A short adventure, which for the time must have been exhilarating to read. Current reflections on the British empire and the peoples of non-European nations will reveal a less favorable perspective. 

Upon re-reading it recently, I have come to the realization that little 11 year old me had no idea what she was reading. I should probably re-read everything I read before the age of 15, but anyways...

This book reminded me of why I fell in love with English classics in the first place. The world-building, the pace, the dialogue, it all captivates me and asks me to hold on tight for the ride. While it is truly an exquisite book that will always have a place in my heart, it is not without glaring flaws. 

Period-typical misogyny and racism is abundant. As an Indian, I was very much offended about the way Indian culture of those times has been written. While some things hold truth (no shoes in the temple and the Sati pratha come to mind), in some cases Jules Verne is totally talking out of his butt, and clearly has founded his ideas on India of those times on unreliable sources. The language used in describing people not of British descent is offensive, and the colonized countries they pass through have been described as 'benefitting culturally and economically from British rule', at par with the thoughts of those times. 

The pacing starts out fast, loses it in the middle, but regains it around the end. If you have watched the movie before reading this book, beware those two are totally different.