Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Around the World in 80 Days,” a novel by Jules Verne published in 1872. This story was requested by our patron Gayla. Thank you for the lovely reading suggestions, Gayla!

In this story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employed French valet Passepartout attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days on a 20-thousand pound wager ( over two million pounds now) set by his friends. It is one of Verne's most acclaimed works.