Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea — Jules Verne

Quick Summary

A sea monster, “a huge thing”, having been reported by several ships around the world, an expedition is organized on the Abraham Lincoln, an American frigate, to purge the seas of this disturbing monster. On board were Frenchman Pierre Aronnax, a professor at the Paris Museum, and Conseil, his faithful servant.

Once in sight of the monster, two huge waterspouts pour over the frigate’s deck, rushing Aronnax, Conseil and Canadian harpooner Ned Land onto the back of the monster… which turns out to be a fabulous submarine, the Nautilus, designed and commanded by a strange character, Captain Nemo, who seems fiercely hostile to all mankind!

My Thoughts

What could be better than discovering Jules Verne with his most popular book, and probably one of the best? “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” is the first book I’ve read by this author.

And the first thing I’d like to talk about is the writing. I’ve read this book in French, and find it wonderfully well written. Sure, it’s old writing, the book dating from 1870, but it’s writing whose narration, words and expressions used are just perfectly suited to the story. It’s also very descriptive, which isn’t necessarily unpleasant, but it does take some getting used to.

One flaw, however, is that the book is perhaps a little too science-oriented. This is understandable given the context in which it was written, as I think Jules Verne also wanted to give his novel an instructive role in a pivotal era of scientific and technological advances, but for us 21st-century readers, we don’t necessarily expect our heroes to turn into ornithologists, zoologists and oceanologists. I admit I found it interesting and enriching, but I’m sure it won’t be to everyone’s taste.

Nevertheless, we’re carried along by the story, alongside our heroes. We gradually discover the enigmatic Captain Nemo, and wonder how his unwilling captives will manage to escape. There’s no shortage of thrilling adventure in this novel, and it’s written in the style for which Jules Verne is so well known. I can see why this book has become an internationally acclaimed classic!

To Read or Not to Read

If you don’t like science, it can be a tedious read at times. It’s a pity, because apart from that, this book could really have been for everyone. I’d recommend that you do yourself a favor, even if it means skipping a few passages if you’re not a science buff, if you don’t want to miss out on this terrific novel.

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