Around the World in 80 Days

Set in 1872, Jules Verne's adventure novel begins in London with Phileas Fogg, a rich gentleman who lives alone and runs his days with mathematical precision. Having fired his valet for bringing shaving water two degrees too cool, he hires a Frenchman, Jean Passepartout. At the Reform Club, a newspaper claim that a newly opened railway line in India makes an 80-day trip around the globe possible leads Fogg to bet £20,000, half his fortune, that he can do it. He sets off by train with Passepartout and the rest of his money, due back at the club 80 days later.

Cristina Riesen, founder of We Are Play Lab, said it was probably her first favourite book.