How Accurate Is 'Around The World In 80 Days: Companion To The PBS Series'?

As someone who's both read the book and watched the PBS series, I can say 'Around the World in 80 Days: Companion to the PBS Series' does a solid job bridging the gap between Jules Verne's classic and the modern adaptation. The companion book nails the historical context, especially how travel methods have evolved since the 1870s. It points out clever details like how Phileas Fogg's route would be impossible today due to geopolitical changes, while acknowledging where the series took creative liberties for dramatic effect. The maps and timeline comparisons are particularly accurate, showing side-by-side how the original journey stacks up against modern logistics. Where it shines is explaining production choices - why certain locations stood in for others, or how they recreated period-accurate transportation. It doesn't claim to be a scholarly work, but for fans wanting deeper insight, it hits the mark.

Having geeked out over both Verne's novel and this PBS companion, I appreciate how it layers multiple types of accuracy. Historically, it's meticulous about Victorian-era details - right down to explaining why certain ships' speeds were adjusted for the series to maintain tension. The book debunks myths too, like the common belief that hot air balloons were part of Fogg's original journey (they weren't).

Where it really excels is comparing literary accuracy versus screen adaptation needs. The companion admits when the series compressed timelines or combined characters, but justifies these changes with production notes. There's a fantastic section analyzing how cultural sensitivities impacted location choices - like using Morocco instead of India for certain scenes to avoid colonialist tropes.

The technical accuracy of the companion stands out. It includes interviews with the show's consultants who explain everything from period-correct luggage to how they calculated fuel consumption for steamships. The only slight miss is underestimating how much passport regulations would complicate a modern remake of Fogg's journey - a fun thought experiment they briefly touch on but don't fully explore.

This companion book surprised me by how thoroughly it examines accuracy across three dimensions: the original novel, historical reality, and TV production constraints. It doesn't just list facts - it shows the thought process behind adaptation decisions. When the series had Fogg rescue Aouda earlier than in the book, the companion explains this was to give her character more agency, backed by feminist critiques of Verne's era.

The geographical accuracy is particularly impressive. The book includes GPS coordinates comparing Fogg's fictional stops to real-world locations today, noting what's changed. You learn how the Suez Canal's 1870s traffic differs from modern shipping lanes, or why the series used Mongolia instead of China for certain scenes due to filming restrictions.

What makes it stand out from typical companion books is its transparency. It admits when the PBS version took liberties, like exaggerating train speeds for suspense, but provides production schedules proving why they needed these adjustments. The attention to period-accurate technology - from telegraph systems to banknote designs - shows obsessive research that enhances rewatches.