The story is narrated by axel and begins in 1863 when professor Otto Liedenbrock, Axel's uncle, rushes into hos house in Hamburg, Germany. It is revealed that the professor has pruchased an old book written in the twelfth century about the ancient Icelandic rulers. The Professor can speak many languages and togerher writh Axel, he deciphers an ancient runic code found on a piece of paper in the book. Professor liedenbrock decides to go at once to Iceland and follow in the footsteps of saknus ...