'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea' Review

            I have just finished reading 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.' It is a great book and I really enjoyed it.

            It is written in first person and tells the story of three friends, Frenchman Professor Arranox, who is the character narrating the story, his faithful servant Conseil, and the Canadian harpooner Ned Land. The book relates their adventures after they join an expedition to rid the seas of a monstrous narwhale and are suddenly thrown from their ship onto the Nautilus, the underwater vessel of the mysterious Captain Nemo.

            While there, they experience the wonders of the oceans depths. Fiery tempered Ned Land is always seeking a way to escape from Captain Nemo and his companions and finds no enjoyment in the underwater world tour he is experiencing. The Professor and his servant are less eager to escape; until they uncover the Captain's plans.

            Captain Nemo is a strange man, cut off from land and man alike for reasons they do not know, and in search of refuge in the depths of the underwater world. Having isolated himself from the upper world, he seeks vengeance for the wrongs he has suffered at the hands of mankind. I felt very sorry for this man.

            This book illustrates in detail the character of the four main persons involved, viewing them in their strengths and weaknesses and the hand of Jules Verne also beautifully paints the marvels of the sea throughout this it.

            I highly recommend it. It is a definite must-read and is one of my favorites.

-Legolas