by Steven Mars

Created on: March 20, 2009   Last Updated: March 27, 2009

Phileas Fogg, the main character, meets his servant Passepartout in chapter 1. The year is 1872 in London, England. He is a distinguished member of the reform club, but he is unknown to the scientific and learned societies. He had become a member of the reform club by recommendation of the Barings. They recommended him because he was rich enough for his checks to never bounce. A Frenchman by the name of Jean Passepartout took the place of aservant that had been dismissed by Phileas Fogg in his mansion named Saville Row.

In chapter 3, the wager that is the title of the book is made. Phileas Fogg wagers twenty thousand pounds against Andrew Stuart, an engineer that is Fogg's whist partner and several others that he can go around the world in eighty days. They warn him that eighty days is theminimum amount of time that anyone can circumnavigate the globe, so he would need perfect conditions to win the bet. Phileas Fogg is still positive he can do it. He makes note that he andPassepartout will catch the train to Dover at 8:45 p.m. on that day Wednesday, October 2, and bets that he will return before 8:45 p.m. Saturday, December 21.

In chapter 7, Phileas Fogg has a journal about his expected spenditure of time for each point inhis itinerary. He has a space for any time saved or time lost. He arrives at Suez with no time lost or gained: leaving London at 8:45 p.m. October 2, arriving at Paris on October 3 at 7:20 a.m., leaving Paris about one hour later at 8:40 a.m., arriving at Turin by Mont Cenis at 6:35 a.m. on October 4, leaving Turin about one hour later at 7:20 a.m., arriving at Brindisi October 5 at 4 p.m., sailing on the Mongolia one hour later at 5 p.m., arriving at Suez, Egypt on wednesday, October 9 at 11 a.m. The total time taken is the expected six and one half days.

They arrive two days ahead of schedule at Bombay, India on October 22 because the Mongolia goes faster than expected and there is a strong wind. Mr. Fogg makesnote of this in his notebook. Phileas Fogg buys an elephant for two thousand pounds so hecan travel through the Vindhia mountains and Indian forests. They reach Allahabad. After taking a train from there to Calcutta, he notices that he has lost the two days gained on thejourney through the Indian forests. It is October 25, the exact date he should arrive there according to his itinerary.

They take the steamer Rangoon from Calcutta to Hong Kong, a trip of about 3,500 miles that should take from ten to fifteen days. From Hong Kong, Passepartout

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