Around the World in Eighty Days

Starred review from February 14, 2005
The sounds of a chugging steam engine and the orchestral movie-score strains that open this program set the stage for Dale's top-drawer performance of this much-loved adventure story. As one could set a clock by eccentric Phileas Fogg's daily routine, Fogg shocks everyone when he bets his personal fortune that he can complete the trip proposed in the book's title and then sets off on the wild trip. Listeners can almost envision a twinkle in Dale's eye as he delivers the lines of Fogg's traveling companion and man-servant Passepartout in an entertaining, though not over-the-top, French accent. Dale's vibrant, never-hurried reading is pleasantly punctuated by background music of the era at chapter breaks. A bonus afterword notes that this new edition pays homage to Listening Library's very first recording in 1955, of this same book. The added material also mentions the historical and social context of Verne's writings about other cultures, the tone of which would be considered insensitive or offensive by many people today. Ages 8-up.

Commemorating Listening Library's 50th Anniversary, the publisher reprises the first book recorded as an audiobook in 1955. This new edition, read by Jim Dale, offers a good, if not brilliant, rendition of Verne's 1873 classic. Dale paces himself to Verne's narrative, which seems a bit slow and plodding. As the urgency of the circumnavigation increases, Dale's characters seem to gather more vitality. When Phileas Fogg, the focused English gentleman, and his resilient servant, Passepartout, encounter the boisterous Americans, Dale's interplay with the characters shines. Listeners will certainly enjoy some of Verne's satire, the geography, and the "modern" advances of travel in their nineteenth-century context. R.F.W. 2006 Audie Award Winner (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

April 1, 2005
Gr 6 Up -In this classic by Jules Verne, the year is 1872 in London. The mysterious Phileas Fogg has accepted a challenge from other gentlemen at the Reform Club to circle the globe in 80 days. He sets out on his journey with his loyal valet, Passepartout. Along the way, London detective Mr. Fix follows them, suspecting that Fogg is a bank robber seeking to escape London and evade the authorities. Relying on transportation available at that time -locomotives, steamboats, elephants, wind powered sledges, and trading vessels -Fogg and Passepartout overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to win the bet. This adventure story offers listeners a peek at the past -Victorian England, colonial India, mysterious Southeast Asia, and the wild American West -and remains relevant to today's readers. The recording opens with a brief biography about Jules Verne, setting the stage for the travel back in time. Michael Prichard's rich baritone voice resonates as he narrates the story. He successfully uses inflection and accents to differentiate each character. A fine addition to classic recorded book collections. Note that this Spring Listening Library is releasing an unabridged version of this classic narrated by actor Jim Dale. -"Stephanie Bange, Wilmington Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

When the English gentleman, Phileas Fogg, wagers with members of his London club that he can travel around the world in eighty days, few people could guess at the strange adventures he and his servant, Jean Passepartout, will encounter on their extraordinary voyage. David Colacci does a fine job in bringing this quaint nineteenth-century novel into our time. Instead of performing accents and gender distinctions that are totally accurate, Colacci adds an amusing flavor to them. The result is an enjoyable listening experience of a work that lives again. E.E.L. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


This audiobook is a rare treat that offers a peek at the past yet remains relevant today. When first published in 1873, Jules Verne's novel represented merely a dream for most people. Despite the quantum evolution of transportation since then, the book is still delightful--from Phineas Fogg's initial bet to the final culmination of his adventure. Michael Prichard's delivery is reminiscent of the no-nonsense style used by the narrators of newsreels. He adeptly captures Fogg's audacious nature, as well as the unique personality of his newly employed valet, Passepartout. The focal point of the story remains Fogg's attempt to circumnavigate the globe using every available type of transportation, including trains, boats, and elephants. No matter how Fogg travels or what he encounters, Prichard brings out his joys, fears, and bravura. D.J.S. SYNC 2015 © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine