Around The World In 80 Days
Rate: 5 of 5
The planet Earth, a vast place filled with mysteries and adventure that we all can call home. Have you ever thought about traveling around it? Having an expedition in which you would travel completely around it, eventually landing back were you started? Well, an Englishman known as Phileas Fogg placed a wager on it, and he is about to take a journey of a life time in a novel called
Around The World In 80 Days. Written by Jules Verne, it is a classical adventure novel that is a must read for anyone that is human. In fact, you should know that this book was first published in 1873 in the French Language and since then it has been translated and published in hundreds of other languages, such as English. (Which I read) It is now perhaps known around the world, (ha-ha, do you get it?) and it is a 192 page masterpiece! This probably took me about a good week to read (as I don’t have much time), but I bet you could possibly read this within a weekend. Now let me give you a tiny glimpse of what the novel is about.
Phileas Fogg is a very punctual Englishman living the great city of London. He is extremely wealthy, straight forward, and quite eccentric. "I've seen people at Madame Tussaud's as lively as my new master!" (Verne, Jules, pg. 9, 2004) This is how Mr. Fogg’s new servant thought of him as a first impression, and it gives you some insight of what he seems to be like. However, like any regular day, he walked to the Reform club, met with some associates, and in a conversation he places a bet of 20000 pounds, saying that he can travel around the world in 80 days. Of course, back then, this would have been nearly impossible to do, as they didn't have the technology we have today. If he fails to make it back to the club in exactly 80 days, he will lose half of his fortune. Accompanied by his new, but loyal, as well as trustworthy servant, Passepartout, they embark on a magnificent journey which takes them through Asia, and all the way into the United States. While on their journey, they rescue an Indian woman, Ms. Aouda, from a sacrificial ritual. Fogg has given his word to get the woman to safety in Hong Kong to her relatives. However, when they find out that her relative didn't live there anymore, she has no choice but to accompany the two on their journey. Back in London however, there has been a bank robbery, where the thief got away with a total grand amount of 50000 pounds! The police's suspicion arouses on to Mr. Fogg, who they think has made up an excuse to travel around the world in 80 days, in order to get away from the arms of law. Thus, a private detective is sent out to follow Phileas Fogg, gather evidence against him, and wait for an arrest warrant to throw him into jail. This of course delays Fogg's progress. Mr. Fogg who has little time to spare must now get back to the club within the given time, or he will lose half of his fortune, along with the other half which he has spent on his wild journey. With natural phenomena's and the investigator against him, he must use his punctuality to win the bet. Will he get back to the club in time? Find out by getting yourself a copy of this magnificent classic!
In this classical piece of literature, the main theme can be ascertained from the topic of the book Around the World in Eighty Days. Phileas Fogg, a stern and disciplined man claims that it is possible to go around the world in eighty days. He is challenged to accomplish this feat himself. Thus a major theme is the possibility/probability of going around the globe in eighty days, especially during that time, when it was near impossible. Fogg manages to prove that it is possible despite all odds against him. The mood of the book is that of adventure and the excitement that is always a part of “travel”. Phileas Fogg accepts the challenge to go around the world in eighty days and in accomplishing this feat he goes through various lands and meets with diverse adventures. Thus the book proceeds at a fast pace and there is always some excitement resulting from the various encounters. Also, there is a little element of mystery as well in the mood with the suspicion that Fogg might be the gentleman robber, guilty of a major theft at the Bank of England. Passepartout is told by Fix (The Detective) that his master is not what he seems and even though Passepartout tends to trust Fogg, there is a sense of tension that Fogg might just be the culprit. Even the reader wonders whether Fogg could be guilty and becomes curious about Fogg’s reality. In addition, another distinct element in the mood is that of challenge and struggling against odds. Fogg and his companions face seemingly impossible obstacles in order to go around the world at an incredible pace. Fogg leads them with his calmness and rationality. Whether it be while fighting the Sioux or rushing to London from Liverpool in a specially hired train. What the reader gets to read eventually is an exciting and truly adventurous tale. As you can see, a message that the author is trying to communicate would be that nothing is impossible, and that you should do what you believe you can. Like I said before, Fogg was going against all odds, in what is seemingly impossible, but nevertheless he accomplished it.
The character, Phileas Fogg displays a personality of calmness and rationality truly helps to demonstrate the author’s message. It is this personality that lets the story play out the way it did. If I were in his place, I would have panicked throughout the whole trip. In my head, I would think, “I am never going to make, it! This storm is going to make us late. OH NO!” However, Fogg keeps his cool the whole entire time. When there was a storm, he acted as if it wasn’t going to change anything. In the novel, the author of the states “The weather was bad during the latter days of the voyage... Phileas Fogg gazed at the tempestuous sea, which seemed to be struggling especially to delay him, with his habitual tranquility. He never changed countenance for an instant, though a delay of 20 hours, by making him late for the Yakohama boat, would almost inevitably cause the loss of his wager. But this man of nerve manifested neither impatience nor annoyance; it seemed as if the storm were part of his programme, and had been foreseen.” (Verne, Jules, pg. 85, 2004). This quote is an excellent example of how he handled a situation, and you can see his personality very clearly from it. He believed that it was all in the calculations of the trip. All of Phileas Fogg’s actions I admire, as I could never be able to do such a thing, especially if I had a wager on it.
I rate this book a complete 5 out of 5! Jules Verne truly lives up to his reputation of writing sci-fictional novels in this must read classic. His writing can truly captivate you, with vivid details and explanation you can literally draw a picture in your mind of what is happening. This thrilling read will keep you on the edge of your seat right to its exhilarating end, as Fogg pits his wits against the people and circumstances that conspire against his success. Existing today as one of the world’s favorite adventure stores, I would recommend it to people of all ages! Make sure you can understand most of the words however, because those details truly enhance the story. If you ever see it at your library, or book store, or lying around in your home, pick it up and give it a chance. You won’t regret it! I just might need to read more of Jules Verne’s books, and up next I may read
A Journey To The Center Of The Earth. Stick Around for future reviews.
Foot Notes: Madame Tussauds is a wax museum in London, as well as around the world. Phileas Fogg is compared to people there, who are made of wax, so it describes his personality as quite calm, still and perhaps dull.
Prezi is comming soon!
