In a sentence, it’s about a taciturn toff who makes an unlikely bet and marries an Indian Princess.
I’m ten pages in. I don’t like the main guy.
It is difficult to like Phileas Fogg. He wins all his chess games, hangs around a Gentleman’s Club all day reading newspapers, is massively wealthy, knows everything about everything and generally comes across as a Mary Sue. He falls almost accidently into the eponymous bet, but puts all his time and energy into making sure he wins.
The rest of the book is full of high adventure and depictions of foreign lands which appear quaint to us now, but the inevitable racism is more innocent than mean-spirited.
What’s the point? Are we learning anything?
This is a purely fun read, so don’t expect dense political analysis. The primary take-away seems to be that limitless funds will make your ad hoc travel plans easier. Although, if you’ve read Game of Thrones and you don’t like the idea of a character who can always buy his way out of trouble, you should present yourself to the relevant authorities at first light.
What should I say to make people think I’ve read it?
“Would he not have noticed the time change in San Francisco? No?”
What should I avoid saying when trying to convince people I’ve read it?
“The balloon ride was my favourite bit!”
Should I actually read it?
Maybe. Maybe not. It’s a fun read, but very much a product of its time (1873), and ignoring the pro-colonial stuff might be too large an ask.
Fogg (David Tennant) has been unjustly accused of stealing. Denied a trial, he’s instead told he’s to be flogged at noon.
While he’s waiting for the punishment to be carried out, his friends try to secure a pardon from the governor for him.
In the meantime, he sees the results of the lash on the back of one of his fellow prisoners. He’s taken to the yard where he takes off his shirt and is chained to the whipping post, where a very handsome and masculine flogger is ready to go to work with a cruel-looking bullwhip.
His friends arrive with the pardon, but not before our hero receives one stroke of the lash as the clock strikes noon. The pardon presented, the flogging stops and he’s set free but he’s clearly shaken by his ordeal.
Fogg (David Tennant) has been unjustly accused of stealing. Denied a trial, he’s instead told he’s to be flogged at noon.
While he’s waiting for the punishment to be carried out, his friends try to secure a pardon from the governor for him.
In the meantime, he sees the results of the lash on the back of one of his fellow prisoners. He’s taken to the yard where he takes off his shirt and is chained to the whipping post, where a very handsome and masculine flogger is ready to go to work with a cruel-looking bullwhip.
His friends arrive with the pardon, but not before our hero receives one stroke of the lash as the clock strikes noon. The pardon presented, the flogging stops and he’s set free but he’s clearly shaken by his ordeal.
Fogg (David Tennant) has been unjustly accused of stealing. Denied a trial, he’s instead told he’s to be flogged at noon.
While he’s waiting for the punishment to be carried out, his friends try to secure a pardon from the governor for him.
In the meantime, he sees the results of the lash on the back of one of his fellow prisoners. He’s taken to the yard where he takes off his shirt and is chained to the whipping post, where a very handsome and masculine flogger is ready to go to work with a cruel-looking bullwhip.
His friends arrive with the pardon, but not before our hero receives one stroke of the lash as the clock strikes noon. The pardon presented, the flogging stops and he’s set free but he’s clearly shaken by his ordeal.
Fogg (David Tennant) has been unjustly accused of stealing. Denied a trial, he’s instead told he’s to be flogged at noon.
While he’s waiting for the punishment to be carried out, his friends try to secure a pardon from the governor for him.
In the meantime, he sees the results of the lash on the back of one of his fellow prisoners. He’s taken to the yard where he takes off his shirt and is chained to the whipping post, where a very handsome and masculine flogger is ready to go to work with a cruel-looking bullwhip.
His friends arrive with the pardon, but not before our hero receives one stroke of the lash as the clock strikes noon. The pardon presented, the flogging stops and he’s set free but he’s clearly shaken by his ordeal.
Michelangelo Buonarroti, Cappella Sistina, Vatican City, 150-1512 VS Goose game board inspired by Jules Verne’s novel “Around the world in eighty days”
“Snape’s challenged me to circumnavigate the globe in eighty days,” said James.
“I don’t follow. That’s hardly a challenge.”
“Without magic.”
There was a clatter, followed by a string of expletives. James turned and looked at Sirius—he had dropped his brandy glass, the amber liquid marking the fabric of his expensive suit, the glass rolling across the Persian rug at his feet.
James raised an eyebrow at Sirius. “Quite.”
Sirius waved a hand hastily, vanishing the brandy from his trousers. He sat forward in his seat. “What’s the prize?”
“If I win, he leaves Lily Evans alone forever.”
“And if you don’t?”
James turned back to the window. Outside, the autumn sunshine was illuminating the leaves of a red maple tree, making them glow like fire. “I think you can work that out, Padfoot.”
I binge-watched the new BBC Around the World in 80 Days with Mr H yesterday, and obviously couldn’t resist turning it into a Jily fic. If you’re interested in a historical, magical AU where James Potter is a gentleman adventurer, Lily Evans is a journalist, and Sirius Black is the world’s worst valet, then watch this space…
![confórmi [le forme non appartengono a nessuno]](https://64.media.tumblr.com/avatar_6601adfdb852_30.png){kind=avatar}
