Author: Jules Verne 

Years Written: 1872 

Type: Novel

Genre: Adventure

Perspective and Narration 

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne is told by a third-person omniscient narrator who often focuses on one character at a time and moves between the main characters, such as Phileas Fogg, Passepartout, Detective Fix, and Mrs. Aouda. This narrative style helps the reader understand the characters gradually. At first, Fogg appears cold and mechanical, but as the story develops, his kindness and bravery become clear through his actions. The narrator also maintains suspense, especially in the Bank of England robbery subplot, by leaving some doubt about whether Fogg is innocent or guilty. The novel is written in a fast-paced and light style typical of Victorian writing, focusing on adventure and exciting events rather than deep cultural analysis, with occasional explanations of geographical and historical details.

Tense

Around the World in Eighty Days is written primarily in the past tense, occasionally switching to the present tense.

About the Title

The title Around the World in Eighty Days refers to the number of days Phileas Fogg believes he needs to travel around the world and return to London. Jules Verne chose this time limit because such a journey had become possible due to modern technology of the Industrial Revolution, such as railways, steamships, and the Suez Canal, which made the world feel smaller and faster. The title also reflects the novel’s focus on numbers and time, which matches Fogg’s precise and orderly personality. More than a journey through space, the story is a race against time, as Fogg carefully measures every day of his trip. Although many people associate the story with hot-air balloons, Fogg actually travels using realistic means of transport available at the time.