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Around the World in Eighty Days / Five Weeks in a Balloon
This edition contains two of the most famous stories by 'The Father of Science Fiction' - Jules Verne.
Around the World in 80 Days is a romantic tale recounting the adventurous travels of the hero, the Englishman Phileas Fogg, and his French valet, Passepartout. Fogg takes on a bet at his London club that he can circle the world in 80 days and there follows a series of fantastic adventures for the loyal servant and his resourceful and inventive master.
Five Weeks in a Balloon vividly describes the adventures of an English scientist and his two companions as they cross Africa by balloon.
Around the World in 80 Days is a romantic tale recounting the adventurous travels of the hero, the Englishman Phileas Fogg, and his French valet, Passepartout. Fogg takes on a bet at his London club that he can circle the world in 80 days and there follows a series of fantastic adventures for the loyal servant and his resourceful and inventive master.
Five Weeks in a Balloon vividly describes the adventures of an English scientist and his two companions as they cross Africa by balloon.
337 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1873
64 people are currently reading
1934 people want to read
About the author
Jules Verne
6,081 books11.9k followersNovels of French writer Jules Gabriel Verne, considered the founder of modern science fiction, include
Journey to the Center of the Earth
(1864) and
Around the World in Eighty Days
(1873).
This author who pioneered the genre. People best know him for Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870).
Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before people invented navigable aircraft and practical submarines and devised any means of spacecraft. He ranks behind Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie as the second most translated author of all time. People made his prominent films. People often refer to Verne alongside Herbert George Wells as the "father of science fiction."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_V...
This author who pioneered the genre. People best know him for Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870).
Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before people invented navigable aircraft and practical submarines and devised any means of spacecraft. He ranks behind Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie as the second most translated author of all time. People made his prominent films. People often refer to Verne alongside Herbert George Wells as the "father of science fiction."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_V...
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November 22, 2020I like the scene when their in a rush, so they cassualy run over 2 dogs
May 19, 2020
Before starting the book, I knew what it was about and may be that is why I wanted to read it just to check it off my list.
However within the first 50 pages, I was so glued to this adventure book that it reminded me of the adventure stories I used to read during my school. I managed to finish it flat in 5 days. the best part for me was looking at the world of the 19th century through the eyes of a colonial power. Needless to say there were stereotypes but that was the fun.
However within the first 50 pages, I was so glued to this adventure book that it reminded me of the adventure stories I used to read during my school. I managed to finish it flat in 5 days. the best part for me was looking at the world of the 19th century through the eyes of a colonial power. Needless to say there were stereotypes but that was the fun.
January 28, 2011
These are a couple of my favourite Jules Verne adventures, both surrounding some extraordinary travel.....
October 9, 2012
AT THE BEGINNING:
Saw the Mike Todd movie AGAIN last week with a perfectly cast David Niven as Phileas Fogg
and the ever effervescent Mexican actor Cantinflas as Passepartout.
And realised I had always avoided the book like the Plague.
"Well, why shouldn't the book be as delightful as the film ?" I asked myself in a revelatory moment. "Well, WHY NOT???" Why not go get IT??
After my final session on my root canal therapy this morning at the dentist, I wandered off in the mall to find the tables of books and the SOLITARY volume complete with Hot Air Balloon on the cover.WUNDERBAR!!!
Dying to find out the FLAVOUR of Verne's text, I made the astounding discovery that the author had a Sense of Humour. Having, when quite young, read "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea", which I didn't find humorous AT ALL, (although I don't think I would have grasped its gentle flavour then), it was really the VERY LAST thing I expected.
It was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!!!!!
However reading Goodreads Reviews I was ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED to learn there is NO BALLOON. (MON DIEU and DAMN Mike TODD !!!)
However style can compensate HUGELY for a minor Plot Failing, although I am promised lots of Colonial Condescension, Racial Revulsion and all that Politically Incorrect Stuff. Quel Dommage!!Will Style alone suffice????
POST READ:
Style was only part of the pleasure.
I quote,as example, a morsel of said pleasure:
(This is in regard to Phileas Fogg's indifference to the customs, history and organisation of every country he passes through)
"Phileas Fogg had no desire for information.He was not travelling, he was merely describing a circumference. He was a solid body moving through an orbit around the terrestrial globe, in obedience to the laws of rational mechanics."
Passepartout, Fogg's adventurous and loyal servant is, on the other hand, captured by indians, set upon by priests for unwittingly defiling their temple, arrested, hired to work as an acrobat in Japan, drugged,
and rescues a woman from being burnt alive ...well, to put it mildly, he gets involved.
Some critics see this 'lack' of character or character development as stereotyping.How much does YOUR character develop over 80 days generally? How often have you psychoanalysed deeply those around you?
It's the stuff of books that writers seem bent on justifying every flicker of eyelid, run of runny nose, smirk or sneeze with a barrage of psychological justification. Fogg falls in love: Passepartout develops a fierce love and dedication for his master;Fogg exhibits inflexible courage, devotion and generosity which we would never have expected.
There are surprises of character and character development as there are in real life with no labouring the point. No one delivers a thesis of justification. Except novelists...but we want and expect that.
In books. No??? Yes!!!Alas!!!
What does come as a surprise is that this book is one of 64 titles in
Jules Verne's life long job which was to write two stories a year under the title "Les Voyages Extraordinaires"....for CHILDREN !!!!
Hence "Journey to the Centre of the Earth"!!!
And the deal came about when he delivered up his first book, which just happened to be about a journey,"Five Weeks in a Balloon".
Set for life and a good,regular income, Verne set out to enjoy his life...and did.
My worry is...how beyond children today is the vocabulary and syntax of
this book. How and why have our children become so dumbed down?
As for any disapproval re matters such as Passpartout referring to some local inhabitants as "savage barbarians", well, he was a man of his time and we can expect no less. He is IN character.
As for Jules Verne... Joseph Conrad, has been accused of racism on Goodreads, when the racism is practised by one of his characters.
On that note I say:"Bon Voyage!!!"
With apologies to Mike Todd ...he, making a film rather than writing a book, dealing with the visual,introduced the balloon to take advantage of magnificent views of France From the Air.
Who but the most fastidious wretch could quibble with that!!??!!
Saw the Mike Todd movie AGAIN last week with a perfectly cast David Niven as Phileas Fogg
and the ever effervescent Mexican actor Cantinflas as Passepartout.
And realised I had always avoided the book like the Plague.
"Well, why shouldn't the book be as delightful as the film ?" I asked myself in a revelatory moment. "Well, WHY NOT???" Why not go get IT??
After my final session on my root canal therapy this morning at the dentist, I wandered off in the mall to find the tables of books and the SOLITARY volume complete with Hot Air Balloon on the cover.WUNDERBAR!!!
