I am a huge fan of classical literature.  I’ve been captivated by the writings of C.S. Lewis, Arthur Conan Doyle, and even some William Shakespeare.  But I have not previously undertaken any works by Jules Verne.  Until I picked up an audio book copy of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea from the library.

If you have never read the book or seen the Disney classic movie, here is a brief synopsis of the story via WikiPedia:

The story begins in 1866, a mysterious sea monster, theorized by some to be a giant narwhal (large toothed whale) is sighted by ships of several nations; an ocean liner is also damaged by the creature. The United States government finally assembles an expedition in New York City to track down and destroy the menace. Professor Pierre Aronnax is a noted French marine biologist and narrator of the story; as he happens to be in New York at the time and is a recognized expert in his field, he is issued a last-minute invitation to join the expedition, and he accepts. Canadian master harpoonist Ned Land and Aronnax’s faithful assistant Conseil are also brought on board.

The expedition sets sail from Brooklyn aboard a naval ship called the Abraham Lincoln, which travels down around the tip of South America and into the Pacific Ocean. After much fruitless searching, the monster is found, and the ship charges into battle. During the fight, the ship’s steering is damaged, and the three protagonists are thrown overboard. They find themselves stranded on the “hide” of the creature, only to discover to their surprise that it is a large metal construct. [Aronnax, Conseil, and Ned Land] are quickly captured and brought inside the vessel, where they meet its enigmatic creator and commander, Captain Nemo.

Captain Nemo pilots his Nautilus to magnificent locations below the surface of the ocean.   From the South Pole to the lost city of Atlantis to the great oceans of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific, Nemo takes his visitors on an adventure that is as awe inspiring as it is beautiful.  But there are dangers that also lay in wait.  Sharks, whales, and giant squids all challenge the mighty Nautilus for supremacy of the seas.  It is a truly exciting story.

The larger story of Nemo, Professor Aronnax, Conseil, or Ned Land is sprinkled with smaller stories of naval history past.  From the great battles of the late 17th and 18th Centuries to the great discoveries of science of the time, Verne has woven a rich tapestry merging fact and fiction together to create a wonderful novel that makes history come alive.

One fact finally dawned on me, to my great dismay, was that the title of the book is NOT about a submarine traveling 20,000 leagues down from the surface of the water, it’s the total of number of leagues traveled AROUND the world, traveling underneath the surface of the water.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a book or audio book copy of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, it will make you want to travel the world.  It will expand your vocabulary, and make you dream of worlds beneath the seas of the earth.

QUOTABLES

• “What you fail to understand is the power of hate. It can fill the heart as surely as love can.” -  Nemo
• “Liberty is worth paying for . . . ” – Aronnax
• “The earth doesn’t want new continents, it wants new men.” – Nemo
• “We must make ourselves understood.” – Aronnax
  
• “That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?” Ecc. 7:24- Aronnax