prelude to the shark scene, abridged
In another example of weird editorial decisions made by my "for-kids" abridged 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea English translation, allow me to highlight some interesting changes in the lead-up to the shark scene.
The abridged version doesn't technically change any of the key plot points from this chapter: Nemo still tells Professor Aronnax he's planning a trip to the pearl fishery, mentions that there may be sharks, and then leaves. Aronnax then has a(n abbreviated) conversation with Conseil and Ned, who do not appear to have been made aware of this fact.
Now, we know by this point in the novel that Nemo tends to be a lot chattier with Aronnax than with either Conseil or Ned, so when I was reading it as a kid, I just accepted that Nemo probably didn't mention the sharks to the others because it didn't come up in conversation, or maybe he expected Aronnax to fill them in.
However, in the text of the original, Nemo and Aronnax's discussion preceding the shark aside is much longer, giving you the sense he's really hyping up this pearl fishery visit. Then he offhandedly mentions the sharks to raise the stakes. The tone he uses is also pretty different:
Abridged version: "We are accustomed to them [sharks]," replied Captain Nemo, "and in time you will be too. However, we shall be armed, and on the road we may be able to hunt some of the tribe. It is interesting. So, til tomorrow sir, and early." -> this gives 'yes, just wanted to let you know there might be sharks, but we're equipped to deal with them, don't worry'
Unabridged version: "Every man on board the Nautilus is used to them,' replied Captain Nemo, 'and in time you will be too. Besides, we shall be armed and on our way there, we might even get a chance to hunt a dogfish. They make very good hunting. Until tomorrow, then, professor, very early tomorrow morning." -> this gives, 'I brought up the sharks just to watch you squirm and impress you with how nonchalant I am about the danger!'
Then, through the rest of the chapter, Aronnax makes several remarks in his internal dialogue (most of which is cut from the abridged version) that suggest he expects his companions to aware of the sharks, or at the very least be similarly intimidated once he explains it to them ("At least Conseil won't want to go, and that will be my excuse for not accompanying the captain..." and then, "Evidently Captain Nemo had not thought it necessary to put the idea of sharks into my companions' minds".) In the abridged version, the only real indication we get that Aronnax has noted this discrepancy in what Nemo has chosen to tell them is his asking Conseil, "He said nothing more?"
So in the unabridged version, I would argue that the implication is that Nemo has not merely "forgotten" to mention the sharks to Conseil and Ned, but perhaps even gone out of his way to tell the other two about the pearl fishery expedition, where he might have otherwise let Aronnax explain it to them (Ned: "your Captain Nemo, devil take the man, has just made us a very friendly proposal"), FULLY ANTICIPATING that the professor would struggle to broach the topic of sharks and backing out of the excursion if the other two men were already excited about it. ("I looked at them, feeling somewhat uncomfortable as if one or both of them had already lost an arm or a leg. Should I tell them? Yes, of course. But I had no idea of where to begin.")
I think the overall effect of these additional details is that the unabridged version 1) is weirdly flirtier, 2) makes Nemo seem much more egotistical and maybe even a little malicious, and 3) recontextualizes Ned having to bail him out at the end as appropriate punishment for his hubris.
I don't really know what was going through the abridged translator's mind when they were working on this passage or how intentionally they cut those portions out, but it was just so striking for me to read it back and see how much of a difference that "extra" text makes.
Anyway, long ramble, but in summary: stop abridging classics, let the children have (even messier) Nemo.
