20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

By: Jules Verne

Narrated by: David McCallion

Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne follows the adventures of the mysterious captain Nemo and his incredible submarine, the Nautilus. Joining the captain on his epic journey around the world is Professor Pierre Aronnax, his servant Conseil, and the Canadian whaler Ned Land. These three become guests of the reclusive submariner when they are washed overboard on a ship that is tracking the Nautilus, believing that it is some kind of giant sea creature.

Once introduced to their unusual host they join him on his journey through the seas. On their travels they will witness some of the most incredible sights: lost cities, legendary shipwrecks, the most amazing sea creatures that man will ever see, and much more. But what secrets will the three visitors find out about this strange man along the way? Who is he? Where does he come from? And what is his reason for building this awe-inspiring vessel which now roams the oceans of the world?

This book was first published in 1870 and was considered very much ahead of its time. It remains to this day one of the greatest science fiction/adventure novels ever, and is widely considered to be Verne's best work. It is brought to life by the wonderful talents of David McCallion. His voice will have you on the edge of your seat as he imbues each of these characters with personality.

Public Domain (P)2014 A.R.N. Publications

Spectacular Classic

Would you listen to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea again? Why?

Yes, I would listen to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea again. It is a keystone classic of science fiction and horror along with Frankenstein, Dracula, and the writings of Edgar Allen Poe. This is quite an adventure. For those who have seen only movie adaptations, please read the book instead.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nemo was dark and foreboding, but I love Conseil for humor. Aronnax calls him a servant and "boy," but the man is smart and compassionate. Ned Land's obsession with meat and freedom also resonated with me. They are all great characters trapped on a submarine.

What does David McCallion bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is skilled at portraying different characters. I was amazed he can switch character voices so deftly. He maintained them throughout the book, lending to clear comprehension of who is talking.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did at the end. I did not want to turn it off. I was riveted.

Any additional comments?

This book is exceptional. I wish I had read it forty years ago. This would make a great gift for children during the holidays. The book "All the Light We Cannot See" inspired me to read Verne's book which figures prominently.

Weak plot

It’s an underwater version of the
Swiss family Robinson. Lots of description but lacking in any real plot. Read it once so you know.

AMAZING Performance!!!

The beauty of writing about the sea is that there is so much - both known and unknown - that lies beneath the water’s surface, which makes any tale about it intriguing yet at the same time terrifying. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a fascinating tale about just how far people are willing to go to find out what exists underneath the ocean, and in Professor Pierre Aronnax’s case, the initial journey to investigate what some people think is a sea monster becomes one of the most frightening and emotional adventures he has ever embarked on in his entire life.

David McCallion gives a tremendous reading of this incredible classic, and it is so impressive how he is able to switch between not just characters and personalities, but between accents, as well! He clearly captures the elements of adventure, suspense, and joy at appropriate times throughout the novel, acting like the map that we as the reader need to navigate the deep seas with each of the characters! The very end of the book is the part that I love the most; ending with a touch of suspense and a lot of mystery.

I liked it. Glad I read it.

Where does 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's above average, but I didn't like it as much as 'Around the World in 80 Days'. This one just seemed a bit long.

If you’ve listened to books by Jules Verne before, how does this one compare?

I've read two (World..80 Days), and I liked the other one much better.

What about David McCallion’s performance did you like?

The narration was good. He changed voices and was consistent. You could always tell which character was speaking.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The insight to the captain's lost family was moving.

Any additional comments?

I didn't care for the ending. However, since the book was written well over one hundred years ago, his description of technologies that didn't exist at the time is actually very impressive.

Poor narration ruins an already slow read

I really wanted to love this Jules Verne classic, being a big fan both of classic literature and science fiction, but this really did not hold my attention, and several times I considered giving up on it entirely. The cadence of the narrator's voice seems disconnected from the meaning of the words, and the overdone accents and excessively deliberate speech are distracting. The narrator seems so focused on the accents that he fails to convey the drama and emotion of the story. The most "suspenseful" passages are read exactly the same way as expostulations on the taxonomy of sea creatures. I am an avid audiobook listener and usually tear through each of my reads, but this one dragged on and I could not listen for more than 5 minutes without my mind wandering. The story itself is slow, and it suffers from the fact that what was innovative when first written has now been copied so often as to have rendered it less interesting in retrospect, but a better narration would probably help at least give the listener a fighting chance of staying engaged. I'm glad to have checked this off of my "must read" list, but disappointed that I did not enjoy it more. There are several narrations available. If you are interested in this book, I recommend selecting a different narration.

don't bother

I love the book but the narration is the worst I've ever heard. find a different version to truly enjoy this masterpiece