Book review of Around the world in 80 days

Book review
The story centers around an eccentric English gentleman and his French servant, Passepartout. The English gentleman, Mr. Phileas Fogg, enters into a wager betting half his fortune of 20000 pounds whereby he will circumnavigate the globe and return to his starting point exactly 80 days from the starting date. The wager was between Mr. Fogg and friends in the “Reform Club”, an organization of wealthy men. During this period of time, a robbery has taken place and he has stolen 55000 pounds. The description of the robber matches Mr. Fogg and a detective named Fix is trying to arrest him as soon as he gets the warrant. This voyage would not have been possible earlier than the 1870s as the innovations such as railroad travel and steam engines would have made this time frame impossible. Mr. Phileas Fogg was nothing if not methodical. He diligently planned the entire journey including rail time tables, financial budgeting as well as if time had been gained or lost.The travelers had many adventures along the way. The team had to deal with bank robberies and travel on the backs of elephants. In India, they combated savages that were about to sacrifice a woman named, Auoda. The travelers saved Auoda and escaped with their lives Mr. Fogg promises to take her to Hong Kong so that she could stay with her relative as it was no longer save for her to remain India. When they arrive in Hong Kong, Mr. Fogg finds out that Auoda’s cousin has moved to Europe, Holland. Meanwhile, still without a warrant, Fix sees Hong Kong as his last chance to arrest Fogg on British soil. He therefore confides in Passepartout, who does not believe a word and remains convinced that his master is not a bank robber. To prevent Passepartout from informing his master about the premature departure of their next vessel, Fix gets Passepartout drunk and drugs him in an opium den. In his dizziness, Passepartout still manages to catch the steamer to Yokohama, but neglects to inform Mr. Fogg that the steamer departures early. Mr. Fogg, on the next day, discovers that he has missed his connection. He goes in search of a vessel that will take him to Yokohama. He finds a pilot boat that takes him and Aouda to Shanghai, where they catch a steamer to Yokohama. In Yokohama, they go on a search for Passepartout, believing that he may have arrived there on the original boat. They find him in a circus, trying to earn the fare for his homeward journey. Reunited, the four board a steamer taking them across the Pacific to San Francisco. Fix promises Passepartout that now, having left British soil, he will no longer try to delay Mr. Fogg's journey, but rather support him in getting back to Britain as fast as possible but his actual motive was to have Mr. Fogg arrested there.In the United States, the adventures battled Native American Indians that attacked their train. Passepartout was captured by the Indians during the fight and Mr. Fogg was forced to delay his travels and give chase to the Indians with a troop of US cavalry at his side. The chase was successful in saving Passepartout, but resulted in Mr. Fogg losing valuable time in his journey. He was now likely to lose his wager. Even though Mr. Fogg and company were now significantly behind schedule, he was not going to give up. However, once on British soil again, Fix produces a warrant and arrests Mr. Fogg. A short time later, the misunderstanding is cleared up—the actual bank robber had been caught three days earlier in Edinburgh. In response to this, Mr. Fogg, in a rare moment of impulse, punches Fix, who immediately falls to the ground. However, Fogg has missed the train and returns to London five minutes late, assured that he has lost the wager. The next day, in his London house, Mr. Fogg apologizes to Auoda for bring her with him and now not being able to financially support her. Right at that moment, Auoda confesses to Mr, Fogg that she loves him and asks to marry her, which he gladly accepts. He calls for Passepartout to notify the reverend. At the reverend's, Passepartout learns that he is mistaken in the date, which he takes to be Sunday but which actually is Saturday due to the fact that the party travelled east, thereby gaining a full day on their journey around the globe. Passepartout hurries back to Fogg, who immediately sets off for the Reform Club, where he arrives a mere three seconds before the deadline to win the wager. In the end, Mr. Fogg marries Aouda and the journey around the world is complete.

Favourite Character
My favourite character of this book would have to be Phileas Fogg. On his journey around the world he faces many obstacles along the way, however his determination has led him to accomplish this in time. Whenever a problem arises, Phileas Fogg always thinks of an alternative to turn the situation around. He is a very brave and loyal friend, when Passepartout was captured by Native American Indians when they attacked their train, Phileas Fogg decided to give chase with a troop of US calvary by his side. This meant that Passepartout was more important to him even to the extend of delaying the journey. Even though the journey was delayed, he was able to maintain his composure and be positive towards things. In the end, it is his sheer determination as well as his positive attitude that led to him being able to travel around the world in 80 days.

Unique Selling Point of the Book
When I read the book, I fell asleep several times. But as I read even more, I was captured by all the events that have happened and how Phileas Fogg does everything within his means to overcome every difficulty that he faces. Jules Verne has illustrated this point very well, thus this book is able to captivate the readers attention. Although this is a classic and I understand that some of you will find it very boring to read, but in actual fact it is not a bit boring at all. This is one book that I will recommend you to read even if it is for leisure or even as an assignment that your teacher has given to you.