Dying to find out the FLAVOUR of Verne's text, I made the astounding discovery that the author had a Sense of Humour. Having, when quite young, read "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea", which I didn't find humorous AT ALL, (although I don't think I would have grasped its gentle flavour then), it was really the VERY LAST thing I expected.
It was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!!!!!
However reading Goodreads Reviews I was ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED to learn there is NO BALLOON. (MON DIEU and DAMN Mike TODD !!!)
However style can compensate HUGELY for a minor Plot Failing, although I am promised lots of Colonial Condescension, Racial Revulsion and all that Politically Incorrect Stuff. Quel Dommage!!Will Style alone suffice????
POST READ:
Style was only part of the pleasure.
I quote,as example, a morsel of said pleasure:
(This is in regard to Phileas Fogg's indifference to the customs, history and organisation of every country he passes through)
"Phileas Fogg had no desire for information.He was not travelling, he was merely describing a circumference. He was a solid body moving through an orbit around the terrestrial globe, in obedience to the laws of rational mechanics."
Passepartout, Fogg's adventurous and loyal servant is, on the other hand, captured by indians, set upon by priests for unwittingly defiling their temple, arrested, hired to work as an acrobat in Japan, drugged,
and rescues a woman from being burnt alive ...well, to put it mildly, he gets involved.
Some critics see this 'lack' of character or character development as stereotyping.How much does YOUR character develop over 80 days generally? How often have you psychoanalysed deeply those around you?
It's the stuff of books that writers seem bent on justifying every flicker of eyelid, run of runny nose, smirk or sneeze with a barrage of psychological justification. Fogg falls in love: Passepartout develops a fierce love and dedication for his master;Fogg exhibits inflexible courage, devotion and generosity which we would never have expected.
There are surprises of character and character development as there are in real life with no labouring the point. No one delivers a thesis of justification. Except novelists...but we want and expect that.
In books. No??? Yes!!!Alas!!!
What does come as a surprise is that this book is one of 64 titles in
Jules Verne's life long job which was to write two stories a year under the title "Les Voyages Extraordinaires"....for CHILDREN !!!!
Hence "Journey to the Centre of the Earth"!!!
And the deal came about when he delivered up his first book, which just happened to be about a journey,"Five Weeks in a Balloon".
Set for life and a good,regular income, Verne set out to enjoy his life...and did.
My worry is...how beyond children today is the vocabulary and syntax of
this book. How and why have our children become so dumbed down?
As for any disapproval re matters such as Passpartout referring to some local inhabitants as "savage barbarians", well, he was a man of his time and we can expect no less. He is IN character.
As for Jules Verne... Joseph Conrad, has been accused of racism on Goodreads, when the racism is practised by one of his characters.
On that note I say:"Bon Voyage!!!"
With apologies to Mike Todd ...he, making a film rather than writing a book, dealing with the visual,introduced the balloon to take advantage of magnificent views of France From the Air.
Who but the most fastidious wretch could quibble with that!!??!!
September 3, 2023
There is nothing to be gained by touring around the world unless it brings happiness
October 9, 2025
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
The idea is still fascinating, even today. Not in the original sense, of beating a record, establishing a new bar for traveling fast.
That is not the point in the world of fast jests of today, even if at the time of the story, it was considered impossible.
Traveling around the world is in itself enticing and so many people take cruises which, if not around the globe, do sail half way around. Seeing so many places and communicating across so many cultures has an undeniable appeal.
Within limits in my case. I did not take a trip to Egypt very well, so I am cautious in going about in Sudan, Somalia and other such extreme places. I am satisfied with watching Michael Palin and his younger colleagues from the BBC explore the limits of the Earth.
There is a way to travel, in Eighty days or more to the remotest parts, if you do it in the style displayed in A Travel Channel program “Traveling in luxury with Shama”or something like that.
We can see there the most exquisite hotels in New Zeeland, Central America…everywhere. Staying in those places and eating that food would be sensational no matter where it would be: Papua New Guinea, Sumatra…wherever.
When I have read Around the World I wanted to be in the shoes of Phileas Fogg and I remember watching –perhaps two? - Big screen adaptations of this popular tale.
One was so packed with stars that you couldn’t help wondering:
- How did they manage to put them all together in one film?
But contracts are different now: a star has a tremendous power and a fabulous paycheck, which may not be all for the better.
On the other hand, in the old days, the studios had such power over the film “talent” that it looked like slavery.
The costs of making a big production movie, even if adjusted with the inflation rate, were much lower than the exorbitant hundreds of millions of dollars paid for a major movie today.
There is absolutely no chance to see a production of Around the World In Eighty Days with even five major stars in it. If they are all in the range of twenty million dollars per movie, it is already past the hundred million mark. Add special effects and the rest and it needs to be a blockbuster to make any money.
The studios are betting on sequels like Spiderman IV or returns, perhaps Spiderman vs. Batman- in order to make sure that there is a maximum chance of recuperating huge investments or bets; however you want to call them.
This is not to say that A Journey Around the World would necessarily be fun to watch. I have seen something similar, a couple of years ago, with major, talented (if not in this particular production) actors: The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman- who to stay on top of the pyramids and elsewhere on the globe, but still make a lousy movie, one of the worst I have seen.
Instead of writing memories about reading Around The World, I wish I was traveling around the world- especially the Caribbean, Maldives, Bahamas, Bali, etc
https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...
The idea is still fascinating, even today. Not in the original sense, of beating a record, establishing a new bar for traveling fast.
That is not the point in the world of fast jests of today, even if at the time of the story, it was considered impossible.
Traveling around the world is in itself enticing and so many people take cruises which, if not around the globe, do sail half way around. Seeing so many places and communicating across so many cultures has an undeniable appeal.
Within limits in my case. I did not take a trip to Egypt very well, so I am cautious in going about in Sudan, Somalia and other such extreme places. I am satisfied with watching Michael Palin and his younger colleagues from the BBC explore the limits of the Earth.
There is a way to travel, in Eighty days or more to the remotest parts, if you do it in the style displayed in A Travel Channel program “Traveling in luxury with Shama”or something like that.
We can see there the most exquisite hotels in New Zeeland, Central America…everywhere. Staying in those places and eating that food would be sensational no matter where it would be: Papua New Guinea, Sumatra…wherever.
When I have read Around the World I wanted to be in the shoes of Phileas Fogg and I remember watching –perhaps two? - Big screen adaptations of this popular tale.
One was so packed with stars that you couldn’t help wondering:
- How did they manage to put them all together in one film?
But contracts are different now: a star has a tremendous power and a fabulous paycheck, which may not be all for the better.
