Publisher's Synopsis
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea tells the story of marine biologist Pierre Aronnax, his manservant Conseil and harpoonist Ned Land, who - after joining the hunt for a mysterious sea monster - are thrown overboard when the monster attacks and find themselves prisoners of Captain Nemo, probably one of Verne's most memorable yet elusive characters. On board the Nautilus, a technologically advanced submarine that everyone has mistaken for a sea monster, the three companions get to experience the vast and endlessly fascinating world under the sea. Twenty Thousand Leagues is an adventure tale, political commentary and scientific utopia all in one - and one of Verne's most successful works. Its first edition sold out within a week. Despite terrible initial English translations and the sometimes academically dry writing style, its appeal has endured, still capturing readers young and old with the excitement of discovering a new world.
Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is considered a science fiction classic.Marine biologist Pierre Aronnax joins an American mission to hunt down a monster that causes havoc across the oceans. When he and two of his companions are thrown overboard in an attack, they find that the monster is in fact a technically highly advanced submarine, the Nautilus. Its captain takes them prisoner, and they embark on a journey of experiencing the wonders of the world under the sea. After many adventures, they finally manage to escape.
Verne took inspiration from many other novels as well as philosophical works. One notable allusion is to Homer's Odyssey. Both Captain Nemo and Odysseus are exiles from the world and travel the seas.Captain Nemo remains a figure of mystery throughout the novel. The reader never learns of his nationality, his background or the reason for his hatred of humanity.Two manuscripts of the novel exist; the first one is in places markedly different from the second - the official version.The first English translation contained numerous errors and also cut the text by almost a quarter. Despite its flaws, it remained the official translation for almost 100 years.
The English version of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is one of the most published novels of all time.Several film adaptations of the novel have been made, the best-known being Disney's live-action Technicolor film of 1954. Verne was fascinated by the sea and spent a lot of time on his boat
A sea monster is on the loose, and the world is in turmoil. Several ships have spotted a creature that is bigger and moves faster than any other known species living in the sea. Yet despite several sightings, not everyone is convinced, and the whole world debates whether such a creature could actually exist. Putting his academic reputation on the line, Dr. Pierre Aronnax, a French expert in marine biology, argues that it must indeed be a sea monster as it is highly unlikely that a government or individual could build such a submarine without anyone knowing about it. After a number of ships collide with what is believed to be the creature, the American government decides to send out an expedition to find and kill the monster.
The expedition sets off, and Captain Farragut promises $2,000 to the person who spots the monster first. The whole crew, including Dr. Aronnax, enthusiastically scan the horizon, each one hoping to be the first to see the creature. Only Ned remains indifferent. Having spent most of his life on the ocean, he doubts that such a monster really exists. For three months,
