Other editions of book The Green Ray

Chapter I: The Brothers Sam and Sib.“Betty!”“Bess!”“Betsey!”One after another these names re-echoed through the hall of Helensburgh; it was the way the brothers Sam and Sib had of summoning their housekeeper.But just now these diminutives had no more power of bringing forth the worthy dame than if her masters had bestowed on her her rightful title.It was Partridge the factor, who, with his hat in his hand, made his appearance at the hall-door.Addressing the two goodnatured-looking gentlemen seated in the embrasure of a bow-window in the front of the house, he said,—“You were calling Dame Bess, masters, but she is not in the house.”“Where is she, then, Partridge?”“She has gone out with Miss Campbell for a walk in the park.”Then, at a sign from his masters. Partridge gravely retired.These gentlemen were the brothers Sam and Sib—christened Samuel and Sebastian—Miss Campbell's uncles, Scotchmen of the old school, and of an ancient Highland clan; they reckoned a hundred and twelve years between them, with only fifteen months' difference in age, Sam the elder, and Sib the younger.To give a slight sketch of these paragons of honour, benevolence, and unselfishness, it need but be said that their whole lives had been consecrated to their niece. Her mother, their only sister, was left a widow a year after her marriage, and survived her husband a very short time. Sam and Sib were thus left sole guardians of the little orphan, who very soon became the one object of their thoughts and mutual affection.

This new edition of The Green Ray brings the rarely available title by the famous French author Jules Verne to a new generation. The mysterious scientific phenomenon of the green ray is unpredictable and elusive. When Helena hears of its apparent mystical effects on the mind and soul she enlists her uncles and two very different suitors, one artist and one amateur scientist, to find it. They travel to Scotland to seek to catch a glimpse of green rays which shoot out from the sunset. Their numerous attempts are always unsuccessful, thwarted by clouds or boats blocking the sun, until finally the phenomenon is visible, but they are no longer watching the horizon.

The heroes are trying to observe the green ray in Scotland. After numerous unsuccessful tries caused by clouds, flocks of birds or distant boat sails hiding the sun, the phenomenon is eventually visible, but the heroes, finding love in each other's eyes, don't pay attention to the horizon.Scientific basis[edit]Green flashes and green rays are rare optical phenomena that occur shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when a green spot is visible for a short period of time above the sun, or a green ray shoots up from the sunset point. It is usually observed from a low altitude where there is an unobstructed view of the horizon, such as on the ocean. The idea in the novel that one can predict where and when to observe the green ray has no scientific basis. However, they are regularly sighted by airplane pilots because they often can see the true horizon in mid flight, more often when flying west because the sun's relative motion is slightly slower.

When the Morning Post writes about the legendary Green Ray's elevating effects on the mind and soul, Helena Campbell vows to experience it for herself, postponing the wedding being forced upon her against her will. Together with her uncles, Sam and Sib Melville, she sets off on what becomes a near-epic quest. Joining them in the search are two would-be suitors for Helena, one an artist, the other an amateur scientist. Together, they will voyage to a distant shore--and beyond--braving hurricanes, testing their patience and resolve, and ultimately finding their own true selves.

This new edition of The Green Ray brings the rarely available title by the famous French author Jules Verne to a new generation. The mysterious scientific phenomenon of the green ray is unpredictable and elusive. When Helena hears of its apparent mystical effects on the mind and soul she enlists her uncles and two very different suitors, one artist and one amateur scientist, to find it. They travel to Scotland to seek to catch a glimpse of green rays which shoot out from the sunset. Their numerous attempts are always unsuccessful, thwarted by clouds or boats blocking the sun, until finally the phenomenon is visible, but they are no longer watching the horizon.

The heroes are trying to observe the green ray in Scotland. After numerous unsuccessful tries caused by clouds, flocks of birds or distant boat sails hiding the sun, the phenomenon is eventually visible, but the heroes, finding love in each other's eyes, don't pay attention to the horizon. Scientific basis Green flashes and green rays are rare optical phenomena that occur shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when a green spot is visible for a short period of time above the sun, or a green ray shoots up from the sunset point. It is usually observed from a low altitude where there is an unobstructed view of the horizon, such as on the ocean. The idea in the novel that one can predict where and when to observe the green ray has no scientific basis. However, they are regularly sighted by airplane pilots because they often can see the true horizon in mid flight, more often when flying west because the sun's relative motion is slightly slower.

When the Morning Post writes about the legendary Green Ray's elevating effects on the mind and soul, Helena Campbell vows to experience it for herself, postponing the wedding being forced upon her against her will. Together with her uncles, Sam and Sib Melville, she sets off on what becomes a near-epic quest. Joining them in the search are two would-be suitors for Helena, one an artist, the other an amateur scientist. Together, they will voyage to a distant shore--and beyond--braving hurricanes, testing their patience and resolve, and ultimately finding their own true selves. A Wildside Fiction Classic, long unavailable in any form.

Volume 23 of 54 of Jules Verne's "Extraordinary Voyages", first printed in 1883. Sam and Sid are each uncle to Miss Campbell, whom they two brothers have designs to see happily married. Miss Campbell, however, refuses to get married-not until she witnesses a natural phenomenon known as the 'Green Ray'. Accompanied by their housekeeper, the three set out to witness this phenomenon in this classic work by Jules Verne, in every right a 19th century romantic comedy. This particular edition is reproduced from English-edition public works, and is presented simply with an emphasis on straightforward presentation, attractiveness and continuity of appearance, with each title in the "Extraordinary Voyages" sporting a journal-style brown cover accompanied by a cover illustration and quote from the text on the back cover.

When the Morning Post writes about the legendary Green Ray's elevating effects on the mind and soul, Helena Campbell vows to experience it for herself, postponing the wedding being forced upon her against her will. Together with her uncles, Sam and Sib Melville, she sets off on what becomes a near-epic quest. Joining them in the search are two would-be suitors for Helena, one an artist, the other an amateur scientist. Together, they will voyage to a distant shore--and beyond--braving hurricanes, testing their patience and resolve, and ultimately finding their own true selves. A Wildside Fiction Classic, long unavailable in any form.

Most of the marvels or impossibilities in here are to be found in the picture there presented to us of Scottish names, manners and costumes. It will hardly be denied that such a Scotch family name as Ursiclos, and such clans as the clan McDouglas and the clan Melville, are sufficiently impossible ; nor can it be counted as anything less than a marvel for a lowland gentleman’s butler to wait at dinner and perform all his other duties clad in the ‘garb of old Gaul!’ But these and innumerable errors of the same kind are all due, apparently, to a fixed idea on the part of M. Verne that all Scotchmen are Highlanders. The story is a perfect setting for the admirable descriptions of Scotch scenery which are the best feature in the book.

In order to escape her marriage with a boring scientist (Aristobulus Ursiclos), Helena Campbell requests her uncles, Sib and Sam, to postpone her wedding until she experiences the Green Ray for herself. Indeed, according to some Scottish legends, the Green Ray has elevating effects on the mind and soul, and allows these who see it to find their own true selves...