Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
"Around the World in Eighty Days" by Jules Verne is a renowned adventure novel that follows the journey of Phileas Fogg, a punctual and methodical Englishman, as he attempts to circumnavigate the globe in just eighty days. The story begins with Fogg making a wager at the Reform Club in London, betting that he can complete the journey within the time limit. Accompanied by his loyal servant, Passepartout, Fogg's mission unfolds against the backdrop of the technological advancements of the 1870s, highlighting the era's evolving travel methods.
As they travel, Fogg faces various challenges, including being falsely accused of theft by a detective named Fixx, who is determined to capture him. The narrative also introduces Aouda, a woman Fogg rescues during his travels, adding a romantic subplot that enriches the story. Verne's keen attention to detail and the incorporation of contemporary technology lend authenticity to the adventure, making it resonate with readers.
Originally serialized in a newspaper, the novel captured public imagination and inspired real-life competitions to replicate Fogg's journey. Its themes of cultural exploration, the impact of technology, and the dynamics of human relationships continue to engage audiences, solidifying its status as a classic in literature. The book's enduring popularity is evident in its numerous adaptations for stage and screen, reflecting its significant cultural impact.
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Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
First published:Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours, 1873 (English translation, 1873)
Type of work: Adventure tale
Themes: Travel, social issues, friendship, and love and romance
Time of work: 1872
Recommended Ages: 13-15
Locale: The Reform Club in London, England, as well as Europe, Asia, and North America
Principal Characters:
Phileas Fogg , a London gentleman of uncertain means, noted for his reserve and rigid adherence to his personal timetableJean Passepartout , Fogg’s manservant, who accepts the post because it promises order and stability; he is frequently faced with interpreting what loyalty to his employer includesMr. Fixx , a London detective assigned to track a bank robber; he dreams of the reward and continually intrudes upon Fogg’s unusual tripAouda , an Indian maharani rescued by Fogg and his companions from a funeral pyre; her insights and gentle manner endear her to them
The Story
In its plot and setting, Around the World in Eighty Days seems a fast-paced travel and adventure story. Yet, the protagonist does not travel to experience the joys and tribulations of travel. After leaving the reading room of the Reform Club in London, Phileas Fogg appears focused only upon returning to that same room exactly eighty days later.
Jean Passepartout arrives in Fogg’s home on Saville Row the morning of October 2, 1872. As Fogg begins his daily regimen, Passepartout feels secure. After a series of lively careers, Fogg’s predictable life-style will suit Passepartout’s desire for quiet and calm. Two events occur that will derange Passepartout’s newfound tranquillity. First, a fifty-five-thousand-pound robbery of the Bank of England is revealed. The robber is described only as a gentleman. Second, Fogg and his whist partners have a heated discussion on the feasibility of the robber’s escape. Their discussion results in a twenty-thousand-pound wager between Fogg and his partners. Fogg asserts that he will next present himself to his companions on December 21, 1872, and during the eighty-day interim will circle the globe.
Before nine o’clock on the evening of October 2, 1872, Phileas Fogg and Jean Passepartout embark upon a voyage around the world. Under Passepartout’s arm he carries a carpetbag containing twenty thousand pounds given him, by his master, for expenses. At the Reform Club, four members hold Fogg’s check for twenty thousand pounds, representing his stake in the wager and the remainder of his personal fortune.
Within a week of their departure, Fogg is inaccurately identified as the Bank of England thief by Mr. Fixx. British authorities do not comply quickly enough with Detective Fixx’s request for an arrest warrant, and Fixx is forced to track Fogg. He slowly makes their acquaintance, taking Passepartout into his confidence at one point. Regardless of how Fogg’s actions may contradict the image of a fugitive, Fixx remains focused upon his goal, the reward. Though motivated by different forces, others embrace Fogg’s quest. When circumstances either retard their progress or separate them, everyone searches for a solution or forges ahead on his own.
Aouda is added to their party when, during a particularly taxing portion of their trip attempted upon an Indian elephant, Fogg learns that Aouda is to die as part of a ritualistic funeral. Uncharacteristically, Fogg suspends his travel plans to attempt a rescue. Passepartout’s theatrical experience is central to their success.
Upon his arrival in Liverpool, Fogg believes that he has only nine hours before he must be at the Reform Club. He is arrested by Mr. Fixx. Fixx discovers his error too late for Fogg to win his wager. Secluded in his Saville Row home, Fogg reflects and, with the help of Aouda, comes to realize their mutual love. Passepartout is sent to arrange a marriage between Fogg and Aouda with a clergyman. He discovers that during their travels they have crossed the international date line, giving Fogg an additional day. Fogg dashes to the Reform Club, where he secures his fortune in addition to the spiritual gains he has achieved. As a world traveler, Fogg was not a sightseer; instead he saw and responded to the sites of the human condition which surrounded him.
Context
Around the World in Eighty Days is recognized as Verne’s greatest literary work. Verne is frequently characterized as the father of the science fiction genre. Many of his previous works—Voyage au centre de la terre (1864; Journey to the Centre of the Earth, 1874), De la terre a la lune (1865; From the Earth to the Moon, 1873), and Vingt Mille Lieues sous les mers (1870; Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, 1873)—relied upon the application of scientific principles in implausible situations and sequences. It is Verne’s innovative application of existing 1870’s technology and the sequencing of events that set Around the World in Eighty Days apart from Verne’s other works. Phileas Fogg and his companions complete their journey using technology available to the traveler in 1872. Indeed, during 1872 travel agencies were advertising a similar worldwide excursion.
Around the World in Eighty Days was first presented to readers in daily installments in the Parisian newspaper Temps. Phileas Fogg and his startling wager quickly caught the imagination of the public. Each installment was eagerly awaited and resulted daily in rapidly translated and transmitted plot summaries to newspapers throughout Europe and the United States. While Verne’s Reform Club characters were placing wagers on the outcome of Fogg’s journey, real wagers were placed throughout Europe and America, with the odds fluctuating as each day’s installment was received. In addition to the public acclaim, Around the World in Eighty Days received critical acclaim. Soon after its publication, a successful stage interpretation was mounted, and it has been interpreted for stage, screen, and television production.
The journey of Phileas Fogg inspired competitions to set new or break existing world records for circling the globe. Competitions, using Fogg as their inspiration, continue. One notable competition occurred in 1889. In November, an American newspaper reporter, Nellie Bly, famous for her investigative technique, successfully repeated Fogg’s journey. Amid wide publicity, she completed her trip in seventy-two days, which included an afternoon stop near Paris to meet with Verne and his wife.
Around the World in Eighty Days sustains reader analysis of diverse topics, including investigations into man’s attitudes and application of technology, cultural relativism, and the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Verne’s plot and characterizations provide readers with both evident and symbolic meaning. This layering of meanings and in-depth characterizations have contributed to its continued, long-standing popularity. It has been particularly popular with young readers, who relish the adventure and daring of the journey.
Bibliography
Allott, Kenneth. Jules Verne, 1940.
Born, Franz. Jules Verne: The Man Who Invented the Future, 1964.
Boucher, Anthony. Preface to Around the World in Eighty Days, 1956.
Costello, Peter. Jules Verne: Inventor of Science Fiction, 1978.
Evans, I.O. Jules Verne and His Work, 1965.
Haining, Peter. The Jules Verne Companion, 1978.
Waltz, George H. Jules Verne: The Biography of an Imagination, 1943.