On the other hand, in the old days, the studios had such power over the film “talent” that it looked like slavery.
The costs of making a big production movie, even if adjusted with the inflation rate, were much lower than the exorbitant hundreds of millions of dollars paid for a major movie today.
There is absolutely no chance to see a production of Around the World In Eighty Days with even five major stars in it. If they are all in the range of twenty million dollars per movie, it is already past the hundred million mark. Add special effects and the rest and it needs to be a blockbuster to make any money.
The studios are betting on sequels like Spiderman IV or returns, perhaps Spiderman vs. Batman- in order to make sure that there is a maximum chance of recuperating huge investments or bets; however you want to call them.
This is not to say that A Journey Around the World would necessarily be fun to watch. I have seen something similar, a couple of years ago, with major, talented (if not in this particular production) actors: The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman- who to stay on top of the pyramids and elsewhere on the globe, but still make a lousy movie, one of the worst I have seen.
Instead of writing memories about reading Around The World, I wish I was traveling around the world- especially the Caribbean, Maldives, Bahamas, Bali, etc
https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...
December 31, 2019
It’s been assigned by literature teachers everywhere, adapted into movies, mini-series, and musicals, and has certainly inspired travelers—Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne was written in 1873 and continues to encourage adventurers all over the world.
While it seems silly now since our world is full of high-speed affordable air travel (well, the affordable part can be argued), back then, the idea of traveling around the world in 80 days was ridiculous—worthy of a £20,000 bet (equal to well over one million pounds—or two million dollars—today). Phileas Fogg, an exacting rich single English gentleman, takes on this bet and hastily sets out on an adventure accompanied by his manservant, Jean Passepartout, a Frenchman who serves as the comic relief in the story.
If you’re looking for a thrilling easy-to-read story that is full of adventure, fun, and exotic destinations, this is a good choice. It is a classic for adventurers and literati alike, but, do keep in mind the book was written in the late 1800’s—the language can sometimes be challenging and the views of different cultures are occasionally disparaging.
While it seems silly now since our world is full of high-speed affordable air travel (well, the affordable part can be argued), back then, the idea of traveling around the world in 80 days was ridiculous—worthy of a £20,000 bet (equal to well over one million pounds—or two million dollars—today). Phileas Fogg, an exacting rich single English gentleman, takes on this bet and hastily sets out on an adventure accompanied by his manservant, Jean Passepartout, a Frenchman who serves as the comic relief in the story.
If you’re looking for a thrilling easy-to-read story that is full of adventure, fun, and exotic destinations, this is a good choice. It is a classic for adventurers and literati alike, but, do keep in mind the book was written in the late 1800’s—the language can sometimes be challenging and the views of different cultures are occasionally disparaging.
November 2, 2023
Despite some very outdated ideas and language, these are pretty fun adventure novels. Around the World in Eighty Days in particular has a fun few tricks up its sleeve. At this point, having read the majority of Verne’s well known works, it’s easy to find myself a little weary of the rather unchanging cast of characters he tends to rely on for his tales, but they’re still charming nevertheless.
April 2, 2024
Passepartout and Joe are far and away my favourite characters in these stories the rest of them are fine but you can’t help but adore the hapless assistants.
It took a little while to build into the 5 weeks in a balloon, and also they shot an elephant FOR NO REASON which has made me very angry because it was SO UNNECESSARY.
It took a little while to build into the 5 weeks in a balloon, and also they shot an elephant FOR NO REASON which has made me very angry because it was SO UNNECESSARY.
August 19, 2017
Review to follow.
March 20, 2020
Muy entretenido!!!!
January 17, 2018
Launching into the new year with a classic......with the play to see next week.
Also recently saw the movie, not THE movie but the one by Jackie Chen which was HILARIOUS 😂!
15 Jan: The local play with five actors portraying 42 characters was very creative. Five stars.
The second half of the book was better than the beginning. I was glad to have picked this up.
Also recently saw the movie, not THE movie but the one by Jackie Chen which was HILARIOUS 😂!
15 Jan: The local play with five actors portraying 42 characters was very creative. Five stars.
The second half of the book was better than the beginning. I was glad to have picked this up.
December 17, 2023
This edition contains two of Verne’s famous adventure stories. They demonstrate his creative imagination, his ability to make these adventures seem both exciting and convincing, and his rather straightforward style that is used to make his works seem like truth rather than fiction. There is an adherence to geographical and technological facts that seem very modern. The downside of the style is that there are few literary descriptions or uses of imagery, so the reader must apply their own imagination to really appreciate the intensity of the books.
Around the World in 80 Days This is the better book in my opinion and has spawned many films and TV series. The opposing characters of Fogg and Passepartout add interest to the breathtaking chase around the world. I particularly enjoyed the trip by rail across the US, complete with ranting Mormon and herds of bison on the line.
Five Weeks in a Balloon This is a trip across Africa in a hydrogen balloon. It is Verne’s first novel so at times is a little dry and wordy, with history and geography lessons thrown around, but the relationship between the three adventurers and the spirit of adventure they demonstrate are impressive and memorable.
Around the World in 80 Days This is the better book in my opinion and has spawned many films and TV series. The opposing characters of Fogg and Passepartout add interest to the breathtaking chase around the world. I particularly enjoyed the trip by rail across the US, complete with ranting Mormon and herds of bison on the line.
Five Weeks in a Balloon This is a trip across Africa in a hydrogen balloon. It is Verne’s first novel so at times is a little dry and wordy, with history and geography lessons thrown around, but the relationship between the three adventurers and the spirit of adventure they demonstrate are impressive and memorable.
August 16, 2019
I had different expectations regarding the "Around the World in Eighty Days". Although it had a solid start, full of adventurous spirit and enthusiasm about travelling around the world, two main issues I encountered was that significant parts of the journey were completely skipped. For example, the first chapter after the one about departing London was in Suez in Egypt, completely skipping Europe. The second issue is that there were many last second lucky coincidences that seemed extremely unlikely. So, I rate Eighty Days 3 stars.
"Five Weeks in a Balloon" I found to be on a more serious note, maybe not as appropriate to children as "Eighty Days". The start wasn't great, having an abrupt introduction to the main character. Later however, the story did have more action going on, and the story ended packed with it. Some readers who are animal lovers will surely dislike the (mis)treatment of wild animals, with some brutal descriptions that I personally did not like. All in all, I would rate this story between 3 and 3.5 stars.
I don't think I will read Jules Verne again soon.
"Five Weeks in a Balloon" I found to be on a more serious note, maybe not as appropriate to children as "Eighty Days". The start wasn't great, having an abrupt introduction to the main character. Later however, the story did have more action going on, and the story ended packed with it. Some readers who are animal lovers will surely dislike the (mis)treatment of wild animals, with some brutal descriptions that I personally did not like. All in all, I would rate this story between 3 and 3.5 stars.
