“The sea is only the embodiment of
a supernatural and wonderful existence.
It is nothing but love and emotion;
it is the Living Infinite…”
Jules Verne
Courtesy of Natural World Facts:
Courtesy of TED-Ed:
“I dream with my eyes open.”
Jules Verne
Courtesy of BBC Earth:
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
JULES VERNE
8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905
Courtesy of Pathbooks:
Before submarines were actually invented, Jules Verne, a prolific French pioneer of science fiction and one of the most widely read authors in history, was dreaming of what it would be like to use one to travel around the world underwater. And although 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is now considerably more than a hundred years old, it is still a thrilling and wonderfully entertaining fantasy of deep-sea adventure.
“Études, Op. 25 – No. 12 in C Minor ‘Ocean'” by Frédéric Chopin, performed by Jan Lisiecki:
The story opens with the sighting of a mysterious sea monster. An expedition is mounted to hunt it down, and the novel’s narrator, marine biologist Pierre Aronnax, joins the crew. The search extends into the Pacific, where the creature is finally found and attacked. During the fight, Professor Aronnax, his assistant Conseil, and harpooner Ned Land are thrown overboard. They end upright on top of the beast – which, they discover, is, in fact, an underwater vehicle.
Brought inside, the trio meets the ship’s inventor and commander, Captain Nemo. Brilliant, odd, slightly crazed, and with a name that is Latin for “No One,” Nemo teaches his guests about his amazing electrically powered submarine, which he has christened the Nautilus. Off they all set, through the underwater world, seeing its marvels as no one has before. Incidentally, twenty thousand leagues is the distance the Nautilus travels, not the depth to which it descends. Eventually, after feasting their eyes on awe-inspiring wonders as well as surviving the onslaught of a giant squid, Aronnax and his two pals escape from the Nautilus and make it back to land.
When it comes to describing life beneath the waves, Verne mixes reported facts with his abundant imagination, and this is what keeps the book still interesting today. And although Verne was prophetic in some ways, including military use of submarines, the real reason to read “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” is to be on board as a master storyteller explores the watery deep.
“Pure Imagination” by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse (courtesy of Benjamin T. Davids):
Verne’s other famous works included “Journey to the Centre of the Earth” and “Around the World in Eighty Days.” There have been several adaptations of Verne’s works. From a 1916 silent movie right up to the present day, Verne’s sagas have attracted numerous filmmakers, TV producers, and animators. The famous adaptation is the 1954 Disney version starring James Mason as Captain Nemo and Kirk Douglas and Peter Lorre.
Courtesy of JP Bazinet:
An image from “From the Earth to the Moon” by Jules Verne
An extract from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea:
“In the year 1866, the whole maritime population of Europe and America was excited by the mysterious and inexplicable phenomenon. This excitement was not confined to merchants, common sailors, sea captains, shippers, and naval officers of all countries, but the governments of many states on the two continents were deeply interested. The excitement was caused by an enormous ‘something’ that ships were often meeting. It was a long, spindle-shaped, and sometimes phosphorescent object, much larger and more rapid than a whale. The different accounts that were written of this object in various log-books agreed generally as to its structure, wonderful speed, and the peculiar life with which it appeared endowed.
The sound of whales singing underwater, which could have been heard by the heroes of Verne’s novel:
If it was a cetacean it surpassed in bulk all those that had hitherto been classified. Moreover, reliable sightings many leagues apart, yet close in time, showed that the monster could move at tremendous speed, and was at home in warm water or in cold. In all the great centres the monster became the fashion; it was sung about in cafes, scoffed at in the newspapers, and represented at all the theatres. It gave an opportunity for hoaxes of every description.”
“In the year of 1867, some fresh facts changed it from a scientific problem to be solved to a real and serious danger to be avoided. On 5 March, the Moravian, of the Montreal Ocean Company, sailing in the northwest Atlantic, struck her starboard quarter on a rock which no chart gave in at that point. She was then going at the rate of thirteen knots under the combined efforts of the wind and her 400 horsepower. Had it not been for the more than ordinary strength of the hull in the Moravian she would have been broken by the shock, and have gone down with the 237 passengers she was bringing from Canada.”
By comparison, the different sounds made by humpback whales, which are famous for being the most altruistic animal. If interested, please take a look at my post “Can Animals Be Altruistic?”
“Nocturnes, L. 91, CD 98: III. Sirénes” by Claude Debussy, performed by Yan Pascal Tortelier, Ulster Orchestra, and The Renaissance Singers (courtesy of Fafner888):
naturetails 
Thank you Joanna for such a wonderful post and for the introduction to Jules Verne.
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Thank you, Henrietta, for your kind comment! Greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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This brings back good memories.My girls loved Jules Verne’s books every bit as much as my boys. Thank you, Joanna. 🙂❤️🌺
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Thank you, Sunny, for your kind comment! I presume that you read the books with your children!
Joanna
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Yes, and I have saved them all for my future grandchildren…(of course!) 😎🌺
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It is so an interesting and insightful post, Joanna. Verne was truly ahead of his time in his imagining of underwater travel and exploration. Loved reading the excerpt you shared from the book. It is interesting how scientific curiosity and popular fascination can intersect in such unexpected ways.
