Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days invites readers on a whirlwind adventure that traverses the globe in record time. Central to the tale is Phileas Fogg, whose meticulously ordered life is turned upside down by an audacious bet. Alongside his loyal valet Passepartout and a series of surprising companions, Fogg's race against the clock offers thrilling encounters and unexpected twists.

The Beginning of an Extraordinary Quest

At the start, Phileas Fogg's life is the epitome of predictability, much to the satisfaction of his newly employed valet, Passepartout. Known for his regimented lifestyle, Fogg is reputed to do little aside from his daily visits to the Reform Club, where he engages in reading The Times and playing whist. "His daily habits were quite open to observation; but whatever he did was so exactly the same thing that he had always done before, that the wits of the curious were fairly puzzled." Such placid routine seems unshakeable until Fogg, spurred by a news item about a bank robbery, claims he can circumnavigate the world in just eighty days.

Fogg's bold statement quickly escalates into a wager of twenty thousand pounds with his club partners, prompting immediate preparations for departure. Passepartout, expecting a quiet life of stability, is thrown into a whirlwind of activity as he packs the essentials—clothing, toiletries, and a fortune in banknotes—into a carpetbag. Their journey commences from the Dover-to-Calais train on the evening of October 2, 1872, just shy of two hours after the bet is sealed.

Unforeseen Challenges and Companions

Joining Fogg and Passepartout in this high-stakes adventure are unexpected adversaries. Detective Fix mistakenly concludes that Fogg is the elusive bank thief. As the Mongolia steamer approaches Suez, Fix awaits both the travelers' arrival and a warrant for Fogg's arrest. With no warrant forthcoming, Fix decides to shadow Fogg, becoming an uninvited companion on their voyage. In Bombay, Fix seizes upon Passepartout's accidental transgression at a temple to further complicate matters.

However, the true adversary throughout this journey is time and the delays it brings. The supposed transcontinental railway in India proves incomplete, compelling Fogg to purchase an elephant and hire a guide. Accompanied by a British officer they befriend on the train, the group embarks on a hazardous trek. Along the way, they rescue Aouda, a woman facing a grim fate, and she becomes part of their burgeoning entourage. Although they reach Calcutta in time, they are detained, but manage to post bail and sail onward to Hong Kong, with Fix still in pursuit.

Trials Across Continents

In Hong Kong, Fix's machinations continue, leading to Passepartout's intoxication through a potent cocktail of drink and opium. He alone boards the Carnatic, which sets sail for Yokohama, leaving Fogg behind. To reconnect with Passepartout, Fogg charters the Tankadere, braving a fierce typhoon on the way to Shanghai. Meanwhile, stranded and broke in Yokohama, Passepartout joins a circus troupe, showcasing his adaptability. The group reunites when the Rangoon brings Fogg and his party to Yokohama.

With no immediate means to arrest Fogg, Fix travels alongside them to the United States aboard the steamer General Grant. The American leg of their journey is fraught with excitement and peril: a confrontation with Colonel Stamp Proctor, delays caused by buffalo herds, and an Indian attack that sees Passepartout heroically disconnect the train cars to thwart the assailants. Fogg organizes a cavalry rescue to retrieve his valet, and the adventure continues with renewed vigor.

Race Against Time and Final Reckoning

Undeterred by setbacks, Fogg charters the Henrietta, assumes command, and even resorts to burning parts of the ship for fuel. Back in London, an unforeseen arrest by Fix is remedied when the true criminal is caught, yet the clock ticks on Fogg's deadline. The journey's conclusion is bittersweet; while he technically completes the circumnavigation within eighty days, he is unable to claim victory due to a perceived delay.

As Fogg and Aouda prepare to marry, Passepartout's discovery of the international dateline's effect—a lost day—saves the day. Realizing it is Saturday instead of Sunday, Fogg arrives at the Reform Club with mere seconds to spare, triumphantly winning the wager. Despite spending nearly all his winnings on the journey, Fogg's heart is fuller with the prospect of a future with Aouda. His grand adventure, though financially neutral, enriches him in ways beyond monetary gain, proving the journey worthwhile.