Like most of Jules Verne's books it is the story of a journey. Some acrobats wish to travel from California to their native France, and having no money they determine to go in their caravan northwards to Behring Straits, cross on the ice, and make their way through Siberia into Europe. Jules Verne's travellers are generally successful; in spite of robbers, icebergs, and the Russian police the bold Frenchmen triumphantly reach their goal. There is nothing more to be said about the works of this very prolific writer; they have long ago been criticized and classed and are still state-of-the-art today.