Jules Verne's novel, Around the world in 80 days, has inspired (激发) many people to travel around the world in unusual ways. It has also inspired several films, TV series, and even theater productions.
So where did Jules Verne get the idea from? Verne told a reporter that he had been sitting in a cafe in Paris one day when he saw a newspaper advertisement for the first tourist trip around the world in 1872.
In Jules Verne's story, a wealthy English gentleman, Phileas Fogg, accepts a bet(赌注)of 20, 000 that he can travel round the world in 80 days. Phileas Fogg is a man who is very hard to please. For example, his servant loses his job because he brings Fogg some water to wash in that is 29℃ but not 30℃.
Then Fogg has a new servant, Passepartout, and on Wednesday, 2nd October,1872, they set off on the journey round the world. While he's in India, Fogg falls in love with an Indian girl, Aouda. The journey ends back in London with Fogg believing that he has come back a day too late and that he has lost the bet. He tells Aouda that he cannot marry her now, as he's too poor. Passepartout learns that they have got the date wrong. They travelled east, so they still have a day left. Fogg hurries to his club and arrives there in time to win the bet and the story ends happily.
The story is an easy read. The humorous twists and turns of the story keep you interested during your reading. It is an exciting story that I would strongly advise all my friends to read.