Around the World in 80 Days (fiction)

Jules Verne (1873)

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THE A5 BOOK REVIEW

Jules Verne's classic book tells the story of an English gentleman who, in 1872, makes an amazing bet that he can travel around the world in eighty days. This was before the age of airplanes; Verne got the idea sitting in a cafe reading a newspaper article about how it might now be possible to actually do so. The main character is Phileas Fogg, a mysteriously quiet but resolutely honorable man who stoically bases his life on routine and logic, making such a bet and such a trip that much more surprising. Fogg doesn't actually put a lot of attention on the places he visits, as his focus is on winning the bet. As such, the story mainly revolves around the race itself, and on the adventures the team face along the way, including the rescue of a beautiful woman about to be burned at a ritual sacrifice in India. Around the World in 80 Days has captivated the imagination of generations, and it still today makes for a great read for both children and adults alike.

Click here to see reviews and prices for this book on Amazon.

OTHER A5 RECOMMENDED TRAVEL BOOKS - JULES VERNE

Jules Verne (1825-1908) was a well-known French novelist and playwright, best known for his stories of adventure and as someone who is sometimes credited as the true originator of science fiction. His best known novels include Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1869), and of course the great travel book Around the World in Eighty Days (1873). Click here to learn more about Jules Verne.

book cover of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

book cover of Journey to the Centre of the Earth

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GREAT QUOTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

“But what then? What had he really gained by all this trouble? What had he brought back from this long and weary journey?
Nothing, you say? Perhaps so; nothing but a charming woman, who, strange as it may appear, made him the happiest of men!
Truly, would you not for less than that make the tour around the world?”
- Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days

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The book has been adapted for movies, radio, musicals and television shows, most notably with the 1956 film that won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

THE FOLLOW UP TRIP BY MICHAEL PALIN

Around the World in Eighty Days, by Michael Palin

In 1989, Michael Palin (yes, from Monte Python) starred in a 7-part BBC television travel series first broadcast on BBC in the UK. Palin was given the same deadlines and rules, and of course he was not allowed to use aircraft, which did not exist in Jules Verne's time. The show is funny and worth watching, and Palin also wrote a good book about the trip. Click here to see our review on the BBC version of Around the World in Eighty Days.