The Mysterious Island, cover illustration

In his cover illustration for Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island, N. C. Wyeth presents the daring escapade that sets the story’s adventure in motion. The five characters (and one dog) featured on the cover are escaped prisoners of war at the Siege of Richmond during the American Civil War. The group takes flight on a hydrogen-filled observation balloon. As depicted by Wyeth, they precariously perch on the remnant of the balloon as it is carried into darkness by a strong wind. The castaways finally land on the titular "Mysterious Island," which they eventually learn is the secret base for the legendary Captain Nemo and his submarine, the Nautilus.