Three Men in a Boat
About the author
The author, Jerome K. Jerome, was born in Walsall, Staffordshire, England, on 2nd May 1859. His early upbringing was done in London and he studied in Marylebone Grammar School at the age of 15, he lost both his parents and had to take up a job as a railway clerk. Later on he took up different vocations- school teacher, actor, journalist. In 1888 he married Georgina Henrietta Stanley. His first publication was ‘Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow’, followed by the famous ‘Three Men in a Boat’. He became famous both as a playwright and novelist. He also served in the French Red Cross during the First World War before his death on 14th June 1927.
The theme
The complete novel is based upon a boat-trip taken by three friends down the river Thames from Kingston to Oxford. I believe that it was supposed to be a travelogue but it turned out to be a hilarious account of a journey. The story turns out to be humorous due to the brief anecdotes given by the author of previous incidences, the three friends’ behaviors and the occasional humorous uplift given by the author’s dog.
The plot
The story begins by introducing George, Harris, Jerome and Montmorency, a fox-terrier. The men are spending an evening in Jerome's room, smoking and discussing illnesses they fancy they suffer from. They conclude they are all suffering from 'overwork' and need a holiday. A stay in the country and a sea trip are both considered, then rejected (J. describes the bad experiences had by his brother-in-law and a friend on sea trips). Eventually, the three decide on a boating holiday, up the River Thames, from Kingston upon Thames to Oxford, during which they'll camp, notwithstanding Jerome's anecdotes regarding previous experiences with tents and camping stoves. They embark the following Saturday. George must go to work that morning ("George goes to sleep at a bank from ten to four each day, except Saturdays, when they wake him up and put him outside at two") so Jerome and
The author, Jerome K. Jerome, was born in Walsall, Staffordshire, England, on 2nd May 1859. His early upbringing was done in London and he studied in Marylebone Grammar School at the age of 15, he lost both his parents and had to take up a job as a railway clerk. Later on he took up different vocations- school teacher, actor, journalist. In 1888 he married Georgina Henrietta Stanley. His first publication was ‘Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow’, followed by the famous ‘Three Men in a Boat’. He became famous both as a playwright and novelist. He also served in the French Red Cross during the First World War before his death on 14th June 1927.
The theme
The complete novel is based upon a boat-trip taken by three friends down the river Thames from Kingston to Oxford. I believe that it was supposed to be a travelogue but it turned out to be a hilarious account of a journey. The story turns out to be humorous due to the brief anecdotes given by the author of previous incidences, the three friends’ behaviors and the occasional humorous uplift given by the author’s dog.
The plot
The story begins by introducing George, Harris, Jerome and Montmorency, a fox-terrier. The men are spending an evening in Jerome's room, smoking and discussing illnesses they fancy they suffer from. They conclude they are all suffering from 'overwork' and need a holiday. A stay in the country and a sea trip are both considered, then rejected (J. describes the bad experiences had by his brother-in-law and a friend on sea trips). Eventually, the three decide on a boating holiday, up the River Thames, from Kingston upon Thames to Oxford, during which they'll camp, notwithstanding Jerome's anecdotes regarding previous experiences with tents and camping stoves. They embark the following Saturday. George must go to work that morning ("George goes to sleep at a bank from ten to four each day, except Saturdays, when they wake him up and put him outside at two") so Jerome and