The Steam House tells the story of the travels of several Europeans across India in a wonderful mechanical apparatus, shaped very much like an elephant. Dramatic clashes between heroes engaged in a long-standing political dispute take place against the backdrop of magnificent nature, remarkable historical and architectural monuments... “Uncle Robinson” is Jules Verne’s first attempt to create an adventure novel in which the educational principle would be organically combined with lively, intricate intrigue . Many motifs of this unfinished work were transferred to the famous “Mysterious Island”. The essay “Memories of Childhood and Youth” is about the author’s adolescent hobbies, about the awakening of his interest in travel and books.