Adventure, discoveries, exploration and dangers which hold your attention to the last page. Jules Verne's "Five Weeks in a Balloon" from 1865 combines all of them successfully. It tells the story of the explorer Dr. Fergusson who together with a few more people embark on a scientific expedition with a balloon. Their main goal is to study the then-called "dark continent" Africa which few knew anything of. The mission is not without obstacles as they have to experience windless days, face conflicts with natives and even try to escape a military army. Will the balloon take them safely home or their expedition will be doomed to failure? Is their perseverance and determination enough to find work-arounds or there are higher powers watching over them? -