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Around the World in Eighty Days
Around the World in Eighty Days
Around the World in Eighty Days
Audiobook7 hours

Around the World in Eighty Days

Written by Jules Verne

Narrated by Michael Prichard

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

A fastidious English gentleman makes a remarkable wager: He will travel around the world in eighty days or forfeit his life's savings. Thus begins Jules Verne's classic novel-one that remains unsurpassed in sheer storytelling entertainment and pure adventure.

Phileas Fogg and his faithful manservant, Jean Passepartout, embark on a fantastic journey into a world filled with danger and beauty-from the exotic shores of India, where the heroic travelers rescue the beautiful wife of a rajah from ritual sacrifice, to the rugged American frontier, where their train is ambushed by an angry Sioux tribe. Fogg's mission is complicated by an incredible case of mistaken identity that sends a Scotland Yard detective in hot pursuit.

At once a riveting race against time and an action-packed odyssey into the unknown, Around the World in Eighty Days is a masterpiece of adventure fiction that has captured the imagination of generations of readers and continues to enthrall us today.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJan 26, 2009
ISBN9781400179060
Author

Jules Verne

Jules Gabriel Verne was born in the seaport of Nantes, France, in 1828 and was destined to follow his father into the legal profession. In Paris to train for the bar, he took more readily to literary life, befriending Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo, and living by theatre managing and libretto-writing. His first science-based novel, Five Weeks in a Balloon, was issued by the influential publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel in 1862, and made him famous. Verne and Hetzel collaborated to write dozens more such adventures, including 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in 1869 and Around the World in 80 Days in 1872. In later life Verne entered local politics at Amiens, where had had a home. He also kept a house in Paris, in the street now named Boulevard Jules Verne, and a beloved yacht, the Saint Michel, named after his son. He died in 1905.

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Reviews for Around the World in Eighty Days

Rating: 3.883720930232558 out of 5 stars
4/5

129 ratings107 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A wonderful adventure story. This story, much like many of Verne's others, captures the imagination and lets the reader simply enjoy a good story. Every story might have a little something to teach us, or a little bit of a moral, but the adventures of Phileas Fogg are, to me, nothing more than a darn good story. It reminds me of a time when I could read for pleasure without having to expect a conspiracy, or to discover some hidden truth. Verne tells a story that often includes all the latest in technological advances, as was his style, but he seems to have no other desire but to entertain. It is often hard to read a "classic" due to the tendancy for a "classic" to be rather dated. Thie piece by Verne, though perhaps dated just a bit, is a classic for the best reason: it entertains!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Ok boring at points
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I have no idea if I’ve read this before – I don’t think so, but it’s hard to tell since I’ve seen versions of the films enough times over the decades to know the story. Except, well, they’re not the story. I don’t think any of the movies I’ve seen – I can think of two, off the top of my head, one starring David Niven and the other Steve Coogan – are at all faithful to the book. Yes, Phineas Fogg accepts a challenge to travel around the world in eighty days. Yes, he thinks he’s failed, only to discover that by travelling east he has gained a day. Yes, he has adventures along the way, and even rescues a young woman who becomes his wife at the end of the book. But in the novel, he meets her in India, when he rescues her from suttee. And I don’t recall a Scotland Yard detective on Fogg’s trail for much of his travels – he believes Fogg stole £50,000 shortly before leaving London. And the final section, in which a desperate Fogg, Passepartout, Fix and Aouda race across the USA to catch a ship to Liverpool… the big set-piece is driving a train over a damaged bridge at high speed so the bridge doesn’t collapse under it. Much of the prose is larded with geography lessons, and while Verne’s didactism is one of the more charming aspects of his novels, here it seems overdone. True, I’m coming at the book more than a century later, as a member of a society considerably better-informed about world geography, and a highly-educated member of that society with an interest in other countries… So much of the exposition was superfluous as far as I was concerned. Further, Fogg’s characterisation as unemotional and po-faced hardly made him a sympathetic protagonist. Perhaps Verne intended this so the reader would indeed think Fogg was the bank robber, but it only made him feel like he had zero depth. Unfortunately, I’m not convinced, from what I remember, that the film adaptations are especially superior. The book is, I suspect, the best version of the story. Which is a bit of a shame.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a very suspenseful, exciting book! This was the first Verne book I've ever read, and he is very good at keeping readers gnawing on their nails at the edge of their seats. The story has humor sprinkled throughout it that had me laughing out loud. I loved it; I know I say this about nearly everything I read, but this truly was a wonderful book!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Although I like the premise--going around the world. However, it felt more like Verne portraying England as amazing and everywhere else...not. This includes showing barbaric rituals and getting into fights as soon as he sets foot on US soil.

