Around the World in Eighty Days • Jules Verne

It’s already March, and I can say that so far, it hasn’t really been a reading year. In light of current world events, I felt the longing for the comforting world of old adventure novels, so I reached for this beautiful new edition of Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne. Naturally, it was balm for the soul, and for anyone who needs a break from what’s happening in the world, I recommend doing the same and picking up one of these wonderful old classics. Why this book is particularly worth reading, you’ll find out in this post.

Who doesn’t know the plot of this story — at least in its basic form? Phileas Fogg, an Englishman, makes a bet that he can travel around the world in eighty days. Together with his servant Passepartout, he sets out on a journey filled with adventures, beautiful scenery, and an exciting race against time. The story is set in the late 19th century, during the height of the British Empire. Readers are transported to India, Hong Kong, across Japan, and over the Pacific. The adventurers cross oceans and traverse the United States.

For a journey around the world, 336 pages seemed rather short, but of course everything must happen quickly. The protagonists visit beautiful and exotic places but are always in a hurry. That gives the novel a very pleasant pace, and together with the adventures they experience and the people they meet, it becomes a highly entertaining story with no dull moments. I wouldn’t say the story is extraordinary—after all, there are so many adaptations that most readers are already familiar with the plot—but even with that prior knowledge, the book is solid, beautifully written in its pacing, and carries the unmistakable charm of old adventure novels. I simply love these books, and Jules Verne has never disappointed me. He really is one of the greatest authors of all time, no doubt about it.

The basis for the novel was the journey of the American George Francis Train, who reportedly circumnavigated the world several times. It was only with the opening of the Suez Canal and the completion of the American transcontinental railroad—connecting the East and West coasts—that such a fast journey became possible. George Francis Train was apparently quite upset that Jules Verne renamed him Phileas Fogg. Still, the English gentleman Fogg is a wonderfully crafted character. Another inspiration for the twist at the end (which I won’t spoil here) was apparently a short story by Edgar Allan Poe.

The translation by Manfred Kottmann is relatively new and felt quite fresh and modern to me. For comparison, I had read The Adventures of Captain Hatteras in a 19th-century edition, and of course, you can really notice the difference. I did miss a bit of that old-fashioned German used in those early translations, but in return, this version reads very smoothly and elegantly. With Verne, though, it’s like with Balzac: no matter who translates them, you can always hear that unmistakable tone, that unique voice that these great masters of world literature have—it’s simply wonderful. I always find that fascinating. It shows either that all translators have done a consistently great job, or that the text itself is so unique that it can hardly be rendered poorly.

My edition from Fischer Sauerländer was published in 2016, and I simply liked the beautifully designed cover. I’ve considered buying the Hartleben Complete Edition secondhand, but each time decided against it. For me, every book is something unique, and I like it when an author’s books all look different—just as each story is something special. By now, I own several Jules Verne novels that look very different from one another, and I’m quite glad not to have an entire shelf of identical spines. Of course, I also have a Hartleben edition, but also the beautiful Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon from Die Andere Bibliothek. This S. Fischer edition, in any case, is very nice, though it comes without illustrations, has a simple glued binding, no ribbon marker, and overall is a €15 book—but not more than that. In terms of price-performance, however, it’s excellent, no complaints there. For those who want a more beautifully designed edition, I recommend the Knesebeck Verlag version, illustrated by Ingpen, though it’s now harder to find. But for anyone simply wanting to enjoy this classic, I can highly recommend this Fischer Sauerländer edition.

Conclusion: Jules Verne is a truly great author, and this book—which has inspired generations—is an outstanding adventure novel. Even if you already know the story from other adaptations, it’s an enjoyable and captivating read. The length is just right, and it never drags. The writing is vivid and atmospheric, bringing the various locations of the world to life so vividly that readers can easily imagine the settings. The Fischer Sauerländer edition looks nice, though it comes without any bibliophile extras—but the price-performance ratio is absolutely fair. A reading recommendation for anyone who, these days, wants to escape into a pleasant and positive world full of exciting adventures.

Book information: Around the World in Eighty Days • Jules Verne • Fischer Sauerländer • 336 pages • ISBN 9783737354448