Amazingly this book was written over a hundred years ago but it has travelled well through time. The characters are likeable and harmless but very amusing. This book started out, apparently, as a serious travel guide along the Thames but the style of writing lended itself better to a funny story relating the mishaps and misfortunes of three, almost hapless, friends on a boating trip. It ended rather abruptly as I was just starting to think....this is going on a bit! An enjoyable read.

‘Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need - a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends, worth the name, someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and a little more than enough to drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing … Time to drink in life’s sunshine - time to listen to the Aeolian music that the wind or God draws from the human heart-strings around us - time to -

I beg your pardon, really, I quite forgot.’

Jerome K. Jerome’s two comic novels aren’t about anything in particular. In fact, calling them novels is a stretch, since they’re somewhere between semi-autobiographical travel narratives and a collection of light essays. They give the wonderful impression of being in the company of a very good friend of an evening, perhaps on a park bench in the summer or round a campfire, perhaps slightly tipsy, reminiscing and expounding on the meaning of life. The conversation ebbs and flows, veering from cackles of laughter to long somber silences.

n  ’…it seems so full of comfort and of strength, the night. In its great presence, our small sorrows creep away, ashamed.’n

What really makes Jerome funny is, as I think is often the case, the way he captures universal experiences that effortlessly draw us into our own recollections, our own escape up the river. One of my favourites is a little sketch in Chapter 12 about the frustrations of sharing a space with two people trying to hide their involvement with each other:

n  ’Half an hour later, you think you will try a pipe in the conservatory. The only chair in the place is occupied by Emily; and John Edward, if the language of clothes can be relied on, has evidently been sitting on the floor.’n

In fact, it’s actually quite difficult to pluck out sections of the text, as I’ve been trying to do, and really convey the humour of it all, because the prose flows in such a conversational style. You find yourself snorting with laughter, but in the same way that two friends both laugh at some absurd in-joke that’s impossible to explain to anyone else, and never necessary to articulate to the only other person who understands.

n  ’”We must be careful,” I said, “I knew a man once -“

Harris looked at his watch.

“It won’t take half an hour,” I said; “it��s a true story, and -“

“Don’t waste it,” said George, “I am told that there are rainy evenings in the Black Forest; we may be glad of it. What we have to do now is finish this list.”

Now I come to think of it, I never did get off that story; something always interrupted it. And it really was true.’n

Three Men in a Boat is perfect - there is something about the balance between the escapist balm of the trip to my own back yard in Oxford, the humour, and the more somber reflections that is perfectly pitched. Three Men on the Bummel, although still good, suffers from Jerome’s pervading disappointment that his serious works were never taken seriously, or even really noticed at all. There are some wry if rather maudlin nods to the reader as the textual, autobiographical Jerome has advanced in years and become a successful if unfulfilled writer. We must remember, of course, that Jerome himself did not have the independent means of the British literary elite - reluctant though he was to capitalise on the success of Three Men, a sequel must have been too tempting to avoid. It reminds me of discerning actors or directors caving to the Marvel paycheck.

n  ’I wrote three paragraphs of a story, and then read them over to myself. Some unkind things have been said about my work; but nothing has been written which would have done justice to those three paragraphs. I threw them into the waste-paper basket, and sat trying to remember what, if any, charitable institutions provided pensions for decayed authors.’n

Even with this tinge of sadness, Three Men on the Bummel still has some lovely moments. The description of an ill-fated hike in Bavaria mirrors many of my own family holidays, where overambitious excursions into the countryside end in encroaching darkness, in the pouring rain, after hours of desperate, hungry trudging towards a rest stop. I also like Jerome’s essay on the English mass-tourist, rising out of the growing affluence of Empire, becoming the ‘missionary of the English tongue’, as well as his unnervingly prophetic commentary on the German national character:

n  ’… from what I have observed of the German character I should not be surprised to hear that when a man in Germany is condemned to death he is given a piece of rope, and told to go and hang himself. It would save the State much trouble and expense, and I can see the German criminal taking that piece of rope home with him, reading up carefully the police instructions, and proceeding to carry them out in his kitchen …

The curious thing is that [a German], who as an individual is as helpless as a child, becomes, the moment he puts on the uniform, and intelligent being, capable of responsibility and initiative. The German can rule others, be ruled by others, but he cannot rule himself … Hitherto, the German has had the blessed good fortune to be exceptionally well-governed … When his troubles will begin will be when by chance anything goes wrong with the governing machine.’n

Well, what do you know?

