Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea

By Jules Verne

The USS Abraham Lincoln sets forth on an expedition in search of a monstrous sea creature creating havoc in the seas, with the brilliant Professor Aronnax, his helper Conseil and the harpoonist Ned on board. But soon, the search party falls into trouble and finds itself aboard the mysterious Nautilus— a technological marvel that piques the curiosity of Aronnax. While Aronnax and Conseil remain enamored by the wonders of the ocean, Ned is bent on escaping his underwater prison. Will the three captives ever manage to escape the Nautilus and its enigmatic maker?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wonder House Books
• Release date: Jul 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9789390183241

Jules Verne

Jules Verne (1828-1905) was a French novelist, poet and playwright. Verne is considered a major French and European author, as he has a wide influence on avant-garde and surrealist literary movements, and is also credited as one of the primary inspirations for the steampunk genre. However, his influence does not stop in the literary sphere. Verne’s work has also provided invaluable impact on scientific fields as well. Verne is best known for his series of bestselling adventure novels, which earned him such an immense popularity that he is one of the world’s most translated authors.

Book preview

Chapter 1

A Shifting Reef

The year 1866 was marked by a mysterious phenomenon, one which is yet to be forgotten.

Sea-going vessels had been met by a long object, larger and more rapid in its movements than a whale. It had surprising power and speed. According to some reports it was believed to have the speed of an express train. Many questioned the accuracy of these reports but its speed wasn’t the only remarkable factor.

There was much debate about its size. Some recorded its length as 200 feet while others put it down as three miles. However, there was no denying that this mysterious being did exist.

Seafarers all over Europe and America were very excited. Merchants, captains and governments were deeply interested in the matter. The merchants wanted to trade it. An exotic creature would fetch bids worth millions from the collector. The captains were intrigued by the creature and feared it all the same. Meanwhile, any government that could harness such a powerful being as part of its naval arsenal would surely have the advantage in battle.

There appeared in newspapers caricatures of every gigantic and imaginary creature. The reports included everything from the white whale of the sub-arctic regions to an immense kraken whose tentacles could entangle a ship of 500 tons and hurl it into the abyss. Every ancient mythological creature was revived by this mysterious appearance. Some even believed that the creature was a cross between a leviathan and kraken. Still others believed that it was a deep sea dweller that had been roused after eons.

On the 20th of July, 1866, Governor Higginson and the Burnach Steam Company met the creature five miles off the eastern coast of Australia. The mysterious creature shot water 150 feet into the air.

Similar events were observed on the 23rd of July, 1866, in the Pacific Ocean. It was extraordinary that in the span of three days it had covered more than 700 nautical leagues. This was one of the recorded observances. However, it had been sighted covering large distances and arriving at seemingly impossible locations across the globe on multiple occasions.

A fortnight later the Royal Mail Steamship Company, which was sailing between America and Europe, spotted the creature at 42° 15’N latitude and 60° 5’W longitude. There were arguments in scientific journals between those who believed and those who didn’t. Editors of scientific journals quarreled with believers of the supernatural.

On the 5th of March, 1867, the Morvian was struck on her starboard side by a rock at five in the morning. It would have sunk along with the 237 passengers on board. It managed to continue on its route but on examination it was discovered that a part of its keel had been broken.

It had to be something large and powerful enough to wreak such damage. The creature was now a small indefinite shifting island. Soon it became apparent that this wasn’t a mere scientific problem but real danger when the incident repeated itself. This creature which had begun as an object of curiosity now began to grow into an imminent threat.

On the 13th of April, 1867, the Scotia of the Cunard Company’s line found itself at 15° 12’ longitude and 45° 37’ latitude. It was moving at the speed of thirteen and a half knots. At seventeen minutes past four in the afternoon, a shock was felt on the ship. She had been struck by something sharp and penetrating. The shock had gone almost unnoticed until some crewmen rushed onto the bridge claiming that the ship was sinking.

