Prof. Art Evans, Noted Jules Verne Scholar, Publishes The Mighty Orinoco

March 10, 2003

March 10, 2003, Greencastle, Ind. - Arthur B. Evans, professor of modern languages and managing editor of the journal Science Fiction Studies at DePauw University, who has been called America's "Most Prominent Jules Verne Scholar" by Forbes magazine, is celebrating the publication of a new book. Dr. Evans is the editor of the first English translation of Verne's 1898 novel, The Mighty Orinoco, released by Wesleyan University Press. The book, which tells of scientific adventure along Venezuela's Orinoco River, includes all of the illustrations from the original French edition.

Library Journal's Ulrich Baer writes, "Verne is the master narrator of 19th-century science fiction and rightly considered the godfather of modern versions of the genre... This handsomely produced and fluid first English translation of The Mighty Orinoco merits attention because of its compelling narrative, ingenuous plotting, and historical and cultural resonance. The scientifically and politically significant search for the source of one of the world's great rivers merges with the moving search for a lost and heartbroken father. After a calm beginning, the novel gains momentum and depth, offering a key example of Verne's genius in setting colorful characters in utterly captivating and hairy situations where sheer willpower clashes with intractable reality."