Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea - Abridged

Jules Verne (1828–1905) is considered by many the father of science fiction. Born in Nantes, France, he studied law but turned to writing opera libretti until the 1863 publication of Five Weeks in a Balloon, the first of his Extraordinary Voyages series. Its success encouraged him to produce a number of classic and prophetic science fiction novels, including Journey to the Center of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea. His stories foresaw many scientific and technological developments, including the submarine, television, and space travel.

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.