Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (often translated as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea) is a classic science-fiction adventure novel by Jules Verne, first published in 1870. It is one of Verne’s most influential works and a cornerstone of early science fiction.
The story follows Professor Pierre Aronnax, his servant Conseil, and the skilled harpooner Ned Land, who set out to investigate a mysterious sea creature attacking ships. They discover instead the Nautilus, a highly advanced submarine commanded by the enigmatic Captain Nemo. Taken aboard as reluctant guests, they travel across the world’s oceans, witnessing wonders such as sunken cities, coral forests, giant squids, and the polar seas.
At its heart, the novel blends scientific curiosity, adventure, and philosophical reflection. Captain Nemo is a complex figure—brilliant, tormented, and fiercely independent—who has rejected society and lives beneath the sea in protest against oppression and injustice. Through Nemo, Verne explores themes of freedom, isolation, revenge, and the moral limits of technological power.
Remarkably prescient, the book anticipates modern submarine technology, underwater exploration, and oceanography decades before they became reality. Beyond its thrilling narrative, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas invites readers to marvel at the natural world while questioning humanity’s relationship with progress and power.