Two Years of Vacation

The famous French writer Jules Verne (1828-1905) in his address to the readers of this book, mentioning the many "literary successors" of Robinson Crusoe, explained the purpose of creating his novel: "It seemed to me that to complete all these robinsonades, it remains to show a group of children abandoned on an island, struggling for their existence, in a word, a whole boarding school of robinsons."

...The Richmond boarding school in Auckland, New Zealand, is a typical English establishment for boys, where the children of European colonists study. Fifteen pupils of the boarding school, aged from eight to fourteen, were going to spend their holidays on a sea voyage. Suddenly, the children find themselves alone on a drifting ship; a storm carries the yacht out to sea, and they end up on an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean.

The harsh nature of the island, wild beasts, vicious robbers - what difficulties and dangers the young travelers had to face!

However, the courage, determination, ingenuity, and solidarity of the boys allowed them to survive for two years on the wild island, endure severe trials, overcome all sorts of hardships, withstand deadly situations, and ultimately return home safely.

The book features illustrations by the French artist L. Bennett from one of the first editions of the novel.