    I think that might be the only thing I got out of this book: England rocks, English colonies, better than non English colonies but not as good as England itself...and America...really lame.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book was a tricky one to get my hands on. It was hiding in a box in my basement. Now its up in my room comfortably now that its been read. its was the story of an inventor from Britain, who teamed up with his faithful servant to circumnavigate the globe.I thought it was a great story line. Lots of change happens to the characters throughout the journey. THE BOOK IS MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH BETTER THAN THE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Having first read Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne, this one started out rather disappointing. Deciding to push through the rough beginning of the book, it proved to be gathering momentum. About halfway through, the book becomes less about character development and travel, and more about adventure. It was at this point which I started to enjoy the read, and found it very difficult to put down for the remainder. Though it started out slow, it had quite an unexpected and exciting finish, earning it my four stars. I would recommend this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I don't know why it took me so long to decide to read this. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were great and the story fast-paced. Phileas Fogg - so incredibly "English". Passpartout - comical and loyal. Fix - so terribly, pitifully wrong. Aouda - Exotic and charming. And, a surprise ending.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Not the best adaption in the world - large chunks of the journey are left out, but perfect for reading aloud in the car for kids.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Loved the audio for this - read by the wonderful Jim Dale. Such a great classic tale!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I listened to the Librivox recording by Mark Smith, which I found to be acceptable but not great. He did a fairly uninflected narration, so some folks may like it better than I did.As for the book itself, it was a cross between an adventure story and a travel book. It moved quite quickly from place to place, but it never really captured me. I also missed the humor that I recall from the movie version of this story...
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    It's Jules Verne. It's not fabulous - but it's not bad either. It was a fairly easy read. Nothing to rave about.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Entertaining and fast paced action story. An honest man that makes a bet and his butler companion find adventure, new friends and trouble along the way as they as they try to prove you can travel around the world in 80 days.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    FYI, I read this book using Daily Lit. The book was emailed to me in installments.This was a quick and fun read. Unlike many classics, Verne doesn't bother with fat language. The plot moves quickly, the characters are likeable, and the adventure is fun. Recommended.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A very fun Victorian adventure - with all the baggage that entails. It's a cliché, but I do wish that I had read this earlier or during a more stressful part of my life. As it was, I didn't really engage with it very well. While it was certainly well executed, I'm still kind of surprised that this one made it on to the 1001. Mostly because when I think of Jules Verne I think of science fiction and this is one of his least scientific works. Of course Verne himself spends this entire book praising the English when he was French. So nothing is quite what you expect.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is one of those classics that I should have read, but somehow managed to miss. Set in the 19th Century, it tells the tale of Phileas Fogg, an English gentleman who makes a bet that he can circumnavigate the world in only 80 days. 'Tis child's play in these days, but a major feat back then. Accompanied by his servant, Passepartout, and unknowingly pursued by one Detective Fix, Mr. Fogg makes his way around the globe. The question is, will he finish his journey in time? This one is one that has earned a place on my shelf.--J.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I adore this book. It is so delightful. How is it I have never read this book until now? How is it that Jules Verne was, until now, only an author mentioned in Back to the Future that I'd never read?
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Digital audiobook performed by Frederick Davidson One of the books in Verne’s series of “Extraordinary Voyages” begins when Phileas Fogg accepts a wager at his gentleman’s club. He’s certain that he will be able to circumnavigate the world in eighty days. Taking a significant amount of cash and his trusty servant Passepartout, and chased by Detective Fix who is certain Fogg is a bank robber, they set out on a grand adventure.I’d seen more than one movie adaptation but had never read the book until now. What a delight! (Although, of course, there are some racial stereotypes that grate on the modern reader’s sensibilities.)I marveled at how cool and collected – almost uninterested – Fogg remained throughout. He is never upset or even particularly inconvenienced. He moves with the certainty that he is correct in assuming that he can achieve this great task. Passepartout on the other hand is in a dither frequently, and he is a wonderful foil for Fogg … and for Detective Fix. Great fun!One quibble re cover art. SO many covers (as well as the movies) show the iconic hot-air balloon … which is NEVER used in the book! Frederick Davidson does a marvelous job narrating the audiobook. He sets a good pace and I loved the way he interpreted the characters. I was happy also to have a text copy available, which included a handful of full-color illustrations, as well as a small drawing of the mode of travel for each of the chapters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A literary standard if you want to judge a book by its enjoyment level as opposed to its "literary quality."
