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Retells the adventures of a French professor and his two companions as they sail above and below the world's oceans as prisoners on the fabulous electric submarine of the deranged Captain Nemo.
Very cool ideas for when the book was published, fascinating detail about sea life and ocean floors, but written in a very dense and boring manner. Could not bring myself to finish it. ( )
Wow, what an amazing book! This science fiction adventure, so thoughtfully written that even the fantastical elements seem almost plausible, tells of an underwater journey that is grand in scale and full of excitement and danger. Although it is long, full of detail and digression, it is never the least bit dull. That is due, at least in part, to the care with which this underwater world is crafted; even the long descriptions serve to build excitement for this magical voyage. Another element that works well is the cast of characters. The distinctive personalities play off each other well, and the two supporting characters—the passionate and courageous Canadian and the calm Frenchman—appeal to different facets of the main character's personality. Even the mysterious Captain Nemo, who is perhaps the nearest thing this book has to an antagonist, still has enough nuance and depth to inspire empathy. A powerful tale from a man lauded as the father of science fiction. ( )
Book 272 - Jules Verne - 20000 Leagues Under the Sea
Another early childhood memory was awakened by this book. Back in 1978 the BBC showed ‘The Return of Captain Nemo’ - a mini series very loosely adapted from Verne’s original. Loved it as I have been ‘Around the World’ I felt it apt to journey beneath the waves…I think I will have to ‘Journey from the Earth to the Moon’ in the near future.
Anyway, as usual I digress…written in the late 19th century…we come across a ship trying to track down the reason for several ships being attacked…allegedly by some kind of sea monster. The three main characters Professor Aronnax - the narrator and French natural world scientist; Ned Land - a Canadian harpooner and the aforementioned Captain Nemo…Nemo being the Latin word for nobody but in another language …simply meaning The Man.
The beautiful and wondrous descriptions of the deep blue showcase all the brilliance of Verne as our cast of characters face death from the creatures within the waters and death from the ice that surrounds them.
Nemo’s raison d’etre is to get away from the excesses and horrors of humanity as well as exploration of that undiscovered watery country.
The toing and growing between Nemo and his guests lead to an incredible climax as the Nautilus gets caught up in a maelstrom and threatens all aboard.
Who lives and who dies is the final mystery and even after 150 years I don’t want to ruin the ending.
Wow, what an amazing book! This science fiction adventure, so thoughtfully written that even the fantastical elements seem almost plausible, tells of an underwater journey that is grand in scale and full of excitement and danger. Although it is long, full of detail and digression, it is never the least bit dull. That is due, at least in part, to the care with which this underwater world is crafted; even the long descriptions serve to build excitement for this magical voyage. Another element that works well is the cast of characters. The distinctive personalities play off each other well, and the two supporting characters—the passionate and courageous Canadian and the calm Frenchman—appeal to different facets of the main character's personality. Even the mysterious Captain Nemo, who is perhaps the nearest thing this book has to an antagonist, still has enough nuance and depth to inspire empathy. A powerful tale from a man lauded as the father of science fiction. ( )
The year 1866 was marked by a strange event, an unexplainable occurrence which is undoubtedly still fresh in everyone's memory.
In the year 1866 the whole maritime population of Europe and America was excited by a mysterious and inexplicable phenomenon.
The year 1866 was signalized by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and inexplicable phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten.
Quotations
We may brave human laws, but we cannot resist natural ones.
I leave you at liberty to shut yourself up; cannot I be allowed the same?
Like you, I am willing to live obscure, in the frail hope of bequeathing one day, to future time, the result of my labours.
At ten o'clock in the evening the sky was on fire. The atmosphere was streaked with vivid lightning. I could not bear the brightness of it; while the captain, looking at it, seemed to envy the spirit of the tempest.
At the period when these events took place, I had just returned from a scientific research in the disagreeable territory of Nebraska, in the United States.
Last words
Thus, to that question asked six thousand years ago by Ecclesiastes, "That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?" only two men now have the right to answer: Captain Nemo and myself.
And to the question asked by Ecclesiastes 3,000 years ago, 'That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?' two men alone of all now living have the right to give an answer—CAPTAIN NEMO AND MYSELF.
This LT work should be editions containing the complete text of Jules Verne's 1869 novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Please do not combine it with any abridgements, adaptations, young readers' versions (see working list, below), pop-up books, Chick-fil-A editions, graphic novels, annotated editions, multi-title compendiums, single volumes of a multi-volume edition, or other, similar works based on the original. Thank you.
Working list of abridged editions not to be combined with the standard editions - Best Loved Books for Young Children, Children's Classics, Great Illustrated Classics, Treasury of Illustrated Classics, Classics Illustrated, Classic Starts Series, Saddleback Illustrated, Stepping Stone Books, Now Age Classics, Young Collectors, (believe it or not) American Short Stories, Deans Children's Classics, anything by Malvina Vogel, Van Gool Adventure Series, Bring the Classics to Life, Children's Golden Library
Note: The 1990 ed. of the Great Illustrated Classics contains the complete text (per L of C), ISBN 0895773473.
Annotated editions of works may include substantially more material than the original work. Thus, annotated editions generally should not be combined with un-annotated editions.
Retells the adventures of a French professor and his two companions as they sail above and below the world's oceans as prisoners on the fabulous electric submarine of the deranged Captain Nemo.
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Book description
Professor Aronnax, his faithful servant, Conseil, and the Canadian harpooner, Ned Land, begin an extremely hazardous voyage to rid the seas of a little-known and terrifying sea monster. However, the "monster" turns out to be a giant submarine, commanded by the mysterious Captain Nemo, by whom they are soon held captive. So begins not only one of the great adventure classics by Jules Verne, the 'Father of Science Fiction', but also a truly fantastic voyage from the lost city of Atlantis to the South Pole.
Haiku summary
Their ship gets rammed by A crazy man who captures them And takes them with him - GS
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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: Illustrated Editions
Wikipedia in English (4)
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