In Victorian London, the impeccably precise gentleman Phileas Fogg leads a life dictated by routine—until a spirited debate at the Reform Club prompts him to stake £20,000 on an outrageous wager: he will travel “around the world in eighty days” and return by dinner on the exact date. Accompanied by his newly hired French valet, Passepartout, Fogg embarks on a relentless journey that will test his resolve, ingenuity, and the limits of 19th‑century steam and rail travel.
Their itinerary carries them from the foggy streets of London to the bustling bazaars of Bombay, across the storm‑tossed Indian Ocean to Calcutta, and onward through the Dutch East Indies and Hong Kong. Along the way, they rescue the headstrong Indian princess Aouda from a dire fate, narrowly escape hostile forces in Japan, and race across the American frontier by locomotive and steamboat—all pursued by the dogged detective Fix, who suspects Fogg of a recent bank robbery and is determined to delay him until the wager is lost.
Verne’s richly detailed prose captures the spirit of an era on the cusp of modernity: the clatter of locomotive wheels, the hiss of steam engines, and the kaleidoscope of cultures encountered from Asia to the Americas. Each chapter propels the reader through narrow escapes—missed connections, typhoons at sea, and overheated negotiations—while exploring themes of friendship, honor, and the astonishing reach of human ambition.
Aouda’s gratitude and Passepartout’s loyalty illuminate Fogg’s own evolution, as the aloof gentleman learns compassion beyond punctuality and discovers that the true measure of success may lie not in winning a bet, but in the bonds forged along the way.
About the Author
Jules Verne (1828–1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright, celebrated as one of the fathers of science fiction. His adventures, including Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Around the World in Eighty Days, have enthralled generations with their blend of imaginative technology, meticulous research, and indomitable spirit of exploration.
Product Details
ISBN‑13: 9780241953238
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Published: 1873 (First); Modern editions vary
Pages: 320
Binding: Paperback
