20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (fiction)
Jules Verne (first published in 1869)

THE A5 BOOK REVIEW

One of the classics in science fiction is Jules Verne’s highly acclaimed Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.  In the story, the United States government assembles an expedition to find a mysterious sea monster, led by Pierre Aronnax, a French marine biologist, and accompanied by a Canadian whaler named Ned Land and a faithful servant named Conseil.  In a clash with what they believe is the monster, they are plunged into the ocean and miraculously rescued and brought on-board what they then realize is not a sea monster but instead is a submarine called Nautilus.  The creator and commander of this secret and very technically advanced ship is the mysterious Captain Nemo who plans to hold them captive and to never return to dry land.  The group travels across the globe from the South Pole to the fictional world of Atlantis, fights with a giant squid, and battles with a warship from a nation that has harmed Nemo and his family in the past.  It is an exciting story of exploration and adventure, and one of Verne’s best works.  We recommend the most contemporary translation possible to keep the attention of modern readers.
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OTHER A5 RECOMMENDED TRAVEL BOOKS - JULES VERNE

Jules Verne (1825-1908) was a well-known French novelist and playwright, best known for his stories of adventure and as someone who is sometimes credited as the true originator of science fiction.  His best known novels include Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1869), and the classic travel book Around the World in Eighty Days (1873).  Click here to learn more about Jules Verne.

GREAT QUOTES:

“The sea is only the embodiment of a supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion; it is the 'Living Infinite'...The globe began with sea, so to speak; and who knows if it will not end with it? In it is supreme tranquility.”
- Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

INTERESTING LINKS:

  • The book was turned into a 1954 film that was produced personally by Walt Disney, starred Kirk Douglas, and won three Academy Awards.  See more by clicking here.​

YOUTUBE - OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR THE 1954 MOVIE