Verne's travel saga about two men circling the globe in order to prove that modern technology allowed them to do so in record time has never lost its appeal even for today's audiences who are familiar with the speed of jet travel. What exactly constitutes the fascination of this obviously old-fashioned novel? Why do we want to read about Fogg's achievements when we can do so much better?

In a world where speed and technology have become commonplace, has traveling has lost its romance? What makes this journey so exciting? Are there modern travels that equal its fascination? Or is there any other form of modern literature that has taken the place of an old-fashioned adventure/travel story?

1. The opening chapter of the novel tells us all the things that Fogg is not.

What is the purpose of this approach? Is Verne trying to describe or...