Jules Verneâs, âTribulations of a Chinaman in Chinaâ is an adventure novel exploring the themes of true happiness, and the real value of life. Kin-Fo is a young and extremely rich man who suddenly loses his fortune. He decides that there is no point in living but, since itâs impossible for him to take his own life, he asks his mentor, the philosopher, Wang, to do the deed for him. Things go wrong when Wang decides to give the task to a bandit. However what Kin-Fo does not know is that there is a plan going on behind his back and he is to be taught a lesson heâll remember for the rest of his life â however long that might be...
Using humour, adventure and important life lessons, Verne questions whether we need to lose something in order to appreciate it.
Jules Verne (1828-1905) was a French novelist who became known as the âFather of Science Fiction.â He wrote more than 60 novels, including âJourney to the Center of the Earthâ (1864), âTwenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seaâ (1870), and âAround the World in Eighty Daysâ (1873), the last of which has been released as a TV drama, featuring former Dr Who star, David Tennant.