I don't think I will read Jules Verne again soon.
April 8, 2009
This is one of those stories that I can’t believe I had never read before. I have heard of it all my life, but I hadn’t so much as seen it as a movie (Amazon lists no less than five different versions) before this week. It’s a short read, no more than a few hours, but it is a fun story!
The setting is London, 1872. While discussing a robbery that had recently taken place at the Bank of England, a group of English gentlemen begin to wager on how long it would take a man to travel completely around the world. Mr. Phileas Fogg, our unflappable protagonist, maintains that it could be done in eighty days. The other gentlemen disagree, and a wager of twenty thousand pounds ensues. Phileas Fogg, convinced of his ability to perform this feat, leaves that very night with his manservant, Passepartout, on a journey that will take them to France, Egypt, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and…I won’t spoil it for you. As every story needs an antagonist, Phileas Fogg is persued on his journey by a detective from England who believes that it was Mr. Fogg who committed the Bank of England robbery and is using the wager as a ruse to escape. Along the way they all meet a little adventure and more than enough challenges to make meeting their deadline seem an impossible task.
The characters that Jules Verne has created are memorable. As I read it, I couldn’t help but see why there have been so many film adaptations. This is a story that has so much going for it that would translate to film very well. Phileas Fogg is completely imperturbable, even in the face of every sort of delay faced on four continents. Would anything phase him? The poor manservant, Passepartout, was so easy to picture in all of his mishaps…I really need to see a movie version of this! Maybe it was because I had recently finished reading Les Misérables that I couldn’t help but picture the detective, Mr. Fix, as a sort of comical, almost slapstick, Javert. Both Verne and Victor Hugo were French writers and had, at least for a short time, the same publisher, so maybe Verne had Javert in mind…who knows? :D
Before I began this book, I read several reviews on Amazon and here on Goodreads and saw many complaints that the book was racist. Ironically, in the class I’m taking right now we are studying identity, culture and conflict, so this was an interesting read to go along with it. The book, written in 1873, does have a bit of Western European ethnocentricity. Throughout the book, it is fairly obvious that Passepartout considers non-Europeans as being beneath him. When speaking of the native inhabitants of an island off the coast of India, he refers to them as “savage aboriginies.” The disparaging remarks are not limited to Asians. While riding the train across the central U.S., the watchman stops the train when they approach a unstable bridge over a particularly dangerous area of river. Hearing the warning, Passepartout states, “The watchman’s assertion that the train could not get over this bridge was therefore no exaggeration. Moreover, it is safe to say that, when Americans, so casual as a rule, show signs of caution, it would be the height of folly not to be cautious, too.” There was one passage in which a Mormon missionary preaches a sermon on the train where Passepartout is said to have “fled, leaving the fanatic to rant in the desert.” Certainly by today’s standards, these passages would be considered at the very least insensitive. I won’t, though, judge an otherwise enjoyable book written nearly 150 years ago by the standards of today. I have certainly read and seen things much more racist and much more offensive that were created recently. I think books like this one give us a window into a past from which we can learn how far we’ve come and how far we still can go.
The setting is London, 1872. While discussing a robbery that had recently taken place at the Bank of England, a group of English gentlemen begin to wager on how long it would take a man to travel completely around the world. Mr. Phileas Fogg, our unflappable protagonist, maintains that it could be done in eighty days. The other gentlemen disagree, and a wager of twenty thousand pounds ensues. Phileas Fogg, convinced of his ability to perform this feat, leaves that very night with his manservant, Passepartout, on a journey that will take them to France, Egypt, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and…I won’t spoil it for you. As every story needs an antagonist, Phileas Fogg is persued on his journey by a detective from England who believes that it was Mr. Fogg who committed the Bank of England robbery and is using the wager as a ruse to escape. Along the way they all meet a little adventure and more than enough challenges to make meeting their deadline seem an impossible task.
The characters that Jules Verne has created are memorable. As I read it, I couldn’t help but see why there have been so many film adaptations. This is a story that has so much going for it that would translate to film very well. Phileas Fogg is completely imperturbable, even in the face of every sort of delay faced on four continents. Would anything phase him? The poor manservant, Passepartout, was so easy to picture in all of his mishaps…I really need to see a movie version of this! Maybe it was because I had recently finished reading Les Misérables that I couldn’t help but picture the detective, Mr. Fix, as a sort of comical, almost slapstick, Javert. Both Verne and Victor Hugo were French writers and had, at least for a short time, the same publisher, so maybe Verne had Javert in mind…who knows? :D
Before I began this book, I read several reviews on Amazon and here on Goodreads and saw many complaints that the book was racist. Ironically, in the class I’m taking right now we are studying identity, culture and conflict, so this was an interesting read to go along with it. The book, written in 1873, does have a bit of Western European ethnocentricity. Throughout the book, it is fairly obvious that Passepartout considers non-Europeans as being beneath him. When speaking of the native inhabitants of an island off the coast of India, he refers to them as “savage aboriginies.” The disparaging remarks are not limited to Asians. While riding the train across the central U.S., the watchman stops the train when they approach a unstable bridge over a particularly dangerous area of river. Hearing the warning, Passepartout states, “The watchman’s assertion that the train could not get over this bridge was therefore no exaggeration. Moreover, it is safe to say that, when Americans, so casual as a rule, show signs of caution, it would be the height of folly not to be cautious, too.” There was one passage in which a Mormon missionary preaches a sermon on the train where Passepartout is said to have “fled, leaving the fanatic to rant in the desert.” Certainly by today’s standards, these passages would be considered at the very least insensitive. I won’t, though, judge an otherwise enjoyable book written nearly 150 years ago by the standards of today. I have certainly read and seen things much more racist and much more offensive that were created recently. I think books like this one give us a window into a past from which we can learn how far we’ve come and how far we still can go.
May 15, 2023
If I could rate this book 3.5 I would. So far I have just read Around the World in Eighty Days. My feelings are quite mixed. I found it slow to get started, and I wasn't sure I could endure it. It took 3 chapters for anything to really happen. The pacing was quite inconsistent so there were periods where it was tough going through long descriptions and bland happenings, but also more exciting times with action and interest.
When I realised that the journey and the sights along the way were part of the story, and not just backdrop, this changed my perception and enjoyment for the better. At the time it was written, the world was a more mysterious, exotic and exciting place. As was the newfangled steam technology in ships and trains. So the story takes the reader around the world in 80 days, and that is its main purpose. The plot is more of a framing device for the journey, rather than the journey being the backdrop to the plot. I like how each place has a mini story that plays into the culture (or at least the stereotypes) of the place in which it occurs. The means of conveyance are also varied and show how people lived back then in an interesting way. It's a cool little portal back to a specific period of time, and shows you how people lived and travelled all around the world.
