Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

A luminous new recording of Jules Verne’s modern classic read by Aria Mia Loberti, star of Netflix’s limited series adaptation of All the Light We Cannot See

“The year 1866 was signalized by a remarkable incident…Vessels had been met by ‘an enormous thing,’ a long object, spindle-shaped, occasionally phosphorescent, and infinitely larger and more rapid in its movements than a whale.”

When French scientist Professor Aronnax agrees to investigate a series of attacks by a mysterious sea monster, he begins an incredible underwater journey, taking along his loyal assistant Conseil and master harpooner Ned. They eventually join Captain Nemo and traverse a distance of thousands of leagues throughout many seas, finding exotic settings, surprise encounters, and unforeseen dangers in their epic adventure, a tour-de-force of imagination.

Jules Verne was remarkably successful in foretelling the wonders science held for the future. This, his most famous novel, earned him the title of “Father of Science Fiction.”

Jules Verne (1828–1905) is considered by many the father of science fiction. Born in Nantes, France, he studied law but turned to writing. The success of Five Weeks in a Balloon encouraged him to produce a number of classic and prophetic science fiction novels.

Aria Mia Loberti is an American actress, writer, disability rights advocate, and recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship. She is a PhD candidate in ancient rhetoric in the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences at Penn State University. She received her Master’s degree with distinction in ancient rhetoric in 2021 from Royal Holloway, University of London. She has presented at several large forums, including a TedX Talk in 2018, and began speaking out for disability rights at four years old. She serves as the new ambassador for the organization Guide Dogs for the Blind, previously held by the iconic Betty White.