20,000 Leagues under the Sea (Bantam Classics Series)

by Jules Verne, Anthony Bonner (Translator)

Overview

An American frigate, tracking down a ship-sinking monster, faces not a living creature but an incredible invention — a fantastic submarine commanded by the mysterious Captain Nemo.  Suddenly a devastating explosion leaves just three survivors, who find themselves prisoners inside Nemo's death ship on an underwater odyssey around the world from the pearl-laden waters of Ceylon to the icy dangers of the South Pole . . .as Captain Nemo, one of the greatest villians ever created, takes his revenge on all society.



More than a marvelously thrilling drama, this classic novel, written in 1870, foretells with uncanny accuracy the inventions and advanced technology of the twentieth century and has become a literary stepping-stone for generations of science fiction writers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780553212525
Publisher:	Random House Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/01/1985
Series:	Bantam Classics Series
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	141,954
Product dimensions:	4.06(w) x 6.86(h) x 0.93(d)

About the Author

Jules Verne was born in France in 1828 and died in 1905. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel was wildly successful, producing many brilliant novels in the burgeoning genre of science fiction: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Around the World in 80 Days, among others. Verne is the second most translated author in the world, after Agatha Christie and before Shakespeare.

Judith Conaway is a writer, designer, and illustrator of children’s books and educational materials. She has written activity and puzzle books as well as Stepping Stone books for Random House Books for Young Readers, including Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne.

Date of Birth:

February 8, 1828

Date of Death:

March 24, 1905

Place of Birth:

Nantes, France

Place of Death:

Amiens, France

Education:

Nantes lycée and law studies in Paris

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"
by .
Copyright © 1985 Jules Verne.
Excerpted by permission of Random House Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

Gr 7 Up

A large sea monster, believed to resemble a narwhal, is roaming the seas and has destroyed over 200 ships that dared to cross its path. French Professor Pierre Aronnax, a distinguished marine biologist, has set his sights on killing this "gigantic cetacean." He and his faithful assistant, Conseil, accept an invitation to join an expedition aboard the Abraham Lincoln, an American frigate. The monster is finally sited and a battle ensues, resulting in Aronnax, Conseil, and a harpooner being tossed overboard and rescued by Nemo, captain of the Nautilus, a large submarine, which had been mistakenly thought to be a sea monster. For ten months, the three men sail with Nemo, a "terrible avenger, a perfect archangel of hatred." They are enthralled with the captivating scenery, discover new sea creatures and lost cities, and become trapped in a iceberg. Jules Verne's classic offers a perfect blend of suspense, adventure, and excitement that will entice even the most reluctant readers. This audiobook also contains a companion ebook-a 272-page printable PDF file complete with a full table of contents and index-and an interesting mini biography of Verne. Michael Prichard provides a stalwart narration; his rich, deep voice offers subtle changes for each character. An essential science fiction classic and a great choice for libraries in need of updating their collections.-Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH

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