The plot was a bit intriguing, especially towards the end. I came up with a few theories on how it would end, and one of them (devised right at the end) was right, which felt rewarding but also a little underwhelming, probably because the reasoning was somewhat familiar to me as someone who deals with time and date differences on an almost daily basis (which was not the case for people back then).
The characters were flat, and were given hardly any dialogue to develop rapport. The opaqueness of Fogg (aptly named) was necessary for the intrigue of the plot, but left us with a protagonist who was uninteresting and unknowable, and therefore it was hard to root for or against him. Passepartout was a little more complex but was basically just agitated the whole time. Aouda barely said a word and was said to be unaware of her own feelings, so we weren't let in on her inner journey either. Fix as the antagonist was of course unlikeable but also barely a character.
If the characters were more developed, and there was more consistent pacing (with fewer lists and details), and if I had gone into it thinking "the journey is the point - not the plot", then I would have enjoyed it more. I wish I had at least had that understanding from the outset. I guess if I reread it down the track I might remember that and enjoy it more!
When I realised that the journey and the sights along the way were part of the story, and not just backdrop, this changed my perception and enjoyment for the better. At the time it was written, the world was a more mysterious, exotic and exciting place. As was the newfangled steam technology in ships and trains. So the story takes the reader around the world in 80 days, and that is its main purpose. The plot is more of a framing device for the journey, rather than the journey being the backdrop to the plot. I like how each place has a mini story that plays into the culture (or at least the stereotypes) of the place in which it occurs. The means of conveyance are also varied and show how people lived back then in an interesting way. It's a cool little portal back to a specific period of time, and shows you how people lived and travelled all around the world.
The plot was a bit intriguing, especially towards the end. I came up with a few theories on how it would end, and one of them (devised right at the end) was right, which felt rewarding but also a little underwhelming, probably because the reasoning was somewhat familiar to me as someone who deals with time and date differences on an almost daily basis (which was not the case for people back then).
The characters were flat, and were given hardly any dialogue to develop rapport. The opaqueness of Fogg (aptly named) was necessary for the intrigue of the plot, but left us with a protagonist who was uninteresting and unknowable, and therefore it was hard to root for or against him. Passepartout was a little more complex but was basically just agitated the whole time. Aouda barely said a word and was said to be unaware of her own feelings, so we weren't let in on her inner journey either. Fix as the antagonist was of course unlikeable but also barely a character.
If the characters were more developed, and there was more consistent pacing (with fewer lists and details), and if I had gone into it thinking "the journey is the point - not the plot", then I would have enjoyed it more. I wish I had at least had that understanding from the outset. I guess if I reread it down the track I might remember that and enjoy it more!
August 5, 2017
My thoughts after I finished Around the World in 80 Days:
1. I aspire to be as calm as Phileas Fogg.
2. As a backpacker who has spent a night at a train station, I envy his money. Well, money do buy everything, so spend it for things and ppl you love, instead of just endlessly, greedily accumulate it.
3. Fogg's sensibility really takes him places. Paired with Passepartout, they make a dynamic duo. I love how they try to understand, instead of fear or try to conquest what is foreign, how they try to respect local custom, how they weigh the cultural relativism vs. universal rights issue that's kinda apparent in this book. Truly they are explorer, not conqueror. That sort of mindset, combined with a good deal of money, really take you places.
My thoughts after finishing Five Weeks in a Balloon:
1. Wow, the formula is too striking to ignore.
2. Ugh, booooring.
3. I understand why many people categorize classics based on "intriguing characters" and "splendid plot." Jules Verne's novels happen to be the second.
1. I aspire to be as calm as Phileas Fogg.
2. As a backpacker who has spent a night at a train station, I envy his money. Well, money do buy everything, so spend it for things and ppl you love, instead of just endlessly, greedily accumulate it.
3. Fogg's sensibility really takes him places. Paired with Passepartout, they make a dynamic duo. I love how they try to understand, instead of fear or try to conquest what is foreign, how they try to respect local custom, how they weigh the cultural relativism vs. universal rights issue that's kinda apparent in this book. Truly they are explorer, not conqueror. That sort of mindset, combined with a good deal of money, really take you places.
My thoughts after finishing Five Weeks in a Balloon:
1. Wow, the formula is too striking to ignore.
2. Ugh, booooring.
3. I understand why many people categorize classics based on "intriguing characters" and "splendid plot." Jules Verne's novels happen to be the second.
Read
October 7, 2018I am proud to say that I read this book only after having read that it was in Samuel Beckett's list of top favorite novels. Still figuring out that connection, and still loving the book, if for no other reason, the preposterous nature of the journey, and the admirable can-do of Phileas Fogg.
Also, the romp across the US is a bona fide hoot.
Also, the romp across the US is a bona fide hoot.
July 25, 2017
A swashbuckling adventure! It contains two novels in one book for a really cheap price. Definitely worth checking out if you are into fantasy-themed stories.
January 17, 2022
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to read this book. The Spanish Willy Fog cartoon was a firm favourite when I was younger. I still remember the theme tune. https://youtu.be/OwUOpjvha8M
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It’s fast paced and fun, I wasn’t expecting it to be so witty but it is.
I really liked Phileas Fogg. He’s principled and honest, quiet, likes reading in comfort, appreciates routine, organised. Fogg is a man who would love a spreadsheet. Of course I liked him.
Passepartout is a loveable fool. He would be incredibly infuriating to live with but he’s very entertaining to read about. It amused me that the French character is really the main character. The circus scene was fun, even though it was predictable, Passepartout at the bottom of the human pyramid was never going to end well. Bless him leaving the gas on.
I do wish Aouda had a bigger part. She’s the only female character in the book and there are none at all in ‘5 weeks’. Verne’s characters are stereotypes.
Fix is a typical comedic baddie. He was great. The scene where he gets Passepartout drunk and then forces him to take opium did feel like a step too far.
The ‘twist’ at the end is clever and engaging. It made me smile.
Off to watch the current BBC adaptation starring David Tenant. I shall irritate my boyfriend a lot by repeatedly saying ‘that’s not what happens in the book.’
FIVE WEEKS IN A BALLOON BY JULES VERNE
I have never heard of this book before. The ‘science’ was a bit tedious and I skimmed over those parts. Likewise with the geography. There’s actually only a handful of action adventure scenes which is unfortunate. Verne seems to have focused a bit too intently on the ‘practicalities’ of building and flying the balloon which is a lot less interesting today than it would have been in 1863. It’s certainly an intelligently written book.
