20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Audio

by Emily Hutchinson (Adapted by), Jules Verne

Timeless Classics--designed for the struggling reader and adapted to retain the integrity of the original classic. These classic novels will grab a student's attention from the first page. Included are eight pages of end-of-book activities to enhance the reading experience.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, French Literature, Childrens

Audiobook

First published January 1, 1870

Reviews

[Hildeas · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the past year, I've been very into 19th century nautical settings -- Moby Dick, Robert Eggers' film The Lighthouse, etc. -- so I've been excited to run through 20,000. It doesn't disappoint. The book is more "cinematic" than I expected, complete with high drama and big set pieces. Being a casual sci-fi fan, it was fascinating to find many of the roots of the modern form here. Verne explores the tension between technological advancement and environmental concerns pretty deftly for his time.

That being said, 19th century novels have a habit of long-winded, especially in their descriptions of scenes. In 20,000's case, this means long taxonomical lists of every goddamn fish that Prof. Arronax sees from the windows of the Nautilus. I have to admit, I breezed through a few of these, much like the chapters on 19th c. whale science in Moby Dick.

Despite some minor issues, Verne is still a pioneer of the genre and a more than capable writer. I recommend this book.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way for children to learn the classics and this story takes young readers on an amazing adventure only Jules Verne could tell.

[Austin Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry to admit it, but I had to abandon this before the end. I think this is the sort of read that was much more captivating when it was written (before film). Still a decent way to pass the time while on a plane or train, but I could only take so much species classification.

[Pumkin pie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not actually the book I read. I read 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne, adapted by Judith Conaway. But Goodreads didn't recognize it. But anyway, it was really good! I loved the anticipation! I definetly recommend this book. However, this book has definitions with words that people who are in 3rd grade and older will already know. It also boxes at the end of each chapter asking you questions about the previous chapter and about the next chapter.

[Katie Louise · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s boring men in a submarine looking at weird fish for 250 pages. I hated it. There is no point in reading this. Just go to an aquarium or watch a David Attenborough documentary. This books only causes boredom and pain. It is terrible.

[Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooper Truwit
1/3/14

· I read the fictional novel 20,000 Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne.
· The main characters are:
Captain Nemo, a brilliant yet misunderstood submarine captain
Professor Aronnax, a world-renowned professor of oceanography
Conseil, Aronnax's servant, an extremely loyal and level-headed man
Ned Land, a famous Canadian harpooner known for his fearlessness

· The professor is invited onto a hunt for a mysterious creature that is attacking and maiming ships internationally. While hunting for this creature, the professor and two of his comrades are left alone in the water, after their ship has been attacked and sunk by the above mentioned creature. Unsure of what to do, the professor and his comrades grab onto this creature. Much to their surprise, they find out that it has metal skin. They immediately conclude that it is a submarine. They are taken captive into the submarine by its crew. While inside they are given a tour of the submarine by its vague and mysterious captain. The professor and his friends are surprised to find treasures and artifacts more valuable and numerous than all of the ones in all of the museums in the world combined. After the tour, their mysterious guide introduces himself as Captain Nemo, captain of the submarine "Nautilus". The story continues as the professor and his pals take part in exciting and incredible adventures under the sea. However, the submarine is not as perfect as it sounds, for there is a catch. Those who enter the Nautilus, never leave it. This rule was made by the dark and brilliant captain Nemo, whose hatred of land has forced him to reside in the ocean. Nemo crashes into and destroys ships for no apparent reasons. When pressed to speak about the earth, Nemo gives terse responses, and shows some animosity. Throughout the adventure, the professor, his servant and Ned Land struggle to devise ways to escape Nemo's captivity.

· The main conflict in the story is whether the professor and his comrades will ever manage to escape from the submarine. The characters ponder endless ways to escape such as sneaking out in the middle of the night or how to outsmart Captain Nemo's fail proof security system. Through many deep-sea adventures and conflicts, Captain Nemo faces an adversary that may be the one that can finally beat him.

· In this novel, the characters raised fascinating questions as to what it means to live on land. It was filled with adventure and suspense as to what the professor and his comrades fate might be. However, I was very displeased with the ending as I found it to quick and there wasn’t enough information as to what fully happened to Captain Nemo and his submarine.Verne's tension filled writing style causes the reader to become nervous for our characters, which makes it an enjoyable read filled with anxiety.

[Sir Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is by far one of my favorites, and I definitely want to read another in the Extraordinary Voyages series. This book made me question the existence of humanity and that under the ocean. The main characters are Captain Nemo, Professor Arronax, Ned Land, and Conseil. Ned, Arronax, & Conseil set out along with the crew of the Abraham to capture a sea monster. Not long after, they find that it has metal skin, and declare it to be a submarine. They find that inside of it, there are more valuables than they have ever seen. Captain Nemo tells them they are now his prisoners, although they will enjoy a luxury life on the ship. Each page is tense with anxiety, and makes you want to turn each page. Verne has done an excellent job captivating me in this book, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone.

