The Monster of 1866

“The year 1866 was marked by a remarkable and puzzling phenomenon which no one has yet forgotten.”

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne · Episode 1 of 12

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea was first published in 1869–1870 as a serialized novel by French writer Jules Verne, one of the founders of science fiction. This episode introduces Professor Pierre Aronnax, a French naturalist who becomes caught up in the hunt for a mysterious sea creature terrorising ships worldwide in 1866. Verne's novel combined cutting-edge oceanographic knowledge of his era with imaginative speculation about submarine technology that would not exist for decades. This text reflects its era; a few period maritime terms and colonial references have been modernised. This is the first of twelve episodes adapted for readers at the Blue Band, following Aronnax's ten-month voyage of twenty thousand leagues beneath the sea. Verne's work remains compelling because it asks what wonders and terrors might lie in the unexplored depths, and what happens when human ambition meets the limits of the natural world.

Band

Blue · Independent readers, confidentTypical starting range: ages 12–14

Length

long · about 1059 words in 5 sections · 1 picture

Source

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, Jules Verne

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (10 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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