Dr Samuel Ferguson is the main character, I liked him even though he was a bit dull.
“Thus the eyes of everyone, convinced or sceptical, ignorant or wise, were fixed upon the Doctor who became the lion of the day though unconscious of his mane.”
Perhaps he should have been aware of part of his mane!
Dick Kennedy the hunter was never going to be a favourite of mine but the scene with the elephant was just horrendous. His blood thirsty attitude was sickening. I was pleased that the balloon often put him out of reach of his quarry.
Joe the valet was probably the most likeable character, the audiobook gives him a strong cockney accent which was good. His racist remarks and desire to eat hippopotamuses meant I wasn’t a fan even after his heroic sacrifice (jumping from the balloon to save the others).
It’s a shame that these two books have been published together. I really enjoyed ‘Around the world in 80 days’. The second book ‘Five weeks in a balloon’ was awful and I really had to force my way through it.
It’s difficult to read books set and written during colonialism. The white western superiority, cruelty and arrogance is more apparent in ‘5 weeks’ than ‘80 days’.
I will be reading more of Jules Verne’s books, I’ve already got ‘Journey to the centre of the earth’ on my shelf waiting for me.
I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to read this book. The Spanish Willy Fog cartoon was a firm favourite when I was younger. I still remember the theme tune. https://youtu.be/OwUOpjvha8M
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It’s fast paced and fun, I wasn’t expecting it to be so witty but it is.
I really liked Phileas Fogg. He’s principled and honest, quiet, likes reading in comfort, appreciates routine, organised. Fogg is a man who would love a spreadsheet. Of course I liked him.
Passepartout is a loveable fool. He would be incredibly infuriating to live with but he’s very entertaining to read about. It amused me that the French character is really the main character. The circus scene was fun, even though it was predictable, Passepartout at the bottom of the human pyramid was never going to end well. Bless him leaving the gas on.
I do wish Aouda had a bigger part. She’s the only female character in the book and there are none at all in ‘5 weeks’. Verne’s characters are stereotypes.
Fix is a typical comedic baddie. He was great. The scene where he gets Passepartout drunk and then forces him to take opium did feel like a step too far.
The ‘twist’ at the end is clever and engaging. It made me smile.
Off to watch the current BBC adaptation starring David Tenant. I shall irritate my boyfriend a lot by repeatedly saying ‘that’s not what happens in the book.’
FIVE WEEKS IN A BALLOON BY JULES VERNE
I have never heard of this book before. The ‘science’ was a bit tedious and I skimmed over those parts. Likewise with the geography. There’s actually only a handful of action adventure scenes which is unfortunate. Verne seems to have focused a bit too intently on the ‘practicalities’ of building and flying the balloon which is a lot less interesting today than it would have been in 1863. It’s certainly an intelligently written book.
Dr Samuel Ferguson is the main character, I liked him even though he was a bit dull.
“Thus the eyes of everyone, convinced or sceptical, ignorant or wise, were fixed upon the Doctor who became the lion of the day though unconscious of his mane.”
Perhaps he should have been aware of part of his mane!
Dick Kennedy the hunter was never going to be a favourite of mine but the scene with the elephant was just horrendous. His blood thirsty attitude was sickening. I was pleased that the balloon often put him out of reach of his quarry.
Joe the valet was probably the most likeable character, the audiobook gives him a strong cockney accent which was good. His racist remarks and desire to eat hippopotamuses meant I wasn’t a fan even after his heroic sacrifice (jumping from the balloon to save the others).
It’s a shame that these two books have been published together. I really enjoyed ‘Around the world in 80 days’. The second book ‘Five weeks in a balloon’ was awful and I really had to force my way through it.
It’s difficult to read books set and written during colonialism. The white western superiority, cruelty and arrogance is more apparent in ‘5 weeks’ than ‘80 days’.
I will be reading more of Jules Verne’s books, I’ve already got ‘Journey to the centre of the earth’ on my shelf waiting for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2008
Jules Verne is hailed (or perhaps pilloried) as one of the forerunners of the science fiction novel. I picked up this book out of curiosity, having read of the inventions he had imagined in some of his writing that, at least as general concepts, turned out to be feasible many decades later. It's actually two short novels, Around the World in Eighty Days and Five Weeks in a Balloon.
Primarily, these stories are adventure stories, and so are a light read. Some have considered Verne's writing to be for young adults or even teens, but it isn't necessarily so. These stories in particular are fast-paced and don't offer much depth, but they do offer glimpses into a fantastic imagination and a kind of simplicity that allows for escapism without a presumption that the reader is an idiot.
Around the World is one of Verne's better known stories, essentially about a stoic, uberintelligent Englishman, Phileas Fogg, who bets his entire fortune that he can travel along a predetermined path around the world in eighty days. All the while, Fogg is trailed by a policeman who finds himself torn between arresting Fogg for theft and aiding in his dubious journey. Accompanied by his French servant, Passepartout (a bit of a pun), Fogg speeds through three continents with a precision that renders him an automaton. Passepartout, on the other hand, is an impulsive, hyperemotional sidekick who is both witless and self-sacrificial. While making for interesting dialogue, this reflects a flaw in Verne's handling of characters that is repeated in Five Weeks: superficiality. Although the features of the characters are extreme, the characters themselves are one-dimensional. They are stereotypes of the "stiff upper lip" and the Continental romantic. Fogg's obsession drives the plot, but the Frenchman serves as the punch line by getting himself in trouble, getting drunk, and stupidly allowing himself to somehow be tricked into smoking opium, of all things. What's a reader to do? Keep reading!
A trip around the world wouldn't be complete without portraits of other places, cultures, and lifestyles. Verne writes of other lands along Fogg's path as if he were intimately familiar with them. Yet, Verne hardly left Europe and only visited North America once and the northern coast of Africa on occasion (the colonies, of course). Much like Fogg, the narrator views other countries through an encyclopedia, providing details of roads, markets, and cities that deserve more color than they're alotted. The world is a path to be rushed and any crisis is solved by Fogg digging his hands into a satchel and pulling out a wad of cash (pounds, of course). However, Verne seems to understand that this is one of Fogg's major limitations, for only his companion is moved to appreciate the journey, and Fogg doesn't actually enjoy life until the final page.
As with Around the World, there is also the impression in Five Weeks that the world is a thing to be observed and passed through, not experienced. The likeness of Fogg is repeated (or perhaps first incarnated, since Five Weeks was Verne's first story) as Dr. Samuel Fergusson, another mostly unemotional and super-rational Englishman who is obsessed with flying a balloon across Africa, accompanied by his old Scottish friend Kennedy and yet another simpleton named Joe. These three fellows play out like an exposition of the Freudian psyche. Fergusson, the superego, always confident, always rational, always convincing the others of the proper course of action. Kennedy, the middle-of-the-road sort of guy, has his own unhealthy obsession with using firearms to pass judgment on every form of life on the continent. Joe, the greedy, capricious buffoon, has a need to point out the obvious in every situation and an uncanny ability to climb things (much like Passaportout). Stuck with each other, the men marvel at the wonders of Africa's nature as they fly over mountains and struggle with dangers that are rampant (rampant!) throughout the continent.
