with Yankee ingenuity where Chance has left them nothing. Only later do they find they have a hidden benefactor: Captain Nemo, of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, who resides, alone, secretly on the island. In time, the tiny colony becomes so prosperous that it is able to rescue another castaway from an island a hundred miles away. But all their work will come to naught - their island's volcano is about to awake! (Summary by Mark)

Chapters

Select a chapter to play

1-01 The Storm of 1865. Voices in the Air. 15:45 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-02 An Incident in the War of Secession 21:58 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-03 Five O'Clock in the Evening 17:37 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-04 Lithodomes. The River's Mouth. The Chimneys. 20:21 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-05 Arranging the Chimneys. How to Procure Fire. 18:06 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-06 The Inventory of the Castaways. Expedition to the Forest. 19:01 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-07 Neb Has Not Yet Returned. A Threatening Night. 19:39 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-08 Is Cyrus Harding Living? Neb's Recital. 19:24 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-09 Cyrus is Here. Pencroft's Attempts. 21:47 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-10 The Engineer's Invention. Volcanic Soil. 21:16 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-11 At the Summit of the Cone 24:01 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-12 Regulating the Watches. Pencroft is Satisfied. 21:27 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-13 What is Found Upon Top 24:21 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-14 Measuring the Cliff. Latitude of the Island. 20:42 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-15 It Is Decided to Winter on the Island 18:46 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-16 The Question of a Dwelling is Again Discussed. 18:58 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-17 Visit to the Lake. The Indicating Current. 21:55 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-18 Pencroft Now Doubts Nothing 18:54 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-19 Cyrus Harding's Project. The Rope Ladder. 19:58 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-20 The Rainy Season. The Question of Clothes. 17:43 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-21 Some Degrees Below Zero. 20:43 Read by Mark F. Smith
1-22 Traps. Foxes. Peccaries. 26:54 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-01 Conversation on the Subject of the Bullet 20:05 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-02 First Trial of the Canoe. A Wreck on the Coast. 20:17 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-03 The Start. The Rising Tide. 21:55 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-04 Journey to the Coast. Troops of Monkeys. 18:23 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-05 Proposal to Return By the Southern Shore 21:52 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-06 Pencroft's Halloos. A Night in the Chimneys. 20:12 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-07 Plans. A Bridge Over the Mercy. 20:59 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-08 Linen. Shoes of Seal-Leather. 20:56 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-09 Bad Weather. The Hydraulic Lift. 19:18 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-10 Boat-Building. Second Crop of Corn. 19:20 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-11 Winter. Felling Wood. The Mill. 24:13 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-12 The Rigging of the Vessel 27:40 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-13 Departure Decided Upon. Conjectures. 20:34 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-14 The Inventory. Night. A Few Letters. 23:06 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-15 The Return. Discussion. 18:40 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-16 A Mystery to be Cleared Up. 25:33 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-17 Still Alone. The Stranger's Request. 25:15 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-18 Conversation. Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett. 22:50 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-19 Recollections of Their Native Land 20:30 Read by Mark F. Smith
2-20 A Night at Sea. Shark Gulf. Confidences. 23:40 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-01 Lost or Saved? Ayrton Summoned. 24:25 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-02 Discussions. Presentiments. 22:04 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-03 The Mist Rises. The Engineer's Preparations. 26:01 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-04 The Colonists on the Beach. 24:17 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-05 The Engineer's Declaration. 19:50 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-06 Expeditions Planned. Ayrton at the Corral. 21:13 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-07 The Reporter and Pencroft in the Corral 18:15 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-08 The Convicts in the Neighborhood of the Corral 10:13 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-09 No news of Neb. A Proposal. 20:20 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-10 Herbert Carried to Granite House 17:23 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-11 Inexplicable Mystery. Herbert's Convalescence. 20:56 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-12 Exploration on the Serpentine Peninsula. 20:45 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-13 Ayrton's Story. A Subterranean Volcano. 24:37 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-14 Three Years Have Passed. The New Vessel. 22:25 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-15 The Awakening of the Volcano. The Fine Season. 27:17 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-16 Captain Nemo. His First Words. 22:28 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-17 Last Moments of Captain Nemo 19:34 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-18 Reflections of the Colonists 31:01 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-19 Cyrus Harding's Account of His Exploration 27:50 Read by Mark F. Smith
3-20 An Isolated Rock in the Pacific 12:35 Read by Mark F. Smith

Reviews

Murder Mystery Theatre, "The Butler Did It," with Mark Smith


(5 stars)

this most excellent experience of listening to this reading by Mark Smith could only have been improved by NOT reading his description of the book, which totally revealed the mystery of the island and also gave away the ending. Spoilers, man.

I couldn’t love this story more!


(5 stars)

One the BEST stories I’ve ever read(heard). The way it connects to Jules Verne’s timeless classic, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and ties up some of its biggest loose ends was a true delight. On top of that, this book is full of heart and full of adventure. It may well be as great as any other “stranded on an island story”, if not greater. Also the reader of this edition, Mark Smith, narrates it perfectly as though he is enjoying it and really feels the character’s emotions, which makes it even better. I love this book!

excellent story read excellently, good job


(5 stars)

I really enjoy the old stories. And the reader has done such a great job. voice inflection and also emotion and a calm clear speaking voice. excellent story read excellently

Castaway story with a twist


(5 stars)

Loved this story. A bit long at first glance but once you get into it you are apt to enter into the lives of the characters stranded on the island. The most challenging part is the rambling description of the island's characteristics but this is mainly confined to the first few chapters. Mark Smith did a great job of reading this tome-ish work with his steady pace and calm voice. A startling twist at the end, almost leaving you to wonder why Verne wrote their island story at all, but he ties up all loose ends nicely with a touching salute to one of his greatest characters.

Slow start becomes page turner


(4 stars)

An island adventure story interspersed with long, wordy descriptions that could be from a botany or chemistry textbook! Kudos to the author for maintaining an interesting story despite this. i was glad I stuck with it for some exciting and unexpected developments, and watching how these heroic men maintained integrity and faith in dire circumstances. Reader did a great job with pacing and voices, although there is some unpleasant background noise and his description should be edited to not reveal too much.

Mark Smith is my favorite reader, Especially Jules Verne


(5 stars)

There are a number of dead air moments that should get clipped out. That said, Mark Smith clearly portrays Jules Verne's characters in the story marvelously. Each character is intoned differently. Thank you!

awesome novel and amazing reader


(5 stars)

Amazing 🤩


(4 stars)

Good story of survival, teamwork, and industrious enterprise of a few good men working daily to surmount a series of problems and challenges. The mysterious happenings around the island keep the reader intrigued throughout the story. The writer did a good job of presenting the reader with mysterious fortuitous happenings that could be explained away but somehow left the reader with enough clues to hint at an eventual explanation that would be forthcoming by the end of the story. And fortunately the climatic ending did satisfy while providing a subtle nod to the Providence of God in saving the exhausted group of colonists marooned on the Island when all Hope is lost.