Chronicles the adventures of English gentleman Phileas Fogg and his manservant, Passepartout, on their journey around the world in the late-nineteenth-century.

- Voyages around the world; Fiction.
- Adventure and adventurers; Fiction.

In 1872, Phineas Fogg bets his friends at the Reform Club in London that, given the advances in transportation, he can travel around the world in 80 days or less. He is so confident of success that he bets his entire fortune. Will Phineas Fogg be able to achieve this unheard of feat? What adventures will he encounter along the way?

Jules Verne, a master of exciting plot and intricate, scientifically factual detail is one of my favorite authors. In Around the World in 80 Days, Verne treats the reader to an adventure, a travelogue, and a bit of mystery (could Phineas Fogg really be the criminal that Inspector Fix thinks he is?). Part of the appeal of the book is the fact that the character of Phineas Fogg with his unflappable personality and precise habits is such an improbable candidate for a race around the world. Yet, it is these very traits that make him such an interesting (and very English) protagonist. This book reflects the optimism and firm belief in progress of the Victorian period in English history. It is, in part, the British Empire's long reach that makes the trip possible at all, for the travelers are dependent upon the time savings made possible by the Suez Canal, the Indian Railroad, and the Transcontinental Railroad in America. Many people seem to have seen and enjoyed the movie based on this book. As is often the case, the movie is good, but the book is even better.

1. Research the International Date Line and the Prime Meridian. What happens when one crosses the International Date Line going from East to West? From West to East? What is the significance of the Prime Meridian? 2. What parts of the world were part of the British Empire in 1872? What effect did being part of the British Empire have on these areas?