Round the World in Eighty Days
Round the World in Eighty Days
November 9, 2004
Round the World in Eighty Days by the French author Jules Verne, depicts how the English gentleman Mr. Fogg successfully completes his round-world journey, starting from London, Crossing the Suez Canal, the Atlantic Ocean and the Northern American continent and returning to London, in just 80 days in response to a bet with friends. Although what I have read is only an English concise edition, the story is so compelling that I follow the journey in the whole afternoon without putting the book down.
What great fun I have got! It is highly interesting to see how Mr. Fogg races with the precious limited time during his journey in spite of a series of unexpected difficulties. Sometimes I have my heart in my mouth, when the group, at the risk of their lives, ambush in the Indian forest to save the girl about to burn to death, when the tragedy seems unavoidable as Mr. Fogg decides to duel with a rough American man just in the last carriage of the train, and when the rocky treacherous bridge, hardly does the train pass through it at full speed, breaks to peaces and falls with a crash into the unfathomable water below. Besides excitement, it never fails to evoke my hearty laughter by the faithful amusing French servant Passepartout, making troubles at times, the stupid stubborn detective Fix and the wretched bad-tempered captain, being captivated in his own ship. In addition, the trip by the elephant in India, the sledge with sails, the buffaloes in America adds some exotic flavors to the story.
Suppose if we were given the opportunity to travel around the world, we would definitely gain more comfortable and novel experience by taking the advantage of the convenience of modern transportation. However, could we find such agreeable companions as Mr. Fogg, polite, considerate and remain composed in face of any difficulty and Passepartout, always loyal and pleasing? Moreover, could we be fortunate enough as Mr. Fogg, who eventually obtain his lover, who will accompany him for ever whatever in favorable circumstances or in adversities?
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