Around the world in eighty days : Jules Verne

A classic by Jules Verne (1828-1905), Around the world in eighty days(1837) is a story of a level headed and determined londoner Phileas Fogg, who puts his entire wealth at stake in order to win a bet which he plays against his fellow men at the 'reform club' , one of the lesser know clubs in that era. He decides to travel around the world and return to london on the eightieth day, which was considered only theoratically possible in those days.This , he accomplishes with the help of his newly hired servant Passpartout, a frenchman, who later served a man friday for him.

The story begins with the description of Mr. Phileas Fogg, who had inherited enough wealth for the rest of his days, but was unknown in all social circles of the ninteenth centuary london except an insignificant reform club. Known for his knack for being highly punctual , his actions seem ideosyncratic and sometimes eccentric , for the way he measured the number of steps to his club, the time he woke, slept and took meals. This nature is further observed when he fires his servants, sometimes for serving him water at 79 degrees instead of 80 and sometimes being 1 minute late in serving dinner.Tired of less-than-perfect servants, he at last tries luck with a frenchman , Passpartout , who himself was looking forward for a master who didn't move , and who never knew that this was the day when he would take up the longest journey of his life.

The real story starts when someone at the reform club talks about the time taken to travel around the world from london to bombay , to Calcutta, to Hong kong, Yokohama to San fransisco , to New York to London again would only be 80 days. Everyone present bet that it was only impractical as even a one day delay in the plan would ruin it and that it had no provision for any mishaps ,storms or delays.God knows what went through his mind and he readily betted to his friends his wealth worth 20,000 pounds in lieu of taking up this journey and returning at the same reform club after exactly 80 days at the same time.

He leaves london the same evening with his newly hired servant ,aghast at his master's decision carrying the bare necessities and 20,000 pounds in cash.The same evening 20,000 pounds are stolen in cash from a london bank and a private detective Mr. Fix suspects it is Mr. Fogg, who is not very well known , has betted the same amount and has now left the country. He gets official permission and follows the duo in the ship to Bombay, on which his doubt is confirmed as Passpartout speaks out more than required.



Waiting for an arrest warrant, Fix tries to stop Mr.Fogg from leaving India , which happened to be a royal colony.Despite his attempts , he only finds failure as the Warrant does not reach India on time. The story then moves forward and Fogg rescues a girl Aouda, from being sacrificed in a ritual and takes her along to Calcutta. They then go to Hong Kong and Mr. Fix is in real fix, as it was the last english colony , beyond which it would not be possible to enforce the warrant.Till now , they were in time. But in their journey from Hong Kong to Yokohama , they miss the ship somehow and this way start losing time. The story then takes a turn and they reach America and take a train to New York , enroute which looters attack the train .Fogg as usual level headed, rescues Passpartout and it is also observed that there is a tinge of attraction between Aouda and Fogg, who were later destined to get married.

Finally when these three reach London, Fix gets them arrested , but Fogg is somehow able to bail out and reach london , but is only late by a few minutes of the 80th day. Depressed, they go to Fogg's residence and remain sealed inside, while london brewed with betting on whether Fogg would make it in time.

The climax is when contrary to what his clock indicated, Fogg realized that they had moved eastwards across the earth and in the process gained 1 day and that they had returned on the 79th day. Against his fellowmen's expectations he finally reaches the club on the destined time and wins the bet.!!Later he gets married to Aouda.

An amazing story, fast moving and full of surprises !!!
The book was available in WordsWorth Classics edition for Rs.75 at Daryaganj on a Sunday.