Opening
Bibliographic Information:
Around
the World the 80 Days / by Jules Verne
ISBN-13: 978-1936594610 / Tribeca
p. 152/ $6.66 (Amazon)
Reprint 2004 / Original 1873
Body of Content
Summary: Phileas
Fogg is a well-off Englishman who takes a bet from equally affluent
friends. The bet centers on a recent newspaper
article which boldly states that rail improvements in India make it possible
for a traveler to circumnavigate the world within 80 days. His friends respond to the impossibility of
the task, while Fogg holds the venture as viable. After the settling of a handsome wager of
20,000 pounds, Fogg leaves London, England – traveling east. As the story unfolds, Fogg must take railroad,
steamboats, and even pack animals in his attempt to reach his home country
within the 80-day wager. But Fogg does
not travel alone – as a personal assistant by the name of Jean Passepartout
accompanies him. As the clock ticks,
Fogg must literally race around the world in an adventure that few people will
ever attempt.
Critique: While
the novel is somewhat dated – having technology and customs set in the latter
half of the 19th century – the work still is a readable title – and a
classic, too. As the themes of travel,
geography, and culture dominate the text, these themes bear interest, though,
across a wide demographic. Currently,
CBS contains two reality TV shows – both long-term success over the better part
of a decade – in Survivor and The Amazing Race. The latter title is a modern-day adaption of
the Verne’s novel – though with more emphasis on performing various feats, quests,
games, tasks along the circumnavigation.
Also, the global contest is a personal contest – not only against the
clock – but against other competitors – i.e. other teams.
Great literature embodies universal themes and invites
copycats. While The Amazing Race is a
well-run show on its own merits, it does owe homage to the premise of Verne’s
older work. And both titles attempt to
explore humanity as much as they explore the natural world – often doing so at
the same time.
Teaser: Phileas Fogg attempts to travel around the world. But with the deadline looming, can he make
good on his adventurous wager?
Information about the Author: Jules
Verne was a French author during the 19th century and early 20th
century – mostly writing in the science fiction genre. Adam Charles Roberts termed Verne “The Father
of Science Fiction” – alongside two other greats (Gernsback and Wells) in his
work, The History of Science Fiction (2007,
p. 48).
His notable works include A Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, The Mysterious Island, and The
Archipelago on Fire (Wikipedia, 2011).
Many of his works focus on technology and modes of transportation – from
balloons – to submarines – even to spaceships.
Overall, the author is heralded as the second most translated author throughout
the world – only trailing mystery writer Agatha Christie (Wikipedia, 2011).
Supplemental Material
Genre: Adventure / Historical
Fiction
Curriculum Ties: Sociology/History – culture,
travel, transportation modes, imperialism
Booktalking Ideas: 1) If
you were to travel around the world, what person(s) would you decide to travel
with?
Reading Level: The novel is a shorter
work. It allows more readers into the
book given a low entry-level grammar, writing style. The book is easily appropriate for younger
teens (13-16).
Challenge Issues and Defense: The
book is not very objectionable – but given the timeframe – as Verne wrote it in
the late 19th century – it represents some cultural and historical
assumptions of imperialism. The classic
stature of the book helps a librarian defend it. Any archive of Western
culture likely contains Around the World
in Eighty Days.
Personal Reasons for Inclusion: This
is a literary classic – and I included it for the purposes of adding more
classics to the project. The ending to
the novel, in particular, represents a must-read experience for any teenager.
Last Thoughts
References:
Roberts,
A. (2007). The History of Science Fiction.
New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Wikipedia.
(2011). Jules Verne [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Jules_Verne
Listening to (Music):
Artist – Live / Album – “Live at the Paradiso (Amsterdam)”
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