Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

First published in 1869, translated by F.P. Walter in 1873.

20,000 Leagues Under the Seas is about the adventures of Captain Nemo and his crew aboard the submarine, Nautilus. One day ships start sinking, particularly ones dealing with war. Survivors think it is a big whale. A harpoon ship goes out to kill it, but finds out that the whale is actually the Nautilus.

Synopsis Compliments of: http://www.online-literature.com/verne/leaguesunder/