The Blockade Runners
Encyclopedia
"The Blockade Runners" is a 1865
short story
by Jules Verne
http://gaslight.mtroyal.ab.ca/blockade.htm In 1871 it was published in single volume together with novel A Floating City
as a part of the Voyages Extraordinaires
series (The Extraordinary Voyages). An English translation was published in 1874.
plot centers on the exploits of James Playfair who must break the Union blockade of the harbour of Charleston
in South Carolina
to trade supplies for cotton and, later in the book, to rescue the father of a young girl held prisoner by the Confederates
. Verne's tale was inspired by reality as many ships were actually lost while acting as blockade runner
s in and around Charleston in the early eighteen sixties.
1865 in literature
The year 1865 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:* June 9 - Charles Dickens is involved in the Staplehurst rail crash....
short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
http://gaslight.mtroyal.ab.ca/blockade.htm In 1871 it was published in single volume together with novel A Floating City
A Floating City
A Floating City is an adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne first published in 1871. It tells of a woman who, on board the ship Great Eastern with her husband, finds that the man she loves is also on board.-External links:...
as a part of the Voyages Extraordinaires
Voyages Extraordinaires
Les Voyages Extraordinaires was a publishing title affixed to the novels and non-fictional writings of French author and science fiction pioneer Jules Verne...
series (The Extraordinary Voyages). An English translation was published in 1874.
Plot introduction
The American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
plot centers on the exploits of James Playfair who must break the Union blockade of the harbour of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
to trade supplies for cotton and, later in the book, to rescue the father of a young girl held prisoner by the Confederates
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. Verne's tale was inspired by reality as many ships were actually lost while acting as blockade runner
Blockade runner
A blockade runner is usually a lighter weight ship used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait, as opposed to confronting the blockaders to break the blockade. Very often blockade running is done in order to transport cargo, for example to bring food or arms to a blockaded city...
s in and around Charleston in the early eighteen sixties.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
It was produced as a radio play in 2006.http://www.audiobookquest.com/title.aspx?titleId=5345&aid=114009External links
- Les forceurs de blocus, full original French text
- 17 illustrations by Jules FératJules FératJules-Descartes Férat was a French artist and illustrator, famous for his portrayals of factories and their workers.He illustrated the books of many known authors, such as Jules Verne, Edgar Allan Poe, and Victor Hugo. Some critics consider his illustrations for Jules Verne's novel The Mysterious...
- audio recording by LibraVox.org