The 26th volume of the “The Unknown Jules Verne” series includes an off-cycle adventure novel in a new translation, short stories, a novella and the author’s version of the novel “The Extraordinary Adventures of the Barsak Expedition.”

A family of circus performers travels from North America to France via Canada, Alaska and Russia. Artistry and various tricks help them get out of trouble. (“Caesar Cascabel”)* * *The scion of an ancient noble family, the Marquis Anselm de Thiol has neither intelligence nor beauty. He is already twenty-seven years old, and the young man feels the need to get married. The trouble is that he doesn’t know exactly what it is, and his knowledge about women is extremely poor. His venerable mentor Nazon Paraclete decides to help the marquis. But the old man had never been married either, and in addition he was obsessed with Latin. Nevertheless, he is determined to marry the noble student... (“The Marriage of M. Anselme de Thiol”) * * *In 1848–49, Italy, divided into separate states, is engulfed in revolution. The Pope was expelled and a republic was proclaimed in Rome. A number of European countries are sending troops to suppress the rebels. Captain Henri Formon volunteers as part of the French expeditionary force to Italy. He is driven not only by military duty - at all costs he needs to get to besieged Rome as soon as possible, and not only his life depends on it... (“Siege of Rome”)* * *He lives in the city of Tours and is highly respected in the area Mr. Zhededya Zhamet with his family. He is a little eccentric and overly pedantic. One day, Mr. Jamet is brought a letter that changes the established way of his life...

The beginning of an unfinished novel. (“Gededya Jamet”)* * *The story “Study Trip” reproduces the author’s version of the unfinished novel by Jules Verne. Written in 1903–04 and used by Michel Verne as working material when writing the novel “The Extraordinary Adventures of the Barsac Expedition.”

A French expedition arrives in the city of Libreville, the capital of the French Congo. Its task is to resolve some political and economic issues related to the colony, visit its largest cities and settlements, and also clarify and expand knowledge about the little-explored areas of Central Africa.

Contents Caesar Cascabel (novel, translation by E. Trynkina, I. Kutasova, illustrations by A. Kudinova) The Marriage of Mr. Anselm de Thiol (story, translation by M. Potapova) The Siege of Rome (story, translation by M. Potapova) San Carlos (story, translation by M. Potapova) Zhededya Jamet (story, translation by M. Potapova) Study trip (story, translation by M. Potapova) A. Moskvin. Choosing a path (afterword)