Needless to say, racism and imperialism are par for the course in Five Weeks. The "n-word" often rears its head here, which may not be a fair translation from the original French. What cannot be a simple matter of poor translation are the repeated descriptions of fanatical natives who are, at one point or another, worshiping, gawking at, or attempting to murder the balloon and its occupants. Shall I mention the joking comparison of Africans to monkeys? (Too late!) Or this, my favorite line, spoken by a French missionary rescued from "savages" by the ballooners:
"'They are souls to be brought back,' said the young priest. 'Ignorant wild brothers whom religion alone can teach and civilise.'"
Around the World, on the other hand, is not nearly as eurocentric. However, we do glimpse an air of Western superiority from time to time. The adventurers also rescue a white-skinned woman from the brink of sacrifice (by Indiana Jones-style Kali worshippers, no less) in this story, so this seems to be a recurring plot device with Verne.
In spite of their shortcomings in this regard, these stories must be understood as a symptom, or casualty, of their time, when England and France viewed themselves as white saviors. Not an excuse, but a recognition.
An interesting side note is that Verne mused in Around the World of a time when industry and farming would drain Asia, Europe, and North America of its natural wealth and fertility, and that Africa would be the next step in that progression. Thus, while Verne clearly had an appreciation for technology and imagined many inventions before they were viable (e.g., the submarine, air conditioning), this suggests he was cautious of the rapacious nature of progress. In this, I think, he was ahead of the curve, if not hyperbolic.
Overall, I found these stories to be fun and enjoyable pop fiction. As I noted, the characters could have been fleshed out much more, and I could do without the air of European superiority. However, the humor, action, and attention to detail kept me turning the pages. If you have a penchant for travel writing, this may be for you. Just don't take it too seriously and be ready to hold your nose from time to time (or find a different translation).
P.S. The introduction in this edition includes some spoilers. I read it after I read the stories. Bad, bad editors!
Primarily, these stories are adventure stories, and so are a light read. Some have considered Verne's writing to be for young adults or even teens, but it isn't necessarily so. These stories in particular are fast-paced and don't offer much depth, but they do offer glimpses into a fantastic imagination and a kind of simplicity that allows for escapism without a presumption that the reader is an idiot.
Around the World is one of Verne's better known stories, essentially about a stoic, uberintelligent Englishman, Phileas Fogg, who bets his entire fortune that he can travel along a predetermined path around the world in eighty days. All the while, Fogg is trailed by a policeman who finds himself torn between arresting Fogg for theft and aiding in his dubious journey. Accompanied by his French servant, Passepartout (a bit of a pun), Fogg speeds through three continents with a precision that renders him an automaton. Passepartout, on the other hand, is an impulsive, hyperemotional sidekick who is both witless and self-sacrificial. While making for interesting dialogue, this reflects a flaw in Verne's handling of characters that is repeated in Five Weeks: superficiality. Although the features of the characters are extreme, the characters themselves are one-dimensional. They are stereotypes of the "stiff upper lip" and the Continental romantic. Fogg's obsession drives the plot, but the Frenchman serves as the punch line by getting himself in trouble, getting drunk, and stupidly allowing himself to somehow be tricked into smoking opium, of all things. What's a reader to do? Keep reading!
A trip around the world wouldn't be complete without portraits of other places, cultures, and lifestyles. Verne writes of other lands along Fogg's path as if he were intimately familiar with them. Yet, Verne hardly left Europe and only visited North America once and the northern coast of Africa on occasion (the colonies, of course). Much like Fogg, the narrator views other countries through an encyclopedia, providing details of roads, markets, and cities that deserve more color than they're alotted. The world is a path to be rushed and any crisis is solved by Fogg digging his hands into a satchel and pulling out a wad of cash (pounds, of course). However, Verne seems to understand that this is one of Fogg's major limitations, for only his companion is moved to appreciate the journey, and Fogg doesn't actually enjoy life until the final page.
As with Around the World, there is also the impression in Five Weeks that the world is a thing to be observed and passed through, not experienced. The likeness of Fogg is repeated (or perhaps first incarnated, since Five Weeks was Verne's first story) as Dr. Samuel Fergusson, another mostly unemotional and super-rational Englishman who is obsessed with flying a balloon across Africa, accompanied by his old Scottish friend Kennedy and yet another simpleton named Joe. These three fellows play out like an exposition of the Freudian psyche. Fergusson, the superego, always confident, always rational, always convincing the others of the proper course of action. Kennedy, the middle-of-the-road sort of guy, has his own unhealthy obsession with using firearms to pass judgment on every form of life on the continent. Joe, the greedy, capricious buffoon, has a need to point out the obvious in every situation and an uncanny ability to climb things (much like Passaportout). Stuck with each other, the men marvel at the wonders of Africa's nature as they fly over mountains and struggle with dangers that are rampant (rampant!) throughout the continent.
Needless to say, racism and imperialism are par for the course in Five Weeks. The "n-word" often rears its head here, which may not be a fair translation from the original French. What cannot be a simple matter of poor translation are the repeated descriptions of fanatical natives who are, at one point or another, worshiping, gawking at, or attempting to murder the balloon and its occupants. Shall I mention the joking comparison of Africans to monkeys? (Too late!) Or this, my favorite line, spoken by a French missionary rescued from "savages" by the ballooners:
"'They are souls to be brought back,' said the young priest. 'Ignorant wild brothers whom religion alone can teach and civilise.'"
Around the World, on the other hand, is not nearly as eurocentric. However, we do glimpse an air of Western superiority from time to time. The adventurers also rescue a white-skinned woman from the brink of sacrifice (by Indiana Jones-style Kali worshippers, no less) in this story, so this seems to be a recurring plot device with Verne.
In spite of their shortcomings in this regard, these stories must be understood as a symptom, or casualty, of their time, when England and France viewed themselves as white saviors. Not an excuse, but a recognition.
An interesting side note is that Verne mused in Around the World of a time when industry and farming would drain Asia, Europe, and North America of its natural wealth and fertility, and that Africa would be the next step in that progression. Thus, while Verne clearly had an appreciation for technology and imagined many inventions before they were viable (e.g., the submarine, air conditioning), this suggests he was cautious of the rapacious nature of progress. In this, I think, he was ahead of the curve, if not hyperbolic.
