You probably picture the hot air balloon. It’s the one iconic image that everyone associates with Jules Verne Around the World in 80 Days. It’s on the book covers, the movie posters, and the theme park rides. But here’s the kicker: Phileas Fogg never actually flies in a balloon in the original book. Not once.
Honestly, it’s one of the greatest "Mandela Effect" moments in literature. Verne mentioned a balloon as a possibility in one chapter, but Fogg ends up taking trains, steamboats, and even a very famous elephant instead. The balloon only became a thing because of the 1956 movie, and it’s stuck in our collective brains ever since.
When Jules Verne published this story in 1872, he wasn't just writing a fun adventure. He was writing a techno-thriller. At the time, the world was shrinking. The Suez Canal had just opened in 1869, the First Transcontinental Railroad had finally linked the American coasts, and the Indian railways were connecting the sub-continent. For the first time in human history, you didn't have to be a pirate or a professional explorer to circle the globe. You just needed a fat wallet and a very precise watch.
What Jules Verne Around the World in 80 Days Got Right (and Wrong)
Verne was obsessed with research. He spent hours at the library and reading scientific journals to make sure Fogg’s itinerary was actually possible. He even based the "80 days" timeline on a real advertisement from Thomas Cook, the travel agency that basically invented the concept of the global tour.
But Fogg isn't your typical hero. He’s basically a human calculator. He doesn't look at the scenery. He doesn't care about the Taj Mahal or the sights of Hong Kong. To him, the world is just a series of obstacles to be overcome by a clock. This was Verne’s way of poking fun at the Victorian obsession with "standard time" and industrial efficiency.
👉 See also: Album Hopes and Fears: Why We Obsess Over Music That Doesn't Exist Yet
The Real-Life Phileas Fogg: George Francis Train
While Fogg is fictional, he wasn't pulled out of thin air. Most historians agree Verne was inspired by a wild American businessman named George Francis Train.
Train was... well, he was a lot. He was an eccentric millionaire who actually traveled around the world in 80 days in 1870, two years before the book came out. But unlike the quiet, reserved Fogg, Train was a loud-mouthed "influencer" of his time who ended up getting arrested in France for his political views. When Verne’s book became a global smash hit, Train was furious. He spent the rest of his life shouting to anyone who would listen, "Verne stole my thunder! I am Phileas Fogg!" He even did the trip again in 67 days just to prove he was faster than a book character.
That Time-Zone Twist
The most famous part of the plot is the ending. Fogg thinks he’s lost the bet by five minutes because he arrived in London "late." Then, he realizes he gained a day by traveling East across the International Date Line.
Here’s a nerdy fact: The International Date Line didn't officially exist when Verne wrote the book. It wasn't established until 1884. Verne just understood the math of the Earth’s rotation better than almost anyone else writing at the time. He used the "lost day" as a literary device before the world had even agreed on how to handle time zones.
✨ Don't miss: The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads: Why This Live Album Still Beats the Studio Records
The Nellie Bly Connection: Turning Fiction Into Fact
In 1889, a journalist named Nellie Bly decided to see if the book was actually realistic. She didn't have a team or a huge budget. She just had a small bag and a lot of grit.
Bly actually stopped in France to meet Jules Verne during her journey. The old author was skeptical. He told her if she did it in 79 days, he’d "applaud with both hands." She did it in 72. Her success turned Jules Verne Around the World in 80 Days from a speculative adventure into a proven reality. It changed how people viewed travel forever. It wasn't just for rich gentlemen in London clubs anymore; it was something a woman with a single suitcase could do.
Why We Still Care About Phileas Fogg
The book is kinda problematic if you read it with modern eyes. It’s got a lot of that 19th-century British imperialist "we’re better than everyone" energy. But at its core, it’s a story about the breaking of barriers.
Before Verne, "the world" was a vast, terrifying mystery. After Verne, the world was a map. It was a grid. It was something you could conquer with a steam engine and a dream.
🔗 Read more: Wrong Address: Why This Nigerian Drama Is Still Sparking Conversations
Actionable Insights for Fans and Travelers
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of Verne or even attempt your own "80 days" style adventure, keep these things in mind:
- Read the original text: Skip the abridged versions. Verne’s actual writing is full of weird, snarky humor and "high vocabulary" that makes the characters feel way more alive than the cartoons.
- The "Slow Travel" Challenge: In 2026, you can fly around the world in about 40 hours. If you want the Fogg experience, try a "no-fly" trip. Using only trains and ships forces you to see the world the way Fogg (eventually) did—as a tangible, physical space rather than just a blur out of a plane window.
- Check out the "Jules Verne Trophy": This is a real-life prize for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by a yacht. The current record is under 41 days. We’ve come a long way since the elephant ride in India.
Ultimately, Jules Verne Around the World in 80 Days isn't just a book about a bet. It’s about the moment humanity realized we could finally go anywhere. It’s about the thrill of the departure and the relief of the arrival. Even without the hot air balloon, it’s still the ultimate travel story.
To truly appreciate the legacy of this work, you should compare the fictional route Fogg took with the real-life journey of Nellie Bly. Studying their logistics side-by-side reveals how Verne's "fictional" science was actually the blueprint for the modern travel industry.