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    As I recall this book was a lot of fun! Oddly enough I have yet to see either of the movies, but the original Mike Todd one is "in my queue." Because of my lack of interest in "hard science fiction" it's the only Jules Verne book I've read, but it appears he was a good storyteller based on that.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Around the World in 80 Days is Jules Verne’s classic adventure story. One evening at the Reform Club, Phileas Fogg “impulsively” bets his companions £20,000 that he can travel around the entire globe in just eighty days. Breaking the very well-established routine of his daily life (one could say compulsive), the Fogg immediately sets off for Dover, accompanied by his servant Passepartout. Travelling by train, steamship, sailing boat, sledge and even elephant, they must overcome storms, kidnappings, natural disasters, Sioux attacks and the dogged Inspector Fix of Scotland Yard - who believes that Fogg has robbed the Bank of England - to win the wager. The story is simple and fun, though for the modern reader one may be surprised by the bias of the main character—particularly towards the natives of India. In addition I found that the main character for me was Passepartout—a wonderfully funny character—who in many ways really saves the day. But in the end we also see the growth of the character Fogg, who begins to see the importance of friendship and love above his usual concerns of reserve and punctuality. He is willing to lose his bet in order to personally help a friend, and he doesn’t care about defeat because he has won the hand of the woman he loves. I actually listened to the novel being read by Jim Dale (of Harry Potter fame)—which made this novel even more enjoyable. 4 ½ out of 5 stars.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Loved this classic! It was really fun!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    a great adventure story about one Englishman's journey around the world at a time when only train and ships were available as means of transport.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great fun to read, although the cover is incorrect (showing camels). Interesting to note because the Barnes and Noble book jackets talks about the "wrongness" of the balloon in the Fifties film version. Fast paced, full of action, and why did I not read it years ago!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I'm not a typical Classics fan but I try to read a few each year. I actually enjoyed this one but was a bit confused because all the covers and film adaptations have Phineas Fogg in a hot air balloon but I never got that during y reading of this story. I enjoyed seeing all the different geographical locations and how Fogg manage to somehow come right even at the end..
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Nook
    4 stars
    A wager to make a trip around the world in just 80 days starting from London. The journey takes advantage of several types of transportation. The author describes the people and the land but also math, science and new discoveries and inventions. It was fun to read this book written in the late 1800s. A very good adventure story and even a love story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A version of Around the World in 80 Days done as a French language textbook reader with English introduction and notes. Useful for someone like me who loves the story and has only moderate skill in French
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Essentially light-hearted tale about a trip taken on a wager. The translation conveyed or possibly enhanced the humour.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Good book, fun (if long...) movie. Will he make it? It's how it is actually done that makes it a hoot.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Phileas Fogg is that among that special breed of eccentric British men that were such a fixture of Victorian England. At his club he is challenged to race around the world in 80 days -- in an era where transportation was a scosh...unreliable. Accompanied by his incredibly resourceful servant Passepartout he accepts the challenge. The book chronicles his adventures. It's a remarkable journey full of action, suspense, and absurd comedy. And of course, that comical Vistorian xenophobia -- though doubtless it is more humorous for the reader than it was in international business relationships. Focused on his goal, and only his goal, Fogg does his level best to bring England with him, and not experience even a trace of other cultures. That alone is worth the price of admission.