Jules Vernes’ classic 1873 novel about an Englishman’s bizarre wager to circumnavigate the globe in the ambitious time-frame of 80 days remains an inspiring yarn about getting out there and seeing the world.
While Phileas Fogg himself is possibly the most stoic example of Englishness ever put to paper, his French manservant Passepartout’s enthusiasm reflects the wonder that we all experience when we visit new exotic vistas.
Written at the height of the British Empire, the book offers a snapshot to today’s readers of a very different world, almost alien with its lack of communications technology, let alone planes, and a very English empire upon which the sun never set.
ON BEING ENGLISH:
1. What Jules Verne wrote:
Articles no less passionate than logical appeared on the question, for geography is one of the pet subjects of the English; and the columns devoted to Phileas Fogg’s venture were eagerly devoured by all classes of readers.
At first some rash individuals, principally of the gentler sex, espoused his cause, which became still more popular when the Illustrated London News came out with his portrait, copied from a photograph in the Reform Club.
A few readers of the Daily Telegraph even dared to say, “Why not, after all? Stranger things have come to pass.”
What it means:
English people still love geography, we like to think!
2. What Jules Verne wrote:
Everybody knows that England is the world of betting men, who are of a higher class than mere gamblers; to bet is in the English temperament.
What it means:
A tradition carried on in Royal Ascot and the Grand National every year, just for starters.
3. What Jules Verne wrote:
Lord Albemarle, an elderly paralytic gentleman, was now the only advocate of Phileas Fogg left. This noble lord, who was fastened to his chair, would have given his fortune to be able to make the tour of the world, if it took ten years; and he bet five thousand pounds on Phileas Fogg.
When the folly as well as the uselessness of the adventure was pointed out to him, he contented himself with replying, “If the thing is feasible, the first to do it ought to be an Englishman.”
What it means:
The can-do attitude of the English gentry still persists to this day.
4. What Jules Verne wrote:
He sat down quietly to breakfast in his cabin, never once thinking of inspecting the town, being one of those Englishmen who are wont to see foreign countries through the eyes of their domestics.
What it means:
Fogg at times sounds like that type of English tourist who expects fish and chips everywhere they go…
5. What Jules Verne wrote:
“I will come back to America to find him,” said Phileas Fogg calmly. “It would not be right for an Englishman to permit himself to be treated in that way, without retaliating.”
The detective smiled, but did not reply. It was clear that Mr. Fogg was one of those Englishmen who, while they do not tolerate duelling at home, fight abroad when their honour is attacked.
What it means:
Like many of us, Fogg planned a return trip WHILE he was still ON his trip.
6. What Jules Verne wrote:
Phileas Fogg took a chair, and sat down near the fireplace, opposite Aouda. No emotion was visible on his face. Fogg returned was exactly the Fogg who had gone away; there was the same calm, the same impassibility.
What it means:
Travelling is supposed to change a person… unless they’re Phileas Fogg.
ON TRAVELLING THE WORLD
7. What Jules Verne wrote:
“Very curious, very curious,” said Passepartout to himself, on returning to the steamer. “I see that it is by no means useless to travel, if a man wants to see something new.”
What it means:
After initially being annoyed about Fogg’s bet, Passepartout finally realises that he might get something out of travelling.
8. What Jules Verne wrote:
He was quite ignorant that it is forbidden to Christians to enter certain Indian temples, and that even the faithful must not go in without first leaving their shoes outside the door. It may be said here that the wise policy of the British Government severely punishes a disregard of the practices of the native religions.
Passepartout, however, thinking no harm, went in like a simple tourist, and was soon lost in admiration of the splendid Brahmin ornamentation which everywhere met his eyes, when of a sudden he found himself sprawling on the sacred flagging.
He looked up to behold three enraged priests, who forthwith fell upon him; tore off his shoes, and began to beat him with loud, savage exclamations.
The agile Frenchman was soon upon his feet again, and lost no time in knocking down two of his long-gowned adversaries with his fists and a vigorous application of his toes; then, rushing out of the pagoda as fast as his legs could carry him, he soon escaped the third priest by mingling with the crowd in the streets.
What it means:
It’s easy for us all to make mistakes like this when we visit foreign places. Unlike Passepartout, it’s best to be a bit more prepared about local culture before you go!
9. What Jules Verne wrote:
“The chance which now seems lost may present itself at the last moment.”
What it means:
Fogg’s self-assuredness and optimism in dire situations is something that any traveller would do well to arm themselves with.
10. What Jules Verne wrote:
Could he have followed without deviation the fiftieth parallel, which is that of London, the whole distance would only have been about twelve thousand miles; whereas he would be forced, by the irregular methods of locomotion, to traverse twenty-six thousand, of which he had, on the 23rd of November, accomplished seventeen thousand five hundred.
What it means:
Fogg’s considerations of his travels is almost disturbingly mechanical. That’s not something we recommend, unless of course you’re also on a wild bet with huge amounts of cash at stake.
11. What Jules Verne wrote:
Everything, it said, was against the travellers, every obstacle imposed alike by man and by nature. A miraculous agreement of the times of departure and arrival, which was impossible, was absolutely necessary to his success.
He might, perhaps, reckon on the arrival of trains at the designated hours, in Europe, where the distances were relatively moderate; but when he calculated upon crossing India in three days, and the United States in seven, could he rely beyond misgiving upon accomplishing his task?
There were accidents to machinery, the liability of trains to run off the line, collisions, bad weather, the blocking up by snow—were not all these against Phileas Fogg? Would he not find himself, when travelling by steamer in winter, at the mercy of the winds and fogs?
Is it uncommon for the best ocean steamers to be two or three days behind time? But a single delay would suffice to fatally break the chain of communication; should Phileas Fogg once miss, even by an hour; a steamer, he would have to wait for the next, and that would irrevocably render his attempt vain.
What it means:
This is the basic sort of thing we all think these days when wondering what time we should get to the airport.
12. What Jules Verne wrote:
Phileas Fogg had won his wager, and had made his journey around the world in eighty days. To do this he had employed every means of conveyance—steamers, railways, carriages, yachts, trading-vessels, sledges, elephants.
The eccentric gentleman had throughout displayed all his marvellous qualities of coolness and exactitude. But what then? What had he really gained by all this trouble? What had he brought back from this long and weary journey?
Nothing, say you? Perhaps so; nothing but a charming woman, who, strange as it may appear, made him the happiest of men!
Truly, would you not for less than that make the tour around the world?
What it means:
Who knows what you’ll get out of your next trip too?
(Feature image: Anthony Quintano)
