20,000 Leagues Under the Sea , by Jules Verne, was first published in 1870. The novel follows the adventures of Captain Nemo and his submarine, the Nautilus, as they explore the depths of the ocean.
Here are some of the book’s predictions that came to pass:
- The novel foreshadows the development of technologies comparable to those of the Nautilus, a submersible vessel which can explore the ocean’s depths.
- Electricity is used to power the Nautilus, which was a relatively new and ground-breaking technological advancement at the time the book was written. The novel also touches on other uses of electricity, like lighting and communication.
- Environmental effects of industrialisation and pollution: The novel discusses how these two factors have a severe impact on nature, including the extinction of marine habitats.
- Captain Nemo is a highly intellectual and learned man, yet his quest for scientific knowledge makes him alienated and paranoid, and his actions have unexpected repercussions. This illustrates the potential hazards of scientific progress.
These are just a few examples of the things that are predicted in the novel. Can you name any others?