Alisa W. (caliope220) reviewed 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Unabridged Classics) on + 16 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Jules Verne's timeless classic, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, is beautifully presented in this hard-bound edition with stunning artwork by Scott McKowen. Verne is a clever writer who weaves together interesting and unique characters and plotlines. In 20,000 Leagues, we find the story of Pierre Aronnax, a French scientist, and his undersea journey with the formidable Captain Nemo. Off to search for a treacherous sea creature with his colleagues, his servant-boy and a Canadian whale-hunter, Aronnax stumbles upon a surprise: the sea creature is none other than Nemo and his submarine vessel. After boarding the submarine, Aronnax is in for the ride of his life as Nemo takes them on encounters with ice bergs, underwater volcanoes, and buried treasure.
What made this story most interesting to me was Verne's obvious intelligence and creativity throughout the story. Written in 1869, submarines had yet to be invented, and much of the knowledge of undersea creatures and terrain had yet to be discovered. Yet, Verne is surprisingly accurate is many of his descriptions and ideas.
The book is rather on the long side and can get dull at times. Verne can get swept up in his detailed descriptions of the various creatures of the ocean, even if they are just your typical fish. But Verne's sense of humor and love of adventure keep the plot moving at a fairly decent pace throughout this work. Another down point of this particular edition is that the illustrator's talent is largely unused. Other than the cover art, there were only about 5 illustrations throughout the entire book. Overall, the book was well worth reading and this edition is destined to be a family keepsake.
What made this story most interesting to me was Verne's obvious intelligence and creativity throughout the story. Written in 1869, submarines had yet to be invented, and much of the knowledge of undersea creatures and terrain had yet to be discovered. Yet, Verne is surprisingly accurate is many of his descriptions and ideas.
The book is rather on the long side and can get dull at times. Verne can get swept up in his detailed descriptions of the various creatures of the ocean, even if they are just your typical fish. But Verne's sense of humor and love of adventure keep the plot moving at a fairly decent pace throughout this work. Another down point of this particular edition is that the illustrator's talent is largely unused. Other than the cover art, there were only about 5 illustrations throughout the entire book. Overall, the book was well worth reading and this edition is destined to be a family keepsake.
