Three Men in a Boat

What fun. Saw this book referred to in another. This one is better.. Escapist, cozy book about another life, when things were much simpler, safer and quieter - esp if you were young men of means. Light hearted and full of quotable passages of wry looks at our very human follies.. A small treasure for a good mood.

I loved this story. The author held my interest all the way to the surprise ending. He has real insight into human character and never spared even his protagonist from the revelation of his foibles. Truly, a good read.

I really liked this story even though it was first published in 1889. It was witty and clever, and I was chuckling every other page. The narrator was just what I imagine a Victorian era gentleman would be. He made fun of his flaws and those of the culture without actually acknowledging they were flaws at all. It was smart and critical and extremely funny. If you enjoy English history or taking trips with friends, you'll enjoy this book. The only fault I found with the story was the strangely morbid and uncharacteristic scene regarding suicide by drowning.

This is one of my favorite "period pieces". Witty, understated, and very funny; it gives a delightful look into Victorian England's customs, speech and even the food! Not a gut-busting comedy, and not a "can't put it down" plot, but well worth reading if you like the quiet humor Jane Austen or the insights into a past way of life, such as you find in "Anne of Green Gables". I have read it at least three times and will read it again a few more, before I die.

Great good fun. Surprisingly up-to-date for a 19th-century memoir. Beautifully written and accessible, full of gentle humor. The source of that perennial joke "I love work - I can stare at it for hours." Who knew?
An entertaining look at a world that has changed dramatically and is surprisingly close to our own.

Published in 1889, this work by Jerome Jerome presents as very contemporary. Much of the humor is, completely relevant to this day and age, and any bit that may not be, is yet far removed from being considered antiquated.

On one hand this is a work that was wont to present itself as a travel guide combined with helpful tips for navigating the river and instructions on methodology, and on the other hand it is a memoir of Jerome's adventure up the River Thames with two of his pals (George & Harris - who `always does know a place round the corner where you can get something brilliant in the drinking line.' : 183) and Montmorency, a fox terrier with `four times as much original sin in them as other dogs are.' (1671) There are also many aspects of historical recount laced throughout the work (e.g. 1215 AD, Magna Carta - 1460).

ALL of this, comes with some degree of expected exaggeration. But it's fun, and generally funny.

The trip commences when all the gentlemen, feeling trapped by society, hypocondriacal and generally `overworked' (81), decide it prudent to adventure, two weeks, up the river Thames. Packing supplies to begin had its own issues. Along the way Jerome recounts experiences they had on the trip, experiences they've had previously, stories - not completely without embellishment, foibles, follies, varying degrees of humiliation and a few personal victories.

Some good lines:

`We must not think of the things we could do with, but only of the things that we can't do without.' (289)

`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.' (301)

`Cheese, like oil, makes too much of itself. It wants the whole boat to itself.' (362)

To say... something... of the dog: `Montmorency's ambition in life, is to get in the way and be sworn at... to get somebody to stumble over him, and curse him steadily for an hour, is his highest aim and object...' (472)

`We cannot work, we cannot think, unless our stomach wills so. It dictates to us our emotions, our passions.' (1239)

On the fishing: `I never knew anybody catch anything, up the Thