20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Thank you for joining me this week for Book Beginnings on Fridays where participants share the opening sentence (or two) from the book they are reading. You can also share from a book you want to feature, even if you are not reading it at the moment.
MY BOOK BEGINNING
The year 1866 was marked by a bizarre incident, an unexplained and unexplainable phenomenon, which—without a doubt—no one has forgotten.
-- from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (translated by William Butcher for Oxford World's Classics, 1998).
The original (1873) English translation by Mercier Lewis was horribly clunky, but remained unchanged despite criticism for over 100 years:
The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten.
"Signalized"? Doubtless no one has yet forgotten that awkward and made-up word!
No matter the translation, 20,000 Leagues is a corker and I'm loving every page. I read junior versions of Verne's classic tales when I was a kid, and am finally reading the full versions now as an adult. I started with Around the World in 80 Days, which was terrific. So exciting! Now I am having an undersea adventure with Captain Nemo and it's just as wonderful.
YOUR BOOK BEGINNING
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I was stretched on the ground, just under the shelter of a bush of algae, when, raising my head, I saw some enormous mass, casting phosphorescent gleams, pass blusteringly by.
My blood froze in my veins as I recognized two formidable sharks which threatened us.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne is a pioneering science fiction novel that takes readers on an extraordinary underwater adventure. The story follows Professor Aronnax, his servant Conseil, and the Canadian harpooner Ned Land as they are captured by Captain Nemo aboard the technologically advanced submarine, the Nautilus. As they journey across the world's oceans, they encounter exotic sea life, lost civilizations, and mysterious underwater wonders.
The novel explores themes of isolation, the boundaries of human knowledge, and mankind's relationship with nature. Captain Nemo, a complex and enigmatic character, embodies a mix of scientific genius and tragic defiance. Verne's vivid descriptions of marine exploration and futuristic technology captivated audiences, establishing the book as a cornerstone of the science fiction genre.
