Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

This adventure novel follows a French scientist, Professor Aronnax, who sets out to hunt a mysterious sea monster that has been sinking ships. He discovers that the creature is in fact a remarkable submarine, the Nautilus, commanded by the secretive Captain Nemo. Taken aboard as a guest who cannot leave, Aronnax, his servant Conseil and the harpooner Ned Land travel through the world's oceans and see coral forests, sunken wrecks and strange sea life. The book mixes wonder at the deep with questions about freedom, technology and the character of its brooding captain. It remains one of the most famous early works of science fiction.