Overall, I found these stories to be fun and enjoyable pop fiction. As I noted, the characters could have been fleshed out much more, and I could do without the air of European superiority. However, the humor, action, and attention to detail kept me turning the pages. If you have a penchant for travel writing, this may be for you. Just don't take it too seriously and be ready to hold your nose from time to time (or find a different translation).
P.S. The introduction in this edition includes some spoilers. I read it after I read the stories. Bad, bad editors!
January 26, 2021
Honestly, Around the world in 80 days is a great book. I finished it and I genuinely enjoyed it. I'll recommend it to you if you love a good adventure with an engrossing plot and baffling descriptions. 4 stars.
On the other hand, I fought my way through Five Weeks in a Balloon because it's truly dreadful. I'm not fond of the character at all and I have no clue where the story is heading. I'm sorry Jules Verne but this was probably my least favourite, of all your writings. The over exaggeration of names, the way in which the colonisation of Africa was written, the descriptions of natives being like wild baboons. I realise the native people in Around the World in 80 Days was written the same way but it wasn't mentioned every chapter. It was an issue for me. While the plot in Around the World in 80 days was actually enticing and the world building was commendable but Five Weeks in a Balloon- well, it's not it.
Perhaps others enjoy it so much due to the accuracy of the geographical equipments used to measure atmospheric pressure and whatnot but as a young reader who looked for much adventure and basically expected something like Around the World in 80 days... I was let down. Never have I found reading so dreary but I commend the descriptive detail. Vivid as ever, Jules Verne.
On the other hand, I fought my way through Five Weeks in a Balloon because it's truly dreadful. I'm not fond of the character at all and I have no clue where the story is heading. I'm sorry Jules Verne but this was probably my least favourite, of all your writings. The over exaggeration of names, the way in which the colonisation of Africa was written, the descriptions of natives being like wild baboons. I realise the native people in Around the World in 80 Days was written the same way but it wasn't mentioned every chapter. It was an issue for me. While the plot in Around the World in 80 days was actually enticing and the world building was commendable but Five Weeks in a Balloon- well, it's not it.
Perhaps others enjoy it so much due to the accuracy of the geographical equipments used to measure atmospheric pressure and whatnot but as a young reader who looked for much adventure and basically expected something like Around the World in 80 days... I was let down. Never have I found reading so dreary but I commend the descriptive detail. Vivid as ever, Jules Verne.
March 6, 2018
Around the World in Eighty Days and Five Weeks in a Balloon are both stories of an imperturbable Englishman and his emotional valet racing against the clock in exotic foreign lands, but where the first is a delight, the latter is a bore. Eighty Days is briskly told, loads of fun, and ends on a surprisingly affecting note; Five Weeks is much, much longer, it has several scenes where the science of ballooning is explained at great length to always-adoring listeners, and where Eighty Days wears it's colonialism lightly (there's even interracial romance), Five Weeks frequently refers to Africans as monkeys, savages, subhumans, and - in this translation, at least - "n-ers." Eighty Days is a joy; Five Weeks is an unreadable combination of really dull and really offensive.
March 9, 2018
Both stories in this tome are good fun, but the latter ' Five Weeks...' is unfortunately marred by flashes of the most base and overt racism.
Despite the traditional reading of 'Around the World...' to my mind Phileas Fogg is almost a non entity as hero; doing little more than hand out cash and play cards all with a stiff upper lip and implacable determination to attain his goal! The real heroic character here is Passepartout who lives and feels and triumphs and fails with inimitable Gallic expression and passion.
Neither story, though historically interesting would bear up to a second reading
April 11, 2019
Kind of hard to give this a rating. The first half is Around the world, second half is Five Weeks.
I loved around the world, it was interesting and fun.
Of course Jules Verne was from a different time, and you really feel that at times.
...Especieally in Five weeks, were words like "nigger" and "negro" often makes an appearance. And just because of that I had a hard time to truly enjoy Five Weeks.
Around the world I would probably rate 5 stars, and Five weeks only 3.
The political issues aside, Jules Verne's imagination is unbelieveable. Great read.
I loved around the world, it was interesting and fun.
Of course Jules Verne was from a different time, and you really feel that at times.
...Especieally in Five weeks, were words like "nigger" and "negro" often makes an appearance. And just because of that I had a hard time to truly enjoy Five Weeks.
Around the world I would probably rate 5 stars, and Five weeks only 3.
The political issues aside, Jules Verne's imagination is unbelieveable. Great read.
December 21, 2020
I’m honestly not sure how to review this book. I can’t imagine Jules Verne is looking down, disappointed that I’m only giving this three stars. How can you give a classic anything other than five? That’s what I’m doing, but who on Earth am I to say it all felt too wordy and that it’s difficult to concentrate on Five Weeks? I gave up on it in the end. Again, are you allowed to give up on classics from 100 years ago? I have to say, I enjoyed 80 Days, especially the end, but that was only half the book. Sorry Mr Verne, three stars is the best I can do.
November 15, 2023
Jules Verne was arguably a visionary writer. The precise proportion in which he explains the geographic details is stunning to say the least. Around the World in 80 days is a fresh and delightful read. Five Weeks in a Balloon glorifies Verne's command over voyage writing with his intricate detailing of the African landscape. In both books, the striking feature is that of the lead character and their assistant/servant. The Fogg-Passepartout and Fergusson-Joe relationship is bound to please your heart.
February 14, 2022
I read this because I watched a couple of episodes of the BBC version of the book.
It didn't sound very Verne like. It is another case where they took the title and character names and threw out the rest of the original material. The book was tedious as Verne like to list the names of towns they pass through, weather conditions etc. But I enjoyed it overall and don't see that the BBC improved anything with its changes.
It didn't sound very Verne like. It is another case where they took the title and character names and threw out the rest of the original material. The book was tedious as Verne like to list the names of towns they pass through, weather conditions etc. But I enjoyed it overall and don't see that the BBC improved anything with its changes.
April 1, 2022
"Five Weeks in a Balloon" by Jules Verne left memory on me. Similar to other science fiction written by Verne, this work pulled off an appealing plot, and featured a thrilling adventure by the protagonists. Throughout the depiction of these characters and what they were going through, Verne featured an aspiration of exploring and discovery. I had a good impression with this work due to the writing style of Verne, it was kind of simplistic yet essential.
December 22, 2022
Very engaging but also very racist. I know Verne was a product of his time but this is why we need to reconsider the "classics" every so often because, honestly, the depiction of Indigenous peoples throughout the book was disturbing and made me curious about what was actually happening in those days and their points of view. If we can't be critical of the "classics" we run the risk of continuing to only hear history from dead white men when, actually, everyone else was there, too.
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