A brief book review on one of Jules Vernes' best novels.

Jules Verne s Around the World in Eighty Days is somewhat of a break from his char
acteristic style. Unlike Journey to the Center of the Earth and Twenty Thousand
Leagues Under the Sea, there is nothing science fiction about it. Around the Wor
ld in Eighty Days may be one of the only books in which Jules Verne does not pre
dict or describe some future technology. However, the adventures and obstacles s
een by the main characters are very typical of Verne s work.
Around the World in Eighty days begins with a thorough description of the novel s
main character, Phileas Fogg. Fogg is described as being unusually preoccupied w
ith timeliness. He plans every bit of every day and has, thus far, never deviate
d from this schedule as far as anyone can tell. At the point where we meet Fogg
he is in need of a new servant; his last one made the grave mistake of bringing
him shaving water that was eighty-four degrees, rather than the specified eighty
-six. At this point the reader does not know what to make of Fogg. He is a rathe
r eccentric and punctual man. However, we see no evidence that he is anything bu
t good.
Fogg s new servant, Jean Passepartout, arrives at his home at precisely twenty-two
minutes after eleven on the first day of the story. Jean is quite pleased with
his master and his new station, because he wishes to settle down and he has hear
d that Fogg rarely, if ever, travels. Fogg tells Passepartout to settle in and t
hen sets out for his gentleman s club at the same exact time that he does this eve
ry day.
Passepartout has begun settling in when Fogg, breaking his careful schedule, arr
ives home hours before he is expected. Fogg informs Passepartout that they will
be going on a trip around the wold and that they are to be leaving immediately.
Fogg has bet his friends at the club a great deal of money that he can make the
journey in eighty days. Passepartout is flabbergasted, but he follows his master s
lead.
At the outset of their adventure everything goes according to plan. Then, unbekn
ownst to the pair, Fogg is mistaken for a bank robber. The man who has mistaken
is a policeman named Fix. Fix believes that Fogg is covering his escape with a f
ictional journey. Fix resolves to arrest him, but he has no warrant and is force
d to follow them. The policeman manages to cause them many holdups throughout th
e novel, for which he is attacked once by Passepartout and punched once by Fogg.
While the pair is in India the train they are riding on runs out of tracks and t
hey are forced to purchase an elephant and hire a guide. While riding across Ind
ia, they learn of a woman who is about to be sacrificed at her husband s funeral.
At this point it becomes obvious that Fogg is a good man despite his eccentricit
ies, because he decides that they should rescue the girl. Through a trick of Pas
separtout s they are able to save her and the young woman, Aouda, joins them on th
eir adventure.
From here on the journey takes a number of unexpected turns, Fogg is arrested tw
ice, once with Passepartout, they are attacked by native Americans, Passepartout
joins the circus (kind of) and Fix arrests Fogg. In the end the real thief is c
aught and Fix, who isn t so bad, is forced to apologize.
After the arrest, Fogg believes all is lost because he has been kept past his pr
ojected time of arrival. He is depressed about this when Aouda approaches him an
d tells him she is in love with him and that she wants him to marry her. He agre
es and sends Passepartout to get a priest so that they may marry the following d
ay, Sunday. Passepartout returns with the news that tomorrow is in fact Saturday
and that they are still in time. This was made possible because they gained a d
ay in traveling the globe to the east.
All in all, Around the World in Eighty Days is a very good read. It s a very excit
ing and adventurous book that is very fast paced. Around the World in Eighty Day
s is not difficult to read, Verne gives just enough description and keeps the pl
ot moving continuously. Around the World in Eighty Days can appeal to readers of
any age group.

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