(30/1/24)

George, William Samuel Harris, J. and Montmorency, a lively fox-terrier, boat up the Thames, take in the scenery and meet several memorable characters along the way. J. narrates a good time was had by all, especially by the dog. This is another story where I noted that some things never change. A close someone remarked a couple decades ago that work fascinates me, that I delight in watching it accumulate all day long. Now I know who authored that dig. I think that if we’re to be upbraided in life for our shortcomings, the words should be original, no?

Bummel I’ve now learned is the German word for a stroll. The same three men, minus the dog, travel through Germany in Three Men on the Bummel. I found the tale less humorous than the trip up the River Thames. Still, there’s enough here to leave me with a sense of enjoyment. I was unfamiliar with Mr. Jerome until recently. His witty reportage deserves a continued audience.

If you are feeling nostalgic for the good old days of say, Charlie Chaplin - only British and not American, like pre-Titanic and pre-WWI, when if one were lucky enough to be well off enough not to work and not forced to grow up before the age of say, twenty-five, then this book may fit the bill.

It's not something I would have picked up on my own, but for these pages only. I started this as a free Kindle book but felt like I was missing something reading it that way. And was I ever. I picked up the Oxford World's Classic from the library and experienced a 180 degree turn reading experience. There were maps and a glossary, a chronology of Jerome's life, and of course an introduction. Let's hear it for the depth of knowledge! Hip-hip Hooray!

Today I read an article in the newspaper about a private school in my metropolis that emptied its library of books, save a few classics and magazines. I cannot tell you how sad that makes me. This private school that upper-middle class and above parents pay for is sending its students to the public library for books. Let's hear it for that school. Boo! Boo! Boo! On the other hand a "freelibrary" box has opened an a route I sometimes take.

But I digress - which, incidentally, the narrator does much of as he and his friends row a two-oared skiff down the Thames. Leisurely rowing on a slow flowing stream lends itself to that - mind wandering. But not on a river with locks and steam-powered vessels and fast curves! Jolted from thought, hilarous scenes pursue; there are some very good old fashioned slapstick scenarios here.

It's also a bit of a travelogue. Information is given on the history of the towns they pass, or on the landscape as it was in then, in 1899.

As a read, it was three stars for me. But I've gone with four because a) Jerome was able to maintain the humor from beginning to end and b) this Oxford edition is so well done. It should be since Oxford was their destination.

(This review is based on Three Men in a Boat. I did not read Three Men on the Bummel.)

I am amazed by how fresh and vibrant these works still read. Three Men in a Boat is essentially some of the cast of The Office, trying to have fun on a vacation on the river. Three Men on the Bummel consists of the same trio trying to find rest and relaxation away from their families on a bike trip in Germany. If you are newly married, you will find this extra hilarious.

My dad says he can always tell when I'm reading this book because I'll just be sitting there chuckling. Something about British humor just gets me. It reminds me of the three stooges.

It is an interesting book to read as it transports you back in time 300 years. Great introduction in the Penguins Classics version that helps set the stage. Basically, the industrial revolution produced a working class and this was one of the first books written for the average working stiff. It basically reads like a sticom with lots of memes from the 1800s (eg. every pub claiming that Queen Victoria had been there). Very light fare and the jokes tell you a lot about the times. The jokes also have a la plus ca change element that I found enjoyable. Only three stars as I think you need to be somebody that likes the idea of being transported back in time for light reading about nothing in particular. Some fun jokes. This compendium has both books, each ~175 pages.

Džeroms K. Džeroms ir angļu rakstnieks un humorists, kurš vislabāk ir pazīstams ar savu humoristisko noveli „Trīs vīri laivā”. Šīs grāmatas notikumi norisinās Lielbritānijā, precīzāk, uz Temzas ceļā no Londonas uz Oksfordu aptuveni 19.gadsimtā. Šī grāmata stāsta par 3 vīru atvaļinājumu, kurā viņi izvēlējās braukt, lai būtu kāda novirze no viņu ikdienišķajām dzīvēm. Šajā grāmatā ir 4 tēli: 3 vīri- Džordžs, Džeroms un Hariss - un Džeroma suns Montmorensijs.
Grāmatas sižets ar dažādu smieklīgu atgadījumu palīdzību lēnām kāpinās līdz brīdim, kad sasniedz kulmināciju, kas ir Oksfordas sasniegšana. Pēc tām sižets lēnām krītas līdz brīdim, kad viņi atbrauc atpakaļ uz Londonu. Galvenais grāmatas tēls ir Džordžs. Manuprāt, viņš ir ļoti pieredzējis un izglītots cilvēks, jo viņš atradīs veidu kā atrisināt jebkuru problēmu un viņš vienmēr zina kā rīkoties jebkura veida situācijā. Lasot es pamanīju, ka Džordžs ir līderis un viņš pieņem lēmumus, kuriem draugi seko. Viņš ir drosmīgs, bet nav pārgalvīgs un necenšas eksperimentēt, tādēļ viņš arī ir uzmanīgs.
Autora rakstīšanas stils nav ļoti izpušķots un zinātnisks. Autors ir centies rakstīt ikdienišķā valodā, neizmantojot nekādus garus un sarežģītus vārdus. Autors arī nelietoja daudz tēlainus izteiksmes līdzekļus. Teksts lielākoties bija sarakstīts sarunu valodas stilā, tādā kādā runātu divi pazīstami cilvēki par dienas notikumiem. Tādēļ arī tekstu bija ļoti viegli lasīt.
Lasot šo grāmatu, es vairāk smējos, nekā dziļi iedziļinājos, jo tekstā bija ļoti daudz kuriozi brīži. Beidzot lasīt šo grāmatu es vēl ik pa laikam atcerējos kādu no grāmatas kuriozajiem brīžiem un tas man lika pasmaidīt.
Vispārēji šī grāmata vēstīja par to, ka jebkāds ceļojums ar draugiem noteikti būs piedzīvojumu un kuriozu brīžu pilns. Šo grāmatu es ieteiktu lasīt tādiem cilvēkiem kā man- tas ir tādiem kam nepatīk lasīt, bet ja tie ir spiesti to darīt viņi labprāt vēlas lasīt kaut ko kas ir smieklīgs, aizraujošs un nav garlaicīgs.

This is two short novels about three friends on pleasure trips, one on an English river and the other by train and bicycle through Germany. Mostly dry humor about human foibles. There were some amusing passages, but on the whole it palled. There are some remarks on the manners and customs of the Germans that I think will strike the modern reader as strange and unsettling--the World Wars have not yet been fought and the German love of rules, order, and discipline is only amusing and not yet ominous.

I accept the fact that I am obviously a fascist, an anti British slug, or just plain stupid. I tried for over 9 days to read this book and only got to page 123 before I buried it in the back yard.
My wife thought it was wonderfully funny: I thought it was just a waste of time and not funny.
What I did enjoy greatly is the Introduction.
Enough said.

Not a good read.

A comic masterpiece that has never been out of print since it was first published in 1889, Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat includes an introduction and notes by Jeremy Lewis in Penguin Classics.
Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) :)
Martyrs to hypochondria and general seediness, J. and his friends George and Harris decide that a jaunt up the Thames would suit them to a 'T'. But when they set off, they can hardly predict the troubles that lie ahead with tow-ropes, unreliable weather forecasts and tins of pineapple chunks - not to mention the devastation left in the wake of J.'s small fox-terrier Montmorency. Three Men in a Boat was an instant success when it appeared in 1889, and, with its benign escapism, authorial discussions and wonderful evocation of the late-Victorian 'clerking classes', it hilariously captured the spirit of its age.

In his introduction, Jeremy Lewis examines Jerome K. Jerome's life and times, and the changing world of Victorian England he depicts - from the rise of a new mass-culture of tabloids and bestselling novels to crazes for day tripping and bicycling.

Just read first book - hilarious for the first 3/4 and then dried up a bit. Reviews on the "Bummel" weren't very enthusiastic, so I skipped that. "Three Men...." had me laughing out loud and my wife too when I would retell what had gotten me all giggly. Very fun. May purchase so I have it for a future re-read when I need to lighten my spirits.