<DIV>Widely rumored to exist, then circulated in a corrupt form, Jules Verne&#8217;s final and arguably most daring and hauntingly beautiful novel&#151;his own &#147;invisible man&#8221;&#151;appears here for the first time in a faithful translation. Readers of English can rediscover the pleasures of Verne&#8217;s storytelling in its original splendor and enjoy a virtually unknown gem of action, adventure, and style from a master of French literature.<BR></DIV><BR><DIV>Wilhelm Storitz, the son of a famous Prussian scientist (and possessor of his father&#8217;s secrets&#151;even, perhaps, a formula that confers invisibility), vows revenge on the family that has denied him the love of his life, Myra Roderich. Wilhelm&#8217;s actions on the eve of Myra&#8217;s wedding unfold in a surprising and sinister way, leading to an ending that will astonish the reader.&#160; </DIV><DIV>&#160;</DIV><DIV>Like many works left unpublished when Jules Verne died, <I>The Secret of Wilhelm Storitz</I> was prepared and edited by his son, Michel. After a century of obscurity, this unique work in Verne&#8217;s oeuvre is finally in the hands of readers, in a fine, authentic translation.<BR></DIV>