‘Around the World in 80 Days’ — SYNOPSIS

Phileas Fogg, a mysterious British gentleman of obvious wealth, fires his manservant. Jean Passepartout, a new, French manservant looking for a more stable, quieter life, impresses Fogg and is hired as a replacement.

Meanwhile, the gentlemen of the exclusive Reform Club (see Glossary) in London, of which Fogg is a member, are discussing a recent bank robbery. When Fogg joins them for conversation and a game of Whist (see Glossary), the subject turns to world travel. A recent newspaper article has claimed that with improved rail and steamship travel, a person may circle the globe in a mere 80 days. Fogg declares he would "like nothing better" than to attempt an 80 day trip round the globe, and a wager with the club members is made. Fogg resolves to leave that very evening and promises to return to the club within 80 days time.

Fogg returns home and notifies Passepartout that they are leaving for a trip around the world. They hastily pack a small bag with a few shirts, socks, money, and a Bradshaw's travel guide (see Glossary). They immediately depart for Charing Cross (see Glossary) train station and begin their adventure.

We next meet Fogg and Passepartout at Suez in Egypt, where Passepartout disembarks the ship to get their passports stamped. Detective Fix, a British police officer on the look out for the London bank robber, sees Fogg's description in the passport, and believes Fogg is the gentleman thief. Unbeknownst to Fogg and Passepartout, Fix tries to have Fogg detained in Suez, but is unable to prove to the Consul (see Glossary) that Fogg is the thief. Not wanting to lose his man, Fix asks that the arrest warrant be forwarded to Bombay where Fogg is headed, and boards the steamship to keep his eye on Fogg.

The ship docks in Bombay, but to Fix’s chagrin, no warrant has arrived. Passepartout, while waiting for the Calcutta train, visits a sacred Indian pagoda and unknowingly breaks the law by wearing his shoes inside. He is assaulted by three priests and his shoes are taken.

Fogg and a shoeless Passepartout board the train to Calcutta, where they meet the British gentleman Sir Francis Cromarty. The train, expected to be direct from Bombay to Calcutta, is halted halfway due to unfinished construction, leaving the passengers stranded. Fogg is forced to find his own transportation to Allahabad, where he is to catch the continuing train to Calcutta. Passepartout finds an elephant for transportation and the party, including Cromarty and Fix (still incognito), lumber toward Allahabad.

Mid-journey the group witnesses an Indian Suttee (see Glossary), and discover a princess following the body will be burned along with her late husband. Passepartout heroically rescues the princess, and a quick escape aboard the elephant ensues in order to evade angry mourners.

The group, including the princess, Aouda, arrives in Allahabad and successfully boards the train to Calcutta. Once there Sir Francis leaves the group, and the rest make haste toward the dock for the steamer bound for Hong Kong. However, Fogg is arrested and he and Passepartout are imprisoned and brought to trial. The charges leveled are against Passepartout, for whom Fogg is responsible as employer, for breaking the law by wearing shoes in the pagoda. Fogg quickly posts bail, and he, Passepartout, and Aouda rush to the dock and board the ship for Hong Kong just in time. Fix, still hoping to detain Fogg until an arrest warrant is forwarded, books passage as well in order to keep his foe in sight.

Once in Hong Kong, Fogg searches for Aouda's uncle, but discovers that he has moved to Holland. Fogg asks Aouda to join him on his journey, and she accepts. Passepartout books passage on a Yokohama, Japan-bound steamer.

Fix accompanies Passepartout to the docks and they discover the steamer will be leaving earlier than expected. Passepartout purchases the cabins. Fix, desperate to keep Fogg in Hong Kong (the last British colony in which he can arrest Fogg) asks Passepartout to join him for a quick drink before he returns to Fogg. Passepartout agrees. Fix deviously takes him to an opium den (see Glossary), and Passepartout passes out before he can get word to Fogg regarding the ship’s departure.

Passepartout awakes to find himself onboard the steamer to Yokohama, but without Fogg or Aouda. Meanwhile Fogg, having missed the steamer, engages a small vessel for the trip to Yokohama, and he, Aouda, and the ever-thwarted Fix sail away from Hong Kong, only to encounter a severe typhoon.

Fogg and Passepartout are reunited in Yokohama, but tensions between Passepartout and Fix become heated due to the opium den incident. Fix admits to Passepartout that he is trying to arrest Fogg as a bank robber and asks for Passepartout’s help. Passepartout refuses. The party, including Fix, boards a steamer to San Francisco.

After the twenty-day ocean crossing to California, the group boards a train bound for New York. Along the way, the train is attacked by Apache Indians, and Passepartout disappears after bravely disconnecting the runaway locomotive from the cars.

Fogg, with the assistance of the U.S. Cavalry, go in search of Passepartout in Apache territory. He is found, and returned. Having missed the train to Omaha, Fogg hires a sled with sails and crosses the icy American plains like a ship on water.

The party reach Omaha just in time to catch the train for Chicago. Here, they connect for the train for New York City. Once in New York, they head toward the pier but find the steamer to England sailed forty-five minutes earlier. Unruffled, Fogg discovers a boat soon leaving for France, and tries to persuade the captain to sail for England instead. The captain, Andrew Speedy, doesn’t budge at first, so Fogg offers a great sum. Speedy accepts and all are off for France.

On the Atlantic Ocean, the ship's crew commandeers the boat and locks Speedy in his cabin, changing the vessel's course toward Liverpool, England. Fogg, now in charge, orders the furnaces stoked at full steam, which eventually depletes the store of coal. With no more fuel, England far in the distance, and time running out, Fogg orders Speedy brought to deck. The angry Speedy confronts Fogg, who asks to buy the ship outright for a considerable sum. Speedy agrees, and Fogg and the crew strip the ship of its wood, throwing it into the boiler for fuel.

The ship arrives in Liverpool on the supposed eightieth day of the journey, and as Fogg is set to quickly board the train for London, Fix has him arrested and thrown in prison. After a night in jail, it is discovered the bank robber has already been captured, and Fogg is released. Thinking he has lost the wager, Fogg and Passepartout, along with Aouda, return dejectedly to London, where Fogg, now believing he is penniless, sets his affairs in order and makes arrangements for Aouda.

Once back in Fogg’s London home, Aouda expresses her love for Fogg and proposes marriage. Fogg accepts and sends Passepartout to the minister to make wedding arrangements. At the church Passepartout discovers that it is a day earlier than expected, and the actual eightieth day of the journey. Passepartout rushes home to inform Fogg, who then bolts to the Reform Club. Fogg arrives on the dot to the amazement of the club members, winning the wager by accomplishing what he set out to do: travel AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS.