A Floating City, and, The Blockade Runners

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

A Floating City, and, The Blockade Runners

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century maritime life, Jules Verne weaves two thrilling adventures aboard the colossal steamship 'Great Eastern' and the daring blockade runner 'Dolphin.' Featuring high-stakes drama, daring missions, and ocean travel, this collection captures the perilous romance of sea voyages, from transatlantic crossings to evading Confederate artillery, blending technical marvels with human passion.

Summary up to 500 words

In Jules Verne's *A Floating City, and, The Blockade Runners*, the narrative unfolds across two distinct yet thematically linked adventures aboard the era's most magnificent vessels. The story opens on the *Great Eastern*, a colossal steamship described as a 'floating city' preparing for a transatlantic voyage from Liverpool to New York. An amateur narrator observes the ship's immense scale and the chaotic preparations required to convert it from a cable-laying vessel back into a passenger liner. Tensions aboard the *Great Eastern* escalate as a duel is arranged between Captain Fabian Mac Elwin and the arrogant Harry Drake, stemming from a trivial dispute over a play. As the ship nears Sandy Hook, the harsh realities of sea life are highlighted by the death of a sailor, underscoring the fragility of life at sea. The narrative then shifts to the American Civil War setting aboard the *Dolphin*, a daring blockade runner commanded by Captain James Playfair. In a perilous night raid, Playfair attempts to smuggle Jenny Halliburtt and her father out of Charleston Harbor under the heavy fire of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. The mission is fraught with danger; the ship navigates through intense artillery fire, suffers damage to its bowsprit, and faces a pursuing frigate. Playfair pushes his engines to the absolute limit, risking an explosion by overloading the furnaces with cotton soaked in spirits to escape the blockade. The narrative concludes with the successful escape of the *Dolphin* into the Atlantic. The story ends in Glasgow with the celebration of Playfair's marriage to Jenny, honoring his extraordinary courage and devotion, while the *Great Eastern* continues its journey, symbolizing human ingenuity and the microcosm of human passions.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/jules-verne_floating-city.epub

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2026-07-01 07:12 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction