Around the World in 80 Days: Beginner Level (Macmillan Reader) (Macmillan Readers 2008) Paperback – 21 Jan. 2008

This is a classic read, prompted by the tv series recently and ... no surprise in a way, as the introduction as always states 'based on ...', but this was a very loose relationship indeed: the series lacked continuity except in the most liberal sense and depended [it seemed] overmuch on using the same characters and frame for the episodes, and the same for the film. Having said that, all three were enjoyable in their different ways - just the book stands up better for me.

For a story that has interpreted over the years into different mediums, reading the original novel does bring out such detail about particular methods of transport when it was published. The characters of Willy Fog and his fellow accomplices during his travels, based on a bet to travel the globe by a certain period (hence the book title!) seem believable and do not seem two-dimensional at first glance. Willy Fog appears to be the analytical man with a great sense of timing, whilst Passpartout seems lovable rouge as Fog's new assistant. With such distinguished characters, Jules Verne focuses on the logistics of Fogg's journey from one part of the world to another rather than a globetrotting travelogue, like modern travel books. It may have gaps in terms of a complete narrative of one journey to another country, but instead, it seems to feel like an extraordinary and calculated romp around the world at this time of history.Around the World in Eighty Days is still worth reading just for its now period detail alone, and for anyone curious about the original source of all those numerous adaptations of this novel on the big and small screen. Do not expect it to be a thorough travelogue account, and enjoy its escapade of one country to another with a band of memorable characters.

An older (nearer original) version so some of the sentences don’t make sense (“he still has time to make his toilet”??) and you see a difference in writing of that time but good classic fun.

Good value for money. Smaller than expected, but I am happy with it.

A good travel story

I remember watching the original film when I was young, but never got round to reading the book until now. Like many books that were turned into films there is much more in the book than in the film. The geographical descriptions are good and clarify. The situations in various countries that Phileas Fogg travels through give the book an historical perspective.The story is a good one, and rings true of the late Victorian age. This is well worth a read, if not for the description of an Englishman and The Reform Club by a Frenchman.

Very ointeresting

The font size on this book is ridiculously large, I had to reduce both the font size and the line spacing to get the text to fit my kindle. the book cover is nothing special either it no the one seen above it's just a blank page with the book title and author printed on it - It doesn't look good if like me, you keep your books on your computer using a library management program like Calibre.The story is fine so-long-as you resize the text before reading but I would recommend to someone else that they look elsewhere for a different versionOverall I'm mildly disappointed with this ebook and wished I'd bought a different version

Chegou dentro da data prevista e bem embalado.

It was great to read this again. It is a classic that can stand the test of time! Definitely 5 stars! ..

Bonito y ameno

Jules Verne was born to tell stories. Reading him is like entering his imagination and living through it. 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea', 'Journey To The Center Of The Earth', 'From Earth To The Moon' and many more are the examples of his incredible ability to imagine, spin stories around and explain scientifically the inventions of the future, way before they were reality if already conceived.This book is the journey of a mysterious man who takes upon himself an impossible task on a whimsical bet, just to prove himself. The character portrayed here is almost inhumanly calm, composed, confident, unperturbed in the face of the most messy predicaments, clinical and reserved, yet extremely respectful, loving, humane and compassionate. This is his adventure to cover the circumference of the world in 80 days. Mind you these are the times when we didn't have flights and airports. He has to completely rely upon the technology of the era - sail and paddle boats and steamers through the choppy and un-mapped seas, hot air balloons, incomplete or non-functional railway lines and the back of the beasts in more exotic locations. The story throws enough seemingly impossible-to-tackle situations at the protagonist and he addresses them every single time with a most novel and un-imaginable solution. The story involves human, natural and technological challenges at every step, yet our determined hero goes on, and in the the middle of it all, finds time for love too.

早く届いてよかった。まだ読んでないけど楽しみにしている。。。