Facing the Flag

Jules VerneProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.6

Word count: 318K words
Chapters: 32

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Facing the Flag by Jules VerneAuthor: Verne, Jules, 1828-1905,Language: English, Class: PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Release Date: Mar 1, 2004

Editor's review

Facing the Flag is a science fiction adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne (1828–1905). The original French title refers to "the flag," and the English translation has come down under the title Facing the Flag. The story revolves around an invention of enormous destructive power, involving the inventor, those who covet it, and tensions over national security. It continues Verne's concern with the double-edged nature of science and technology: technology can bring progress, but it can also become a threat. The novel leans toward adventure narrative, with elements of the sea, fortresses, and intrigue; it is quite readable and well suited as a lesser-noticed work in Verne's oeuvre for Chinese readers to catch up on. This is the English public-domain electronic edition provided by Project Gutenberg, suitable for intermediate-level English readers and above as extensive reading, and also for science fiction fans who want to see how early science fiction handled the motif of "weaponized invention." While reading, there is no need to insist on the plausibility of technical details; it is more rewarding to notice how the author handles scientific ethics and patriotic stance.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Verne and early science fiction adventure novels
Intermediate-level English readers and above who want to use a novel for English extensive reading
Science fiction fans interested in the ethics of technology and the theme of "inventions misused"
Students who need a fast-paced English public-domain novel as extracurricular reading

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting rigorous technical world-building and extrapolation in the manner of hard science fiction
Serious fiction readers who prefer literary psychological depth and complex character development
Beginners still at an early stage of English reading who would struggle with long-form narrative

Reading tips

Read the opening chapters first to establish the character relationships and the central invention, then follow the adventure thread straight through.
There is no need to look up every nautical and mechanical term; grasp the plot progression and character motivations instead.
After finishing, you can compare it with other works by Verne and compare his different attitudes toward the power of science.
If using it for English study, select tense passages for reading aloud and retelling practice.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Do I need to read other works by Verne before this novel?

No. It is a standalone story, and its characters and plot do not depend on other works. However, readers who have read Verne before will more easily recognize his consistent concerns and narrative habits in the science-adventure genre.

Is the English version difficult to read?

It is a nineteenth-century English adventure novel with a fairly fast narrative pace, though some nautical and mechanical vocabulary is rather specialized. Intermediate English readers can complete it as extensive reading with a dictionary, and need not parse the technical descriptions word by word.

Is this book suitable for middle school students?

It depends on their English level. The story is strongly adventurous and moderate in length; middle school students with an interest in science fiction and good English can try it. Those with weaker English foundations are advised to read a Chinese translation or simplified edition first, then return to the English original.

Does this electronic edition have notes or an introduction?

This is the Project Gutenberg English public-domain electronic edition, which usually provides only the main text, without modern notes or an introduction. Readers who need background information can look up Verne's life and the late nineteenth-century technological context on their own.

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About the author

Jules Verne Author · French · 1828–1905

Jules Verne (1828–1905) was a French author born in Nantes and died in Amiens, and is regarded as one of the founders of modern science fiction. He excelled at combining scientific knowledge, geographical exploration, and adventure narratives, drawing readers with precise detail and imaginative journeys. His representative works include Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, Around the World in Eighty Days, and From the Earth to the Moon, with themes such as submarine voyages and global travel enjoying wide circulation. The library holds 141 of his works, reflecting the sheer volume and reach of his writing. His novels often center on exploring unknown worlds against the backdrop of nineteenth-century scientific progress, and have had a profound influence on later science fiction and adventure literature.