Around the World in Eighty Days - Jules Verne

I think the key to the charm of the classic yarn of Victorian English stiff upper lippery is that its written by a Frenchman. Phileas Fogg is heroic, unflappable and generally portrayed as a likable eccentric throughout this unlikely tale. Contrast is provided by his French valet, the excitable and acrobatic Passepartout. The story doesn't bear too much scrutiny over issues such as character motivation or the plausibility of the final twist, but taken as a light-hearted romp it's a fine read.