After watching Around the World in 80 Days starring Jackie Chan with my children I thought it would be interesting to read the book. The book by Jules Verne is a whirlwind trip across the globe.
In this book Verne chronicles the journey of Phileas Fogg and his servant Passepartout across the world from London and back again. The story is entertaining even though it is outlandish at times.
When learning that Fogg is about to try and travel around the world in 80 days Passpartout “mechanically set about making the preparations for departure. Around the world in eighty days! Was his master a fool? No. Was this a joke, then? They were going to Dover; good! To Calais; good again!”
To add an element of complexity to the story Verne introduced the character of Mr. Fix who is a British Detective trying to arrest Fogg who has been described as a suspected bank robber.
The book does not provide much detail about Fogg at the beginning and I expected to learn more of his backstory as the book progressed but never really got the details I was hoping for. The interactions between Fogg and Aouda are also lacking. My favorite interactions were between Passpartout and Fix.
Overall the book missed an opportunity to allow the reader to connect with Fogg and his relationship with Aouda. The book was probably about 50 pages too short to build up the main characters in more depth. As a result it is just a quick whimsical read. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
“What about Roxane?” Alexander asked.
“Your prisoner bride?”
“Such disrespect is worthy of death!”
“There is no possible way that you could love her or that she could truly love you.”
“What gives you the insight to speak so assertively about matters you know nothing about?”
“Daughter of Oxyarthes, the man who surrendered the Iron Gates to you, makes for a very political marriage.”
“Continue,” said Alexander.
“At a feast celebrating your latest victory a number of young women were brought in for entertainment. You spotted one of them whose beauty far surpassed the others and you decided on the spot to marry her once you learned she was the daughter of Oxyarthes. You needed to cement a strong relationship with the local leaders. What better way to do this than through marriage? You didn’t share a common language and never even spoke to each other beforehand. She never was given a choice. So she is your prisoner bride.”
“You have a vague outline of the past. I suppose it is remarkable that you have as much ...