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Godfrey Morgan: a Californian Mystery

This Verne adventure is indeed a mystery and also a satire on the Crusoe genre. Our characters are larger than life, as well they should be - Verne expects Americans to perform epics. Young Godfrey goes to sea for adventure before settling down with his bride to be. His incredibly wealthy uncle sets him aboard one of his steamers which founders some days out, leaving Godfrey and his companion, a dance and comportment instructor, near the shore of a uninhabited island. They set up residence, benefiting from livestock, some supplies and tools which apparently also wash ashore. Later, a canoe full of savages land in order to cook up a prisoner. Godfrey helps the latter escape, and the grateful native becomes a "Friday". While the island initially seems free from any predators, it is not long before Friday saves Godfrey from a bear, a tiger and a poisonous snake. But when swarms of lions, tigers, hyenas and crocodiles attack it is more than they can handle. Where do all the beasts come from? What is the cause of the occasional plume of smoke Godfrey notes on the island? Those are some of the mysteries about which the reader will be enlightened. (A. Banner )

Year of Publication: 1882Genres: Nautical & Marine Fiction , Action & Adventure Fiction

Running Time: 06 hours 05 minutes 15 seconds

#	Chapter Name
1	CHAPTER I. In which the reader has the opportunity of buying an Island in the Pacific Ocean Arnold	14:06
2	CHAPTER II. How William W. Kolderup, of San Francisco, was at loggerheads with J. R. Taskinar, of Stockton Arnold	18:26
3	CHAPTER III. The conversation of Phina Hollaney and Godfrey Morgan, with a piano accompaniment Arnold	15:09
4	CHAPTER IV. In which T. Artelett, otherwise Tartlet, is duly introduced to the reader Arnold	11:30
5	CHAPTER V. In which they prepare to go, and at the end of which they go for good Arnold	13:56
6	CHAPTER VI. In which the reader makes the acquaintance of a new personage Arnold	11:58
7	CHAPTER VII. In which it will be seen that William W. Kolderup was probably right in insuring his ship Arnold	18:30
8	CHAPTER VIII. Which leads Godfrey to bitter reflections on the mania for travelling Arnold	18:21
9	CHAPTER IX. In which it is shown that Crusoes do not have everything as they wish Arnold	16:37
10	CHAPTER X. In which Godfrey does what any other shipwrecked man would have done under the circumstances Arnold	16:48
11	CHAPTER XI. In which the question of lodging is solved as well as it could be Arnold	15:31
12	CHAPTER XII. Which ends with a thunder-bolt Arnold	18:18
13	CHAPTER XIII. In which Godfrey again sees a slight smoke over another part of the Island Arnold	16:26
14	CHAPTER XIV. Wherein Godfrey finds some wreckage, to which he and his companion give a hearty welcome Arnold	16:05
15	CHAPTER XV. In which there happens what happens at least once in the life of every Crusoe, real or imaginary Arnold	16:33
16	CHAPTER XVI. In which something happens which cannot fail to surprise the reader Arnold	13:57
17	CHAPTER XVII. In which Professor Tartlet's gun really does marvels Arnold	17:13
18	CHAPTER XVIII. Which treats of the moral and physical education of a simple native of the Pacific Arnold	17:27
19	CHAPTER XIX. In which the situation already gravely compromised becomes more and more complicated Arnold	17:21
20	CHAPTER XX. In which Tartlet reiterates in every key that he would rather be off Arnold	19:19
21	CHAPTER XXI. Which ends with quite a surprising reflection by the negro Carefinotu Arnold	23:22
22	CHAPTER XXII. Which concludes by explaining what up to now had appeared inexplicable Arnold	18:22