"The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident..."See in text(Part One - Chapter I - A Shifting Reef)
Verne begins his story by claiming that no one has forgotten the "remarkable incident" of 1866. Considering the many important events of that year, from the end of the American Civil War to the attempted assassinations of German premier Otto von Bismark and Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Verne uses them to access his readers' memories and experiences to prepare them for an event that commanded the attention of multiple countries on two continents. This creates tension right at the beginning of the tale, providing a hook for readers to continue reading.