Captain Anderson went down into the hold to ensure that nothing had gone terribly wrong. The Scotia was divided by sturdy partitions into seven sections. Here, he found the sea pouring into the fifth compartment. Thankfully this compartment did not hold the boilers, or the fires would have been immediately extinguished. He ordered the engines to be stopped as they had to check the extent of damage. They soon discovered a gaping hole about two yards in diameter at the bottom.

This leak couldn’t be plugged and the Scotia suffered a three-day delay in arriving at her destination. The engineers noted that the dent was made through a one and three-eighth inches thick iron plate. It had not only driven itself through the plate but withdrawn itself too.

After this, all casualties that hadn’t been accounted for otherwise were now believed to be the work of the monster. There were about two hundred sail and steam ships that were supposedly lost. The legend of the monsters work grew with each passing day. It took credit for not only numerous disappearances and mishaps but also for any unexplained phenomenon. Whether it was fair or not, the monster was now responsible for many disappearances. Soon after, the public demanded that the seas should be rid of such danger.

Chapter 2

The Pros and Cons

I had been assigned to an expedition for six months in Nebraska by the French government when these events began. I had shortly arrived in New York when the accident with the Scotia took place.

My return to France had been scheduled for early May and I spent my time classifying my precious collection. I also read and reread all the European and American papers and came up with multiple theories.

There were two possible solutions to this mysterious puzzle. The first was it could be a monstrous creature of formidable strength. The second was it could be a submarine with immense propulsive ability.

As possible as the second theory appeared, it brought with it new questions. Could it be the secret work of a government? If it was possibly privately owned, how could it have gone unnoticed?

Upon my arrival, I was consulted by many as I had published two volumes titled Mysteries of the Great Submarine Grounds.

I was eventually obliged to explain my stand on the matter. The article appeared in the papers on the 30th of April. It read as follows:

‘After considering all theories, I conclude that it must be a marine creature of gigantic proportions. Either we know all the creatures of the sea or we don’t.

If we do know all of them then I’d conclude that it is a gigantic narwhal. It is common for a narwhal to grow to sixty-five feet, but if it was a giant it would easily match the proportions determined. It would also possess the necessary speed and weapon to pierce the Scotia.

Its tusk is hard as steel and has been found embedded in whales and ships. One such sample was more than two yards long with a fifteen-inch diameter at the base.

Therefore, I believe that the narwhal or the unicorn of the sea of epic proportions is the culprit.’

I had effectively admitted to the existence of a sea monster and this was well received.

The Abraham Lincoln, a great warship, was commissioned for the expedition to pursue the narwhal. But suddenly, the monster ceased to appear as if it knew that we were looking for it. Then on the 2nd of July, it was spotted in the North Pacific Ocean by a San Francisco steamer.

Hours before the Abraham Lincoln set sail, I received a letter.

To,

Mr. Pierre Aronnax,

Professor in the Museum of Paris,

Fifth Avenue Hotel,

New York.

Sir,

If you would agree to join us on the expedition; the Government of the United States will ensure that France is represented in this enterprise. Commander Farragut has prepared a cabin for you.

Cordially,

J. B. Hobson,

Secretary of the Navy.

Chapter 3

Resolution

Until the arrival of the letter, there was no thought in my mind to pursue the narwhal. Yet, moments after reading the letter, I felt that I had finally found my life’s vocation and sole purpose. I wanted to not only chase this monster but also rid the world of it.

In pursuit of this thought I forgot all the friends that I longed to see, the fatigue of my long journey and my desire to return to my own home. I accepted without a second thought. I hoped that the narwhal would decide to get caught somewhere off the European coast for my convenience and I’d be able to take home a souvenir for the museum.

So I called upon Conseil, who was a loyal devoted servant. He was a quiet Flemish boy who was a quick worker. Rather contrary to his name, he never gave advice even if asked. He had been my companion for the last ten years and followed me wherever our journeys led us. He never complained, was very healthy and had good values. His only flaw was that he was ridiculously courteous. He addressed me in the third person – this was often rather annoying.

I had never in the past asked him if the journey was convenient for him or not but this was a very different expedition. It could be both long and dangerous. I wondered if Conseil would have anything to say about pursuing an animal capable of sinking our ship.

I asked him to make preparations