Too Flat To Be A Classic
|
The tale of an Englishman who bets he can travel the world in eighty days, and the adventures had in this tight time limit.
I found the language extremely lacklustre, and so the story didn't grab me. However, I don't know if this is the fault of Verne or of the translator Jacqueline Rogers. Unless you can learn French and read the original, I would suggest trying to find a different translation.
However, this isn't the only problem. It isn't very exciting for two thirds of the book. It isn't until the characters begin crossing America that it finally becomes compulsively readable.
My main issue was with the unlikeable characters. Verne never shows us what is going on in Mr Fogg's mind, so we can't connect with him, and since he is so emotionless, we cannot sympathise either. Mrs Aouda, the romantic interest, is completely flat, and only exists to idolise Fogg. The main character is Passepartout, Fogg's servant, but I found him annoying due to his short temper and ignorance, and I couldn't believe his deep loyalty to Mr Fogg, because they have only just met and their relationship is never developed.
Fix, the detective who is pursuing Fogg, is by far the best character. For most of the book he is intelligent, witty, irritable and noble, although his characterisation is a little contradictory at first. What doesn't work here is the plot. Fix thinks Fogg is a bank robber, but we know he is after the wrong man. This makes the quest pointless to read. The only way to solve the issue would be if a) we didn't know if Fogg was a criminal or not, or b) if Fix could at least catch the real thief, or some other criminal in the story. Unfortunately, Verne does not deliver.
In conclusion, the final third is exciting and Fix is likeable, but the dull beginning and other flat characters outweigh what works and this just isn't as good as it could be.
Also, in usual Penguin Classic style, this edition just isn't very pleasant to look at and read, due to yellow pages and thick print.
|
|
Classic adventure novel
|
"Round The World In Eighty Days" is a classic adventure novel written by the French writer Jules Verne and first published in 1873. Its story is about a well respected and quite wealthy Englishman called Phileas Fogg who was the member of the elite Reform Club. Everyone seems to like Phileas Fogg who is famous for his quiet and mysterious personality and also - perfect punctuality. One day, however, he very unexpectedly bets £20.000 with his friends in the Reform Club that he will travel round the world in 80 days. No one seems to believe him but the bet is done and Phileas Fogg leaves London the same evening together with his newly employed but very experienced and loyal French servant Passepartout. Phileas Fogg doesn't seem to have any doubts about his success and looks as if he foreseen all the accidents and difficulties that they might encounter with further in the journey. At the same time, however, a huge amount of money is stolen from the Bank of England and Phileas Fogg is suspected for the robbery by the police. Detective Fix aims to stop and arrest Phileas Fogg until he hasn't spend all the money...While reading the novel the reader is forced to wonder who is Phileas Fogg - a great human or a professional robber...The novel is popularly recognized as children's literature, however it is a nice read for an adult also. Phileas Fogg and servant Passepartout indeed travel round the world beginning from London to Suez, from Suez to Bombay, from Bombay to Calcutta, from Calcutta to Hong Kong, from Hong Kong to Yokohama, from Yokohama to San Francisco, from San Francisco to New York, from New York to London. They also use all possible transport at that time - "steamers, railways, carriages, a yacht, a trading vessel, a sledge, and an elephant". The novel reflects the spirit of the time it was written - the power of The British Empire who had India and Hong Kong in its hands, also the First Transcontinental Railroad in America, the linking of Indian railways and the opening of Suez Canal made the journey actually possible and many "rich eccentric strangers" indeed travelled round the world.
I loved the book because it was entertaining, interesting and informative however there were some moments where it looked racially abusing to me. Europeans and their civilization were stated to be the most intelligent and in all ways best, whilst Indians, Chinese and Japanese were described as some aborigine monkeys with no mind and culture. Leaving Asia behind and trying to forget the at that time ruling European ignorance, the reader finds out what sort of person Phileas Fogg is and what did he really win from this trip round the world.
|
|
|
Slight but amusing
|
|
Jules Verne's tale of an English gentleman's bet that he can circumnavigate the world in 80 days is a light and readable adventure. Strangely the weakest sections seem to be the actual travelogue descriptions of foreign lands, which tend to be rather dry and uninvolving, and the hero Phileas Fogg manages to solve most of the problems that come his way simply by throwing vast amounts of money at them. What makes the book more enjoyable is the relationship between the archly reserved Englishman Fogg, and his passionate French manservant Passepartout, and Verne keeps a strong vein of humour running throughout the book. I can't in all honesty say this novel has stood the test of time as a brilliant piece of literature, but as a fun little tongue-in-cheek adventure this is still an enjoyable read.
|
|
|
Globe trotting madness!!!
|
|
This is a fantastic book spread across the whole world. The characters are in a race against time to travel around the world in 80 days. This is a brilliant book a must read for any fan and a good start to new comers!
|
|
|
Excellent
|
|
Having taken an interest in Michael Palin's documentary series and subsequent book based on this title, I was curious to read the original. This is a fantastic story, much more entertaining than any modern day adaptations, and gripping right to the end. I'd thoroughly recommend this book!
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada