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Theme: skepticism

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Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Leadership and Doubt

Author: Jules Verne (Gutenberg)  | Themes: authority, navigation, colonialism, uncertainty, skepticism  | Source: Project Gutenberg  | Published: 2026-03-12

This, however, did not satisfy the Canadian, who that day came to me asking where we were going. “We are going where our Captain’s fancy takes us, Mas...
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Gulliver's Travels / Ephemeral Knowledge

Author: Jonathan Swift (Gutenberg)  | Themes: transience, learning, history, culture, skepticism  | Source: Project Gutenberg  | Published: 2026-03-12

He said, “that new systems of nature were but new fashions, which would vary in every age; and even those, who pretend to demonstrate them from mathem...
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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes / Observational Conflict

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle (Gutenberg)  | Themes: deduction, skepticism, science, mystery, tension  | Source: Project Gutenberg  | Published: 2026-03-03

In each case, not only are the ‘e’s’ slurred and the ‘r’s’ tailless, but you will observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen ot...
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Pride and Prejudice / Familial Duty

Author: Jane Austen (Gutenberg)  | Themes: family loyalty, ambition, social mobility, skepticism, urban life  | Source: Project Gutenberg  | Published: 2026-02-04

Bennet thought it possible they might have gone to one of them, on their first coming to London, before they procured lodgings. Gardiner himself did n...
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Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Geographic Revelation

Author: Jules Verne (Gutenberg)  | Themes: exploration, skepticism, nature, enlightenment, geography  | Source: Project Gutenberg  | Published: 2026-01-20

“Well, Sir Naturalist,” said the Canadian, in a slightly jovial tone, “and the Mediterranean?” “We are floating on its surface, friend Ned.” “What!” s...
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Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Exploration and Truth

Author: Jules Verne (Gutenberg)  | Themes: exploration, media reliability, native cultures, skepticism, colonial discourse  | Source: Project Gutenberg  | Published: 2026-01-19

long., had seen some iron bars and red stuffs used by the natives of these parts. Dumont d’Urville, much perplexed, and not knowing how to credit the ...
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Dracula / Science and Belief

Author: Bram Stoker (Gutenberg)  | Themes: knowledge versus ignorance, mortality, the supernatural, human understanding, skepticism  | Source: Project Gutenberg  | Published: 2026-01-03

Then, friend John, am I to take it that you simply accept fact, and are satisfied to let from premise to conclusion be a blank? Then tell me--for I am...
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Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Exploration and Irony

Author: Jules Verne (Gutenberg)  | Themes: ambition, exploration, skepticism, nature, imperialism  | Source: Project Gutenberg  | Published: 2025-12-09

sir,” said Captain Nemo, in an ironical tone, “you will always be the same. I affirm that not only can the _Nautilus_ disengage itself, but also that ...
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A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Transformation Through Discovery

Author: Jules Verne (Gutenberg)  | Themes: exploration, belief, transformation, skepticism, the sublime  | Source: Project Gutenberg  | Published: 2025-11-20

"Are you convinced?" said my uncle, with a self-satisfied smile. "I am convinced," I cried, "that what I see is incredible." The fact was that my jour...
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Around the World in Eighty Days / Anxieties of Adventure

Author: Jules Verne (Gutenberg)  | Themes: belief vs skepticism, ambition, adventure, trust, societal anxiety  | Source: Project Gutenberg  | Published: 2025-11-15

Fogg, I suppose, is anxious to catch the steamer for Yokohama?” “Terribly anxious.” “You believe in this journey around the world, then?” “Absolutely....