[Jessica Zentner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This classic is DEFINITELY worth the read! Verne is such a talented author, and it was refreshing to read something so detailed and thoughtful. This book was true titeratire, not just a story. I can’t believe all the details he imcorporated without access to internet. My only critique would be that I feel like Captain Nemo’s outlook on life and send for vengeance seems like an afterthought, when it’s supposed to be the main point of the book. I wish that was more developed. But overall a fantastic piece!

[Krisanne Lane · Rating 1 out of 5]

What WAS this? A list of plants and animals throughout the oceans! Seriously, the plot is thin and the characters are not developed. Three guys get on an American ship to search for a narwhal, find the narwhal, get thrown overboard, get picked up by the narwhal, which turns out to be a submarine before submarines were a thing. They get taken on board and circumnavigate the world and describe every fucking living thing they come across on the trip. That’s it. If I had been reading this in physical form, there’s no chance I would have finished it.

[Eric Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly the "best book" I ever had read in my entire life, but still a very well-thought out book to read. The story line is very detailed, suspenseful, and adventurous. Since the story has something to do with the deep sea, I felt I was actually drenched in water while reading part of this book. I highly recommend reading this book.

[Gabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely a book you appreciate more on your second read, but it can be a slog at times. Often times the narrator will go on long tangents describing ocean or historical facts like he was reciting them from a textbook. Despite that, the characters are fun, the dialogue enjoyable, and there's a lot to discover once you start diving below the surface of the story.

[Britney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one to my 4 year old daughter. She loved it and thought it was funny. I'm not sure exactly why. She didn't really even look at the pictures. When I was done she wanted to me to read it again. This was a very abridged version of the book. I had a hard time following it, but it was a very quick read.

[Stephen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started out well enough but by the time I was roughly 40% through it had just become painfully dry. Maybe I'm missing out on the remainder, but I think this old school adventure style story just doesn't hold up when it's so full of lists of fish and latitude and longitude coordinates.

[Yvonne Reynders · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first science fiction novels written! I enjoyed this tale. It was slow at time but intriguing all the same.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been great reading a different version of this classic.

[Eleni Tsiakaliari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book marked me as a child! It was the beginning of me falling in love with this genre of books! :)

[Levi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more enjoyable than I expected with a lot of fun and creative plot points.

[Jared Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally my favorite book to date.

[Porsche Harbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a book you should read once in your life. At times however it was an absolute drag with excessive amounts of detail 🥴

[Md Tazri · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is best adventure and science fiction book.I like it.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I turned this for distraction during the COVID-19 pandemic and it had succeeded quite admirable.

[Javier Dario · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic, I read it as a child. Good history, and a premonitory one, considering the time, since it describes the operation of the atomic submarine engine ... almost a century before.

[Marie Hesler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok for a graphic novel.

[Shannan Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible read! Definitely one of my favourite books.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am fascinated by reading books like this. A book about a submarine before submarines existed. Like science fiction or steampunk I guess, which I also like, but this is different. It was like taking a course on ocean life and mechanical engineering woven into a storyline. I could see how at the time it was written people would be immersed in this adventure and taking in the "education" as part of the experience. I could also see how someone reading now could find the lengthy classification of sea life and mathematical and engineering explanations of the sub and other technologies a little dry... But as an electrician, I was very interested in all of the electrical devices and explanations. Even though some were mostly inaccurate and/or not even possible with today's technology. It was neat to get a glimpse of what was thought would be soon possible at the time when electricity was first being developed. I did enjoy the story but was partly reading with the perspective that it was written long before I was born. And I was glad to bring life into a book I've always heard about but never read - like meeting and elderly celebrity or something...

[Nicholas Fabri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is by far one of my favorites, and I definitely want to read another in the Extraordinary Voyages series. This book made me question the existence of humanity and that under the ocean. The main characters are Captain Nemo, Professor Arronax, Ned Land, and Conseil.( Ned, Arronax, & Conseil set out along with the crew of the Abraham to capture a sea monster. Not long after, they find that it has metal skin, and declare it to be a submarine. They find that inside of it, there are more valuables than they have ever seen. Captain Nemo tells them they are now his prisoners, although they will enjoy a luxury life on the ship. Each page is tense with anxiety, and makes you want to turn each page.) Verne has done an excellent job captivating me in this book, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone. A great book by Saddleback Educational Publishing (the adapter) and Jules Verne (the creator).

[Joseph Dittrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty interesting book, you have to give it a while to get started, but it's a really long book, so it's worth it in the end. There are some parts of the book that are very slow such as when the crew of the ship are wandering around for days, but eventually they find the monster they are looking for and then it's very interesting. I read this book on the side before going to bed and at the same time as reading other books because it's not the kind of book that you can read all the way through all by itself.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jules Verne's classic 19th century adventure tale of 3 men who fall overboard from a U.S. Navy warship are rescued and held aboard a super secret submarine and spend the next year traveling in the submarine around the world. Starting in 1866 with several mysterious ocean events, a search is launched for the "sea monster" that is causing these events. The story is narrated by naturalist Professor Aronnax.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for reluctant readers.

[Julie]

this book is hard to read, never finished the end