20,000 Leagues Under The Sea

Hola Merfolk!

One of the most captivating novel openings that I have read is in 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne. The narrator starts out by mentioning a strange event has occurred and that there are rumors surrounding it. He speculates if there is an object or creature under the sea. The mystery is set and leads you on until the end.

In 1866, Professor Aronnax, who is a natural history expert, reads the newspaper in an American café about a sea monster. The term marine biology wasn’t used yet. Though he was classifying mineralogical, botanical, and zoological treasures in America, back in France, Aronnax was known for his The Mystery of the Ocean Depths books. Before he returns home, the Secretary of the U.S. Navy invites Aronnax on an expedition to represent France. Though tired, Aronnax decides to chase after this unicorn-fish, he calls it.

The Abraham Lincoln is attacked by this “monster.” Professor Aronnax, Assistant Conseil—a trusty sidekick, and Harpooner Ned Land fall into the sea and are taken prisoner by Captain Nemo. The characters are under a lot of stress once they are in close proximity in the belly of this beast—a submarine.

The story is an adventure that takes the reader to the ruins of Atlantis in the Atlantic Ocean, under the ice of Antarctica, and various islands, but Captain Nemo makes a point to stay away from the big cities. The captain is a mystery, but we can figure out from history what event has shaped his character.

The dialogue is chipper and at times a bit too exuberant. As the adventure continues, and the characters go through the emotions of being prisoners, the dialogue becomes more realistic. There is a lot of traveling and the reader gets weary with the characters going here and there. There are also lists and lists of all the fish and plants they see from the big windows and when they put on their diving suits to explore the sea floor. Eventually, the story picks up again to find out what will come of the characters.

The book is a definite must read if you love oceanography or marine biology. The writing is top-notch and so is the research. I can imagine Jules Verne in a dark-wood home library surrounded by books floor to ceiling. The rumor in the story reminds me of our 3I/Atlas, mysterious drones, or UFO sightings of today. There are some interesting tidbits about what they believed in those days, and I think most readers will pass over it and think nothing out of the ordinary here. I do believe Atlantis is real. If you were hoping for a lost civilization then you have to read The Maracot Deep by Arthur Conan Doyle. It’s a short read and will give readers what they missed in 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. There was another civilization mentioned on an island that believed they were from reptiles. I wish he had explored that topic more. I will definitely read more Jules Verne.

Make Waves!

Oceans of Love,

Melissa Ceseña