Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is a classic science fiction novel by French writer Jules Verne published in 1870. The novel was originally serialized from March 1869-June 1870 in Pierre-Jules Hetzel’s periodical, The Magasin d'Éducation et de Récréation. The deluxe illustrated edition, published by Hetzel in November 1871, included one hundred eleven illustrations by Alphonse de Neuville and Édouard Riou. The book was highly acclaimed when released and still is now; it is regarded as one of the premiere adventure novels and one of Verne’s greatest works, along with Around the World in Eighty Days and Journey to the Center of the Earth. The description of Nemo’s ship, called the Nautilus, was considered ahead of its time, as it accurately describes features on submarines, which at the time were very primitive vessels. Thus, the book has been able to age well because of its scientific theories, unlike some of Verne’s other works, like Journey to the Center of the Earth, which are not scientifically accurate and serve more simply as adventure novels.