I enjoyed this fantastic voyage of scientific discovery and imagination. Professor Hardwigg and his nephew, Henry, along with their guide Hans, follow a medieval traveler into the center of the Earth through a crater of an icelandic volcano, and end up traveling back into the Earth's past. Verne has the opportunity to flaunt his knowledge of geology, physics, biology and paleontology, as well as expound on contemporary scientific theories about what's inside the Earth.

The journey is well-written and interesting, save for one but very annoying problem - Henry's constant whining and melodrama. He overdramatizes everything and bumbles about, constantly needing rescue by his uncle and the superhuman Hans. Hans, on the other hand, is implacable, never gets upset, tired, never takes a break, and is always there when the other two need rescuing, something built, or breakfast.

Overall enjoyable but too much melodrama. ( )