BBC Radio 4, August 5, 2018

Three people (and a dog) make a desperate bid to escape the carnage of the American Civil War…

Jules Verne’s 1874 story has stuck with me for many decades since I first read it, simply because it was the first of Verne’s stories that I read in the original French. Gregory Evans has considerably streamlined Verne’s tale for this one hour dramatization, and, as with 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, he’s reworked the main characters to provide more of a gender balance – although intriguingly, there’s never a hint of sexual jealousy between the two men and the woman stuck on Lincoln Island, nor is there the expected discussion of exactly where the future colonists might come from!

Verne’s story is the sequel to two of his earlier books – as well as 20,000 Leagues, it also features a character from his 1868 novel In Search of the Castaways. Elements of Tom’s backstory from that feature in this (although for obvious reasons, Evans hasn’t gone into the whole complicated affair), and he’s more of a catalyst for the three castaways to take actions than a huge part of the story.

The 20,000 Leagues character is of course Captain Nemo – played once more by Sagar Arya – whose motivations Verne himself rewrote for this book. Evans is faithful to Verne’s alterations – including one of the characters recognising Nemo from the book based on the Aronnax’ adventures – and at least this does provide some closure for the story.

Nathan Osgood, Kerry Gooderson and Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong work well together as the three castaways – Gooderson’s Grace (nee Gideon!) Spilett also providing the narration – and Rupert Holliday Evans deserves a chance to provide Tom’s full tale in a future episode. There’s strong sound design and effective direction by Marc Beeby.

Verdict: A stirring tale of survival. 8/10

Paul Simpson