Around the World in Eighty Days

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne was first published in 1873. 

The around the world travel story of Mr. Phileas Fogg, a rich English gentleman, and his French servant Passepartout is absolutely adventurous and fun to read. Along the path of the journey Mr. Fogg and Passepartout are secretly followed by Detective Fix who mistakes Mr. Fogg for a bank robber. Of course, he is an important character who constantly put the master and the servant in trouble. It’s enjoyably exciting to keep my fingers crossed that they would make it around the world in eightly days and earn £20,000 upon return. 

Another interesting part I haven’t heard anyone talk much about it is when Aouda, a young Indian widow, is forced to be burned alive along with her husband’s body according to local religious customs. It shows us how beliefs and religions affected rights and status of women in the past. I believe up until now poor treatment and violence against women still exist in many parts of the world. 

One last thing, I love the tricky ending. The author was incredibly brilliant to come up with it.