As this book is a classic that has enjoyed mounds of criticism during its 130+ years of existence, the task of writing a contemporary, novel review is difficult, to say the least. Case in point: the edition that I purchased has an introduction by Ray Bradbury, in which he compares the novel to another well-known classic of the nautical persuasion, Moby Dick. As if the task of reviewing classic literature wasn’t daunting enough, here now is an example of thoughtful criticism from a living, brilliant writer!
Moreover, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - herein referred to by the shorthand 20KLUS - is one of those books that is known by many more people than have actually read it. Ask any Westerner with a high school education about this book, and they could probably tell you something about a submarine, subsequent underwater travels, and maybe something to do with a big squid. A smaller percentage would even remember the simple-yet-alluring name of the novel’s central persona, Captain Nemo. A contemporary review is thus hard-pressed to add anything new to the general body of knowledge.
This review, then, will not try to come up with a new juggling act involving the novel's themes, characters, or social commentary. Instead, it will reflect upon the place of 20KLUS in the genre of science fiction. For Jules Verne is one of those writers that has been bestowed a title along the lines of ‘Father of modern-day science fiction,’ and is often credited with influencing the outcome of the genre. The back of the Bantam Classics edition affirms this fact, reading as follows:
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.
Not bad, for a critical blurb less than 40 words long! Although the 'thrilling drama' description is going a bit far . . .
Reading 20KLUS today, it is not hard to see why this novel has been embraced by the science fiction community as a beloved ancestor. For starters, one of the themes in the novel is the power of invention to take humanity to some of the more mysterious reaches of our planet. Then there is Captain Nemo, who is one of those near-superhuman hybrids of engineer/scientist/adventurer that figures into many science fiction stories that pivot around such a brilliant, inventive archetype. Together, man and his invention go places that have heretofore eluded the presence of humanity, guarding their secrets behind the seemingly impassable obstacles put forth by the elemental forces of nature. A science fiction premise, if ever there was one.
Of course, the idea that man can fashion tools to overcome an obstacle was far from new in Verne’s time. Consider the shield of Achilles in Homer’s Iliad, which was made by the supreme architect of invention in Greek mythology, Hephaestus. Or the massive arc that Noah builds to save the animal kingdom from a natural disaster. For that matter, take any mythical story that involves crafting a weapon or device with magical properties, and you have an example of the power of invention to assist man in his trials. Invention, then, would seem to be too broad a subject to measure a novel's contribution to science fiction.
What lends 20KLUS its reputation as an early work of science fiction is the fact that Verne proposed both the submarine, and its application, before it had actually been invented. Furthermore his conjectures about submarine engineering and travel are based on research in oceanography, geology, the latest scientific discoveries, and whatever other subjects captured Verne’s nimble mind. Applying this knowledge in 20KLUS, Verne writes about travels to remote areas of the globe that are made possible through reasonable methods, not some magical device that conveniently allows him to take his characters from the real world to an imagined one. He even goes so far as to explain some of his ideas, such as in the scene where Nemo outlines the engineering behind his submarine to the narrator, citing actual figures that can be worked out on paper. This attention to technical detail is hallmark of science fiction, whose adherents demand an explanation as to how they will reach a far-off destination.
Another distinguishing factor is that Nemo’s submarine, the Nautilus, is an extension of his determined imagination, built to handle conditions that human beings cannot experience first-hand. It takes Nemo to places far from the human societies he has renounced, protecting him from the powerful pressures of the ocean depths while making use of its inexhaustible resources. It is more than a mere suit of armor, and more powerful than an engine of war: it is a practical invention that fulfills both the needs of its human passengers, and the demands of the ocean.
Truly, what suggests a connection to science fiction, more than anything else, is the novel's presentation of precise observations of the places it explores; and reasonable explanations behind the inventions that enable its characters to reach these heretofore unexplored domains. The novel not only invents, but explains how it does so. The Nautilus is thus a feat of human innovation, representing the result of careful thought informed by meticulous observation and empirical study.
And what does Verne do with its intriguing invention? Nothing less than to take it on a tour of the world’s seas and oceans. Moreover, this far-reaching adventure is described through geographic facts, historical anecdotes, and a daunting catalogue of all the marine life that the narrator - who’s specialty is marine biology - observes from inside the Nautilus. In this respect, 20KLUS could be considered the prototype of an effective adventure novel. It combines the rich detail of a travelogue with the intrigue and mystery of unexplored regions, teaching the reader something new, while taking them somewhere marvelous.
Read 20KLUS, and you will learn how pressure works under water, along with Nemo’s solution to this problem. Various ocean phenomena will be explained, such as how the Gulf Stream flows, what makes the Sargasso Sea calm, and even how continents are formed. Numerous fish will be described, along with the historical significance some of them claim, such as the red mullet, which was prized by the Romans for its color-changing properties once it was killed. In each league of the Nautilus’s journey, the reader not only shares in the adventure, but also its discoveries.
Astute readers will note that two genres have thus far been invoked in this review: that of science fiction, and adventure fiction. This is because 20KLUS is one of those successful novels that ultimately presents itself as an original work of art that eludes definite classification. (One can imagine the character Conseil attempting to do this: “Novel; 19th Century; French Literature . . .). Yes, it does have characteristics that invariably nail it as a science fiction novel, but it must be remembered that these similarities exist by sheer virtue of the fact that future writers borrowed heavily from this original work. Thus, calling Verne one of the founders of science fiction is an act of homage that exists purely in the present, and not a reflection of the writer’s intentions.
This dissention from the conventional perspective on 20KLUS is not meant as a corrective measure, but rather an attempt to establish a respectable distance that allows for an unencumbered appreciation of the novel’s merits. Call it science fiction, or call it adventure; emphasize its theme of invention, or that of rejecting society; however one wishes to view it, 20KLUS remains a novel that has aged gracefully, and still makes for a remarkable read. It has an intriguing plot, well-wrought characters, realistic, readable dialogue, and a mysterious setting. It balances a number of moods, drifting smoothly through excitement, dread, reflection, wit, triumph, and tragedy. All of these elements are handled with the creative, mature verve of a skilled storyteller, and executed in gorgeous, unadorned prose.
Literary-minded people usually hawk the benefits of the classics, but setting aside the long-standing reputation of 20KLUS for the moment, it stands as a novel that appeals to contemporary sensibilities. Anyone who reads fiction to experience adventure should pick up this book, and lose themselves in its underwater travels; anyone who appreciates complicated, tragic heroes will immediately take to Captain Nemo, with his brilliant mind, unshakeable courage, daring imagination, and mysterious past. 20KLUS is a novel that contributes to the strengths of the medium, reinforcing its worth as a valid form of both art, and storytelling.
This must be one reason why 20KLUS is held as a classic today, whereas the hundreds of novels that crowded the shelves in its time have since been forgotten. It endures, because it is an excellent representative of its kind.
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There is but one thing left to cover, and that is the particular edition of this novel this review refers to. Should anyone decide to see for themselves what 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea has to offer, the Bantam Classics edition, with a translation by Anthony Bonner, is highly recommended. This translation first appeared in 1962, and offers a more colloquial take on Verne’s prose that is quite readable, and does not at all feel dated. This edition also has converted figures and terms that are more accessible to an American audience not weaned on the metric system.
Also, one league is approximately three miles. Thus, the title refers to a journey of 60,000 miles while being submerged underwater. That Verne came up with such a poetic way to express this title is but one more testament to his skill.
