Name: Around the World in Eighty Days
Author: Jules Verne
ISBN: 9780007350940

Around the World in Eighty Days

Jules Verne

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Author Description

Great excitement and awe greeted its publication in 1873, and today Around the World in Eighty Days remains Jules Verne's most successful novel. A daring wager by the eccentric and mysterious Englishman Phileas Fogg that he can circle the globe in just eighty days initiates this marvelous travelogue and exciting suspense story. Together with his manservant, Passepartout, Fogg makes a breathless world tour, overcoming wild misadventures and finding time to rescue a beautiful Indian maharani from a burning funeral pyre-all the while restlessly pursued by a bumbling detective called Mr. Fix. Realistically utilizing nearly every means of transportation known in the 1870s, Around the World in Eighty Days generated enchantment with scientific progress-and its delightful mixture of fantasy, comedy, and dazzling suspense has kept it a perennially superb entertainment.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

A high-stakes wager forces a rigid, methodical gentleman to attempt a circumnavigation of the globe within a strict eighty-day limit. Phileas Fogg, a man of precise habits, bets his fortune that he can complete this global transit, accompanied by his newly hired, impulsive French valet, Passepartout. The duo faces constant logistical hurdles, mechanical failures, and the persistent interference of a detective who mistakenly believes Fogg is a bank robber. The narrative unfolds as a race against time, utilizing the era's emerging transportation technologies to bridge vast distances across continents and oceans.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Precise, clockwork-driven pacing that mirrors the protagonist's obsession with time.
Detailed descriptions of 19th-century transportation methods including steamships and railways.
A contrast between the stoic, logical Fogg and the emotional, chaotic Passepartout.
Episodic structure as the characters encounter distinct cultural and geographical challenges in each location.
The inclusion of a secondary rescue plot that complicates the primary timeline.
A persistent, antagonistic force in the form of a detective who serves as a comedic and narrative foil.
Exploration of the Victorian fascination with global connectivity and scientific advancement.
A third-person omniscient perspective that emphasizes the logistical scale of the endeavor.

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

This novel is widely recognized as a foundational work of adventure fiction that captures the Victorian era's optimism regarding global travel and technological progress. Readers often highlight the clever interplay between Fogg's unwavering composure and the frantic, unpredictable nature of his surroundings. The story is frequently praised for its structural ingenuity and the way it maintains suspense through the constant threat of missed connections and unforeseen delays. It remains a staple of the genre, valued for its blend of geographical education and lighthearted, high-stakes entertainment that continues to engage audiences across generations.

Page Count:
304

Publication Date:
1873-01-01

Publisher:
Harper Press

ISBN-10:
0007350945

ISBN-13:
9780007350940

Adventure

Travel

Fantasy

classic

Science Fiction

Action Adventure

Historical