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Thank you, Ritish, for your kind comments. Greatly appreciated. I am not publishing for a couple of weeks because I have a few legal papers to deal with in a pending civil court case.
Joanna
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I have to admit that though I have read Jules Verne, I did not know much about him. Thank you for such an in depth write, Joanna.
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I hope that everything is resolved in your favour, Joanna.
Take the time you need to address the situation, and when you’re ready to return to publishing, I’m sure your readers will be excited to hear from you again.
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Thank you, Ritish, for your kind words, the law is on my side and so in the long run I will be fine. The time t al takes is due to so may people striking including some of the court staff.
I will come back as soon as possible, and it will be a happy day for me.
Thank you again, Ritish, greatly appreciated.
Joanna
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That’s good to hear, Joanna. All the best for everything.
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Tathastu!
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Thank you for the beautiful post, Joanna. I especially enjoyed the whale songs. My oldest daughter had a recording of whale songs when she was young, and I have heard them on some documentaries. It was wonderful to hear them again today.
Hope all is well with you! ❤
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Thank you, Cheryl, for your lovely comments. I am fine but have to take a short break from publishing because I have a complex civil court case to deal with and a pile of legal papers to fill in.
Thank you again.
Joanna
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Wishing you all the best, Joanna!
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Thank you, Cheryl!
Joanna
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Most welcome! ❤
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Thank you for your beautiful collection of videos and songs on this incredible series Joanna. Another 10 highlighted so well! 💞
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Thank you, Cindy, for your wonderful comments! Greatly appreciated!
I am at the moment busy dealing with a complex civil court case but there will be more reviews to follow when
I am able to write again.
Joanna
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You’re so very welcome Joanna!
Oh my, I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope it’s nothing serious. Good luck. Sending some good energy your way! 💞
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Thank you, Cindy!
Joanna
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You’re welcome Joanna. Hang in there! 💗
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Journey to the Centre of the Earth is still a favorite..especially with James Mason. They redid it today ..again as you know. Time Travel is another one that kept me on the edge of my seat. Such glory from such a seer. Such beauty!!! 🙂
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Thank you, Eva, for your kind comments! vvvvvvvvvvGreatly, appreciated!
Joanna
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I always enjoy your great posts of the classical sages of the written word. I always learn something new, which is so delightful! 🙂
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Thank you, you are very kind! I have to take a few weeks’ breaks because I have to deal with a vast amount of legal papers needing to be filled in. But I will be back soon.
Joanna
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So many wonderful books . Verner was an amazing writer. Thanks for sharing this idea.Anita
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Thank you, Anita, for your kind comments! Greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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Joanna,
I was glad to read above that you were taking some time off to catch up with some legal work. I was concerned that your silence in the blogosphere was in some way ominous. Waiting to read some more of your fascinating creations. Stewart
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Definitely a writer with foresight. As a teenager I had (and read) a book with Jules Verne’s best-known novels in it. In the 60 years since then I’ve never read anything further by Jules Verne, or gone back to his main works. If I ever do, I’ll try to get the original French versions.
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Thank you, Stewart, for your kind comment!
I am busy with the legalities of the civil court case but I will be back with many more interesting writers and their masterpieces.
Joanna
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Thank you, Steve, for your interesting comment. Reading in French?! Respect!!
Joanna
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I particularly enjoyed how you delved into the themes and imagination behind the novel, discussing the mix of facts and imagination that Verne employed to create such a fascinating underwater world. The references to Verne’s other famous works and adaptations added an extra layer of depth to the discussion. This post left me feeling inspired to revisit Jules Verne’s works and explore the wonders of the deep sea.
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Thank you, Prerna, for your eloquent comments! I miss my readers but due to a vast amount of legal paperwork I have to prepare for the civil court case, I cannot publish my post for a few weeks.
Thank you again, Prerna, greatly appreciated.
Joanna
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Great idea Gabychops. Such a interesting to reading.
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Thank you for your kind comment but I am Joanna, Gaby, who inspired my blog was a hedgehog.
Joanna
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Joanna, you brightened my day again! 💖
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Thank you, Eva, for your kind comment. Greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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Good selection here. Amazing story telling by author and great narration by you . Lots to learn through your each posts. Cheers.
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Love the story. Wonderful tale. First US nuclear submarine was the USS Nautilus.
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Thank you, Pat, of course, you are the expert!
Joanna
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Not an expert but I did read about it as a child.
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I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea after Doc mentioned Jules Verne was one of his biggest inspirations in Back to the Future 3. I had no idea while reading it that the submarine hadn’t been invented yet when he’d written it! Now I’m even more impressed! I also watched the early film of from the earth to the moon in my film studies classes. His works are truly timeless!
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Thank you for your interesting addition to my post. Greatly appreciated.
Joanna
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It is amazing that books written so long ago using a mixture of a few facts and a great imagination stand the test of time as classics. Well written, spell binding and exciting, they give readers a chance to stretch their own imagination, rather than explaining everything. I read all of Jules Verne’s classics in earlier life and should really revisit them. Happy Sunday Joanna. Allan
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