The Adventures of Three Englishmen and Three Russians in Southern Africa

The Adventures of Three Englishmen and Three Russians in Southern Africa is a book by Jules Verne, first published in 1875, and the ninth book of Jules Verne’s celebrated Extraordinary Voyages series. Set in the interior of nineteenth-century Southern Africa, the novel follows a joint Anglo-Russian scientific expedition tasked with measuring a section of the Earth’s meridian. What begins as a precise and methodical surveying mission soon becomes an arduous journey through unfamiliar and often hostile terrain, where political tension, natural dangers, and cultural misunderstandings complicate every step forward. The expedition is led by the Englishmen Colonel Everest, Sir John Murray, and William Emery, alongside the Russian astronomers M. Strux and M. Struve. Though united by scientific purpose, the two national groups frequently clash in temperament and outlook, with Verne using their disagreements to explore themes of national rivalry, cooperation, and rational inquiry. As they travel across deserts, rivers, and tribal territories, the party must contend with wild animals, armed conflict, and the constant pressure of completing their measurements under perilous conditions. Like many of Verne’s adventure novels, this story blends factual scientific detail with fast-moving narrative. Verne’s fascination with geography, astronomy, and exploration is central to the plot, grounding the adventure in real-world surveying methods while steadily raising the stakes. This is a translation by Ellen E. Frewer.