In Search of the Castaways (Les Enfants du capitaine Grant) was published by Pierre-Jules Hetzel in 1868. A message found in a bottle, partly destroyed by seawater, indicates that Captain Grant is shipwrecked somewhere along the 37th parallel south. Lord Glenarvan, a Scottish nobleman, mounts a rescue expedition aboard his yacht the Duncan, taking Captain Grant’s children — Robert and Mary — along. The search follows the 37th parallel around the globe, crossing South America (through the Andes and the Pampas), sailing across the Indian Ocean, and traversing Australia and New Zealand.
The novel’s geographical ambition was immense: Verne used the 37th parallel as a narrative spine on which to hang detailed descriptions of the landscapes, peoples, and natural hazards of three continents. The adventure was educational by design — Hetzel wanted the Voyages Extraordinaires to teach geography to young readers.
Collecting In Search of the Castaways
First edition in French (Hetzel, Paris, 1868): Three volumes. Hetzel cartonnage binding.
Market values:
- Hetzel first edition, fine: $2,000–$5,000
- First English edition: $500–$1,500
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation.
The Search Along the 37th Parallel
A message in a bottle reveals that Captain Grant has been shipwrecked somewhere along the 37th parallel south. His children and a Scottish lord set out to find him, travelling across South America, Australia, and New Zealand. The novel (published 1867–1868) is one of Verne’s most geographically ambitious, using the search as a framework for exploring three continents’ landscapes, peoples, and natural history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Voyages Extraordinaires series? The Voyages Extraordinaires (“Extraordinary Journeys”) was the overarching title Hetzel gave to Verne’s novels. The series was designed to “outline all the geographical, geological, physical, and astronomical knowledge amassed by modern science and to recount, in an entertaining and picturesque format, the history of the universe.” The series ran from 1863 to 1905.