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by far the best translations/critical editions available ... known internationally as a topnotch scholar (Science-Fiction Studies )
Product Description
B'I'm going to sink it.' 'You are not!' 'I am,' he coldly replied. 'Do not take it on yourself to judge me, monsieur.' French naturalist Dr Aronnax embarks on an expedition to hunt down a sea monster, only to discover instead the Nautilus, a self-contained world built by its enigmatic captain. Together Nemo and Aronnax explore the underwater marvels, undergo a transcendent experience amongst the ruins of Atlantis, and plant a black flag at the South Pole. But Nemo's mission is one of revenge - and his methods coldly efficient. Verne's classic work has left a profound mark on the twentieth century. Its themes are universal, is style humorous and grandiose, its construction masterly. This new and unabridged translation by the father of Verne studies brilliantly conveys the novel's tones and range. It appears with a distinguished Introduction and Notes, reporting the very first study of the manuscripts, together with revelations about the artistic and scientific references.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
Everybody knows the story of the '20 000 leagues under the sea', but reading the full book is completely different. There are some tedious lists related to Biology, but that's also the charm of this book. I've never thought it would be so complete and engaging.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Under the SEA!
7 July 2010
Format:Paperback
Submarines as we know them didn't exist in 1869. But Jules Verne had an almost eerily prophetic knack for knowing what technology would be used in the future -- and he put it to work in "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea," a slow-moving adventure tale with plenty of proto-steampunk and almost fantastical undersea life.
Ships in the middle of the ocean are suddenly seeing -- and being attacked by -- "a long object, spindle-shaped, occasionally phosphorescent, and infinitely larger and more rapid in its movements than a whale."
Eventually the US government sends out a ship to capture the object, and during a sea battle Professor Aronnax, his manservant Conseil and harpooner Ned Land go overboard. Soon they're picked up by the Nautilus, the vast submarine that has been causing all this trouble, and introduced to Captain Nemo -- an intelligent, charismatic man who belongs to no nation.
Aronnax becomes fascinated by Nemo, his ship and his library -- as well as the amazing underwater adventures that Nemo introduces them to, like pearl-hunting and fighting a giant squid. But the captain's free, lawless life has its dark side, and the three men begin to realize that they must get away from the Nautilus no matter what.
It's actually rather amazing that Jules Verne not only dreamed up the idea of a semi-modern submarine long before they existed, but thought out the applications, the stealth, and the vast size. And since nothing like the Nautilus existed at the time, there's a slightly fantastical, steampunk flavor to "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."
And as usual, Verne painstakingly studies everything about his imagined world, filling it with science (although he obviously didn't know about water/air pressure) and lovely descriptions of the Nautilus and the eerie underwater world (giant oysters, forests, Atlantis). The only flaw is that he tends to ramble on about exact measurements and travel details; there are boring patches here and there.
But Captain Nemo is probably one of Verne's most fascinating characters -- a charismatic, embittered man who is a sort of noble sea pirate. He does some stuff that is totally unacceptable (sinking a random warship), but he also has little spurts of kindness and generosity towards poor and powerless peoples of the world. He's scary but fascinating.
Giant submarines, charismatic pirates and an undersea world just waiting to be explored -- "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" is a fascinating sci-fi classic, if you can get past the dull patches.
Ships in the middle of the ocean are suddenly seeing -- and being attacked by -- "a long object, spindle-shaped, occasionally phosphorescent, and infinitely larger and more rapid in its movements than a whale."
Eventually the US government sends out a ship to capture the object, and during a sea battle Professor Aronnax, his manservant Conseil and harpooner Ned Land go overboard. Soon they're picked up by the Nautilus, the vast submarine that has been causing all this trouble, and introduced to Captain Nemo -- an intelligent, charismatic man who belongs to no nation.
Aronnax becomes fascinated by Nemo, his ship and his library -- as well as the amazing underwater adventures that Nemo introduces them to, like pearl-hunting and fighting a giant squid. But the captain's free, lawless life has its dark side, and the three men begin to realize that they must get away from the Nautilus no matter what.
It's actually rather amazing that Jules Verne not only dreamed up the idea of a semi-modern submarine long before they existed, but thought out the applications, the stealth, and the vast size. And since nothing like the Nautilus existed at the time, there's a slightly fantastical, steampunk flavor to "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."
And as usual, Verne painstakingly studies everything about his imagined world, filling it with science (although he obviously didn't know about water/air pressure) and lovely descriptions of the Nautilus and the eerie underwater world (giant oysters, forests, Atlantis). The only flaw is that he tends to ramble on about exact measurements and travel details; there are boring patches here and there.
But Captain Nemo is probably one of Verne's most fascinating characters -- a charismatic, embittered man who is a sort of noble sea pirate. He does some stuff that is totally unacceptable (sinking a random warship), but he also has little spurts of kindness and generosity towards poor and powerless peoples of the world. He's scary but fascinating.
Giant submarines, charismatic pirates and an undersea world just waiting to be explored -- "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" is a fascinating sci-fi classic, if you can get past the dull patches.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
BEWARE THE TRANSLATOR
25 Jan 2011
Format:Paperback
"Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas" was first translated into English by Parson Lewis Mercier (who used the name Mercier Lewis) in the 1870's - this is now public domain and is the version you will get with cut-rate editions.
Mr. Mercier eliminated a quarter of the text and mistranslated numerous words and measures.
The way to spot his translation and his influence in some later editions (not this one) is to open the book to the third chapter, where the servant Conseil is introduced and described as someone who always addresses his master in the third person singular. See if Conseil's inquiry to his master then actually uses the third person singular - "the master" - or if he uses second person singular - "you."
If it's "you," it is the inaccurate translation.
Mr. Mercier eliminated a quarter of the text and mistranslated numerous words and measures.
The way to spot his translation and his influence in some later editions (not this one) is to open the book to the third chapter, where the servant Conseil is introduced and described as someone who always addresses his master in the third person singular. See if Conseil's inquiry to his master then actually uses the third person singular - "the master" - or if he uses second person singular - "you."
If it's "you," it is the inaccurate translation.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Which is the best English edition?
5 Dec 2011
Format:Paperback
The definitive edition seems to be that published in 1993 by the Naval Institute Press as translated by Walter James Miller and Frederick Paul Walter (ISBN 978-0870216787 paperback) which is described as "The Completely Restored and Annotated Edition".
Frederick Paul Walter's original 1991 translation is available as "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas" as a hardback edition (ISBN 978-1904808282 List Price: $39.95) published by Evertype in 2009. This hardcover edition is viewable on "LOOK INSIDE!" with Amazon. There is also a paperback edition (ISBN 978-1606641880) which was published by Aegypan in 2008. But beware: the "LOOK INSIDE!" for the paperback edition is actually of another version published in 2007 by BiblioBazaar (which looks like it was typeset on the cheap).
Frederick Paul Walter's translation is also available as "Amazing Journeys: Five Visionary Classics: `Journey to the Center of the Earth', `From the Earth to the Moon', `Circling the Moon', 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas', and `Around the World in 80 Days'" (ISBN 978-1438432380 List Price: $34.95) published by Excelsior Editions in 2010. This paperback omnibus edition is viewable on "LOOK INSIDE!" with Amazon. Note that the stories are printed like a newspaper with two columns to the page and in very small type.
William Butcher issued a new translation in 1998 and revised it in 2009 (ISBN 978-0199539277 paperback) published by Oxford University Press with the title "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas". This is viewable on "LOOK INSIDE!" with amazon.com.
All of the other myriad editions seem to be re-issues or adaptations of the first English translation done in 1872 by Lewis Page Mercer (who cut about 20% of Verne's original text and made hundreds of translation errors).
The choice between the translations by Frederick Paul Walter and William Butcher might well come down to a matter of style - rather than accuracy in translation - or a preference for a hardcover over a paperback edition. I own the Naval Institute Press edition. I have only seen the other editions on "LOOK INSIDE!".
Reference: wikipedia.org "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea"
Frederick Paul Walter's original 1991 translation is available as "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas" as a hardback edition (ISBN 978-1904808282 List Price: $39.95) published by Evertype in 2009. This hardcover edition is viewable on "LOOK INSIDE!" with Amazon. There is also a paperback edition (ISBN 978-1606641880) which was published by Aegypan in 2008. But beware: the "LOOK INSIDE!" for the paperback edition is actually of another version published in 2007 by BiblioBazaar (which looks like it was typeset on the cheap).
Frederick Paul Walter's translation is also available as "Amazing Journeys: Five Visionary Classics: `Journey to the Center of the Earth', `From the Earth to the Moon', `Circling the Moon', 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas', and `Around the World in 80 Days'" (ISBN 978-1438432380 List Price: $34.95) published by Excelsior Editions in 2010. This paperback omnibus edition is viewable on "LOOK INSIDE!" with Amazon. Note that the stories are printed like a newspaper with two columns to the page and in very small type.
William Butcher issued a new translation in 1998 and revised it in 2009 (ISBN 978-0199539277 paperback) published by Oxford University Press with the title "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas". This is viewable on "LOOK INSIDE!" with amazon.com.
All of the other myriad editions seem to be re-issues or adaptations of the first English translation done in 1872 by Lewis Page Mercer (who cut about 20% of Verne's original text and made hundreds of translation errors).
The choice between the translations by Frederick Paul Walter and William Butcher might well come down to a matter of style - rather than accuracy in translation - or a preference for a hardcover over a paperback edition. I own the Naval Institute Press edition. I have only seen the other editions on "LOOK INSIDE!".
Reference: wikipedia.org "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea"
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