Summary

Chapter 1 – On May 24, 1863, fifty year-old Johannaeum mineralogy professor Otto Lidenbrock rushes home from work early, to the surprise of his nephew, Axel, and housekeeper, Martha, who are at home at No. 19 Konigstrasse, Hamburg, Germany. Otto calls Axel into his study impatiently. Otto is a passionate man who is extremely knowledgeable and well-respected for his work, but has few social graces. He is wealthy for a professor, owns his own home, and cares for his goddaughter, seventeen year-old Grauben. He also serves as curator of the Museum of Mineralogy, owned by M. Struve, the Russian ambassador. Axel explains that he often serves as an assistant to Otto’s experiments. Axel loves to assist, and says that the blood of a geologist flows in his veins. As such, he darts into Otto’s study to see what is going on.

Chapter 2 – Otto’s study is like...