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Le Rayon vert

From: Ian Thompson <Ian.Thompson~at~ges.gla.ac.uk>
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:21:24 +0100
To: "Jules Verne Forum" <jvf~at~gilead.org.il>

Le Rayon vert was based almost entirely on Verne's own journey in the Highlands in July 1879.
He left Glasgow on July 17th aboard the Columba, sailed down the Clyde to the Crinan Canal, caught the canal barge Linnet to Crinan then the steamer from Crinan to Oban i.e exactly the route taken by Sam,Sib and Helena.
On the 18th, Verne took the excursion steamer Pioneer around the island of Mull with stops at Iona and Staffa. The following day Verne travelled to Edinburgh by coach and train.Le Rayon vert follows this itinerary exactly, the only difference being that in the book several days are spent in Oban, Iona and Staffa.
Verne did not witness the green ray personally...he just uses it as a device in the plot.
I have summarised this journey in the Introduction to a new translation of Le Rayon vert which will be published very shortly. I will post the details of the book as soon as it is published.
Ian Thompson.
Received on Wed 25 Jun 2008 - 11:21:35 IDT

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