Michael Strogoff; or the Courier of the Czar: A Literary Classic

New York, New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2015. Soft cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7? - 9?" tall. Originally published in French in 1867, Michael Strogoff, or, the Courier of the Czar, is regarded as one of Jules Verne's greatest novels. This intriguing tale set in Russia tells the story of one man, Michael Strogoff, the Czar's courier, who is set out on an impossible mission to save his country. A traitor inspires the dangerous Feofar Khan to invade Siberia and form a rebellion, leading to a plot to kill the czar's brother, the Grand Duke. As a result, Strogoff is sent out to warn the Duke, serving as the nation's last hope to cease the rebellion. Along the way he meets new people, makes new friends and gets capture by the enemy, only to make a grand escape. And so continue the courier's adventures through Siberia. Though this book is not one of the many science-fiction books that Verne is so highly regarded for, it utilizes the scientific phenomenon as a major plot device, allowing readers to nevertheless enjoy his profound literary voice and follow the protagonist on an unforgettable adventure. Though "Michael Strogoff: the Courier of the Czar" hews more closely to the genre of historical fiction than the science fiction for which Jules Verne is best known, the novel contains the same action-packed adventure and intrigue that made Verne famous. 352 pages. 9 x 6 inches. 2015, Skyhorse Publishing, New York, New York.