Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Vern - Part 2 - Chapter 23

"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is a classic science fiction adventure novel written by the French author Jules Verne. First published in 1870, the novel is set in the 19th century and follows the thrilling journey of Captain Nemo and his remarkable submarine, the Nautilus.The story is narrated by Professor Pierre Aronnax, a renowned marine biologist who, along with his loyal servant Conseil and harpoonist Ned Land, is taken aboard the Nautilus after their ship is attacked and sunk by an enigmatic and reclusive captain known as Captain Nemo. Nemo is a mysterious and enigmatic character who shuns contact with the outside world and chooses to live beneath the sea, exploring its depths in his advanced and technologically advanced submarine.As the protagonists join Nemo on his undersea adventures, they discover a breathtaking and fantastical world beneath the waves. They encounter a wide variety of marine life, explore hidden underwater landscapes, and even witness the lost city of Atlantis. The novel explores themes of exploration, the wonders of the natural world, and the consequences of unchecked technology."20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is not only an exciting adventure story but also a reflection on the relationship between humanity and nature, as well as the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific and technological progress. Jules Verne's vivid descriptions of the undersea world and the captivating character of Captain Nemo have made this novel a timeless classic in the genre of science fiction and adventure literature. It continues to captivate readers with its sense of wonder and imagination, as well as its exploration of the mysteries of the deep sea.

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
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Gazino. Twenty thousand Leagues under theSea by jou Vernes, translated by F.

(00:22):
P. Walter, Second part,Chapter twenty three conclusion. We come
to the conclusion of this voyage underthe seas. What happened that night?
How this skiff escaped from the maelstromsfearsome eddies, How ned land conseil and

(00:44):
I got out of that whirlpool?I am unable to say. But when
I regained consciousness, I was lyingin a fisherman's hut on one of the
Lafoten Islands. My two companions,safe and sound, were at my bedside,
classing my hands. We embraced eachother heartily. Just now we can't

(01:06):
even dream of returning to France.Travel between Upper Norway and the South is
limited, so I have to waitfor the arrival of a steamboat that provides
by monthly service from North Cape.So it is here among these gallant people
who have taken us in that I'mreviewing my narrative of these adventures. It

(01:27):
is accurate. Not a fact hasbeen omitted, not a detail has been
exaggerated. It's the faithful record ofthis inconceivable expedition into an element now beyond
human reach, but where progress willsome day make great inroads. Will anyone

(01:48):
believe me? I don't know.Ultimately it's unimportant. What I can now
assert is that I've earned the rightto speak of these seas beneath which,
in less than ten months I havecleared twenty thousand leagues in this underwater tour
of the world that has shown meso many wanders across the Pacific, the
Indian Ocean, the Red Sea,the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, the southernmost

(02:14):
and northernmost seas. But what happenedto the Nautilus? Did it withstand the
maelstroms clutchs? Is Captain Nemo alive? Is he still under the ocean pursuing
his frightful program of revenge? Ordid he stop after that latest mass execution?

(02:35):
Will the waves some day deliver themanuscript that contains his full life story?
Will I finally learn the man's name? Will the nationality of the stricken
warship tell us the nationality of CaptainNemo? I hope, So I likewise
hope that his powerful submersible has defeatedthe sea inside its most dreadful whirlpool,

(02:59):
That the Nautilus has survived where somany ships have perished. If this is
the case, and Captain Nemo stillinhabits the ocean his adopted country, may
the hate be appeased in that fierceheart. May the contemplation of so many
wonders extinguish the spirit of vengeance inhim. May the executioner pass away and

(03:22):
the scientists continue his peaceful exploration ofthe seas. If his destiny is strange,
it's also sublime. Haven't I encompassedit myself? Didn't I lead ten
months of this other worldly existence?Thus to that question asked six thousand years

(03:44):
ago in the book of Ecclesiastis,who can fathom the soundless depths? Two
men out of all humanity have nowearned the right to reply, Captain Nemo
and I. End of the secondpart and end of twenty thousand Leagues under

(04:05):
the Sea by jou Verne, translatedby F. P. Walter, recorded
by Gauzino in Valletta, May twothousand six.