Book review on around the world in eighty days

Introduction

Around the World in Eighty Days is fantastic read written by Jules Verne. The book is a vivid description of a perfect Englishman who bets a wager to travel around the world in eighty days (Verne Ch. 1). The journey peels off the hardened layer of the aloof English man who shows very little emotions and he evolves into an emotional, adventurous man who cares for his friends and is also very resourceful in challenging situations. The story fascinates the reader for the love, adventure, friendship, and culture that oozes from cover to cover. Even through the hasty detail of events, the writer manages to capture the attention of the reader through the brilliantly explained almost realistic events that Fogg encounters.

Elements of the story

Plot
Phileas Fogg, the Englishman fashions an interesting tale as he makes his way around the most exotic places in the world with his French manservant Passepartout. Fogg lived quite the boring life but during the journey, he evolves into a contrast for the adventures they encounter. The story begins by describing a well to do gentleman who visits his club daily. He has not extraordinary in any way aside from the fact that he is well to do. His friends argue that eighty days is the minimum time required to go around the globe. He wagers twenty thousand pounds that he will embark on the journey and make it back on time though it is almost impossible (Verne Ch. 3).
He leaves London at 8. 45 p. m. on Wednesday. Through his journey, he is followed by a detective who believes that he might have stolen his fortune. In his journey he meets the love of his life who rescues from a forced marriage and human sacrifice. He loses time in India when he is forced to travel on en elephant instead of train, is attacked by native Indians and loses his man servant to a circus. Worst of all, on his final day, he is captured by the detective and thinks that he has lost his wager only to discover that he gained a day in his travels and wins the wager (Verne Ch. 37).

Setting

The setting of the novel is all over the world. The author captures our attention and imagination when he describes all the exotic places across the globe. The narrative begins in London, then Paris, Suez, Bombay, Calcutta, Hong Kong, Yokohama, San Francisco, New York, then back to London (Verne Ch. 2). He also encounters adventure in his journey which introduces a new way of life and emotions. In India he travels on an elephant and ventures into interior America in search of his friend. The winning aspect of this book is that the setting is global.

Character

The main character is Phileas Fogg. He is introduced by the author as a serious perfect Englishman with great wealth. He is also very cold to his servants as he fires one just because he brought shaving water with the wrong temperature. Initially, his punctuality and rigid character is quite eccentric and attractive to the reader. His aloof general mood eases up as the story unfolds and by the end of the book, he has revolutionized into a lovable character. In his journey, he shows very little interest with Passepartout whom he travels with around the globe.
His manservant assumes that his master is a selfish person. This changes when Fogg reveals his true nature of friendship, sacrifice, and a big heart. In india, he helps Aouda is the Indian princess escape human sacrifice (Verne Ch. 13). When his man servant is lost, Fogg abandons his quest and journeys to search for him. He also forgives him even after all the blunders that he led Fogg into. He takes no time forgiving the detective who wrongly accuses him and almost causes him his wager.
This self-driven and highly motivated character gives the book oomph and edge. As the protagonist in the novel, he demands attention as he initiates adventure from the beginning of the story. Even when faced with unrelenting odds, he goes above and beyond to attain his goal. By the end of the book, Fogg shows growth. Even though he should be proud to have won the wager, his greatest appreciation is finding Aouda, the love of his life.

Analysis

The book is a classical science fiction novel. This book was the spear head of other science fiction work that Verne wrote. First, the book is the work of because of the technology use to travel. Rail was not invented until the 1870 and his detailed schedule and familiarity begs the question of originality. The author organizes train schedule and even the pay which further confirms that it is work of imagination.
Secondly, the numerous adventures are more evidence that the novel is fictitious. The way the author narrates the events dramatically makes them hardly truthful. There is very little chance that if a person chose to make a journey all around the world, such events would take place. First they save an Indian girl from sacrifice and they later fall in love shows it was staged. The attack by the red Indians and then the valet getting lost is too dramatic to be true.
Finally, the journey around the world is evidence that the whole novel was the work of fiction. This book has challenged many people on such a journey and some have made it in time or record time using modern technology. In the 19th century, the transport infrastructure is not capable to ensure that Fogg makes in back in time. In conclusion, the author was a renowned fiction writer and it this book like many others was the work of imagination.

Conclusion

The book was among the first of its genre, science fiction. It’s raw and amateur overview of the book does not compromise the readability and suspense that grabs every readers attention. The book has had several movies created from it over the past century. This further confirms that the narrative is quite fascinating and interesting enough to appeal to audiences and readers of all generation and culture. Due to the diversity of setting and contrasting of characters and themes, the book makes is engaging to all manners of characters and ethnicities. The different settings make most readers identify with a place of their originality and this makes the book appealing in a very personal level. Rating it, it is a good read for every reader who enjoys adventure and suspense since it is packed with such events.

Work cited

Verne, Jules. Around The World in Eighty Days. 1873