How a fictional wager sparked a global obsession with racing against the clock
In short: Jules Verne’s 1872 novel about a gentleman circumnavigating the globe in eighty days was more than a literary success. It captured a new era of rapid transit, inspiring real-world adventurers to test the limits of human speed. From record-breaking cyclists to scouts, the race to beat Fogg’s fictional pace continues today.
Published in 1872, Jules Verne’s adventure novel follows Phileas Fogg, a precise London gentleman who wagers £20,000—roughly £2.5 million in 2024 currency—that he can circle the planet in eighty days. The narrative was fueled by 19th-century technological leaps, specifically the 1869 completion of the American transcontinental railroad and the Suez Canal, alongside the 1870 linking of Indian railways. These developments transformed global travel from a heroic feat into a scheduled, tourist-like possibility.
The story’s famous twist—gaining a day by traveling eastward across meridians—was a concept Verne had contemplated for years. He drew inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe’s 1841 tale about the date discrepancy caused by circumnavigation, which he had analyzed in an 1864 essay. While critics argue that a man of Fogg’s exactitude should have accounted for this, Verne maintained that the plot device was the essential spark for the entire work. During its initial serialization, the public was so captivated that some readers believed the journey was real, leading to bets and lobbying from transport companies.
The book’s influence persisted long after its publication. In 1889, Nellie Bly completed the journey in 72 days, while Elizabeth Bisland finished in 76.5 days. Later, in 1928, a 15-year-old Danish scout named Palle Huld finished the trip in 44 days. Modern attempts have ranged from Michael Palin’s 79-day television journey in 1988 to Mark Beaumont’s 2017 cycling record of 78 days, 14 hours, and 40 minutes. The legacy of the wager remains a benchmark for human endurance and the enduring allure of global exploration.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Around the World in Eighty Days
- Also: Art Institute of Chicago — Around the World in Eighty Days Invitation · CC0 (data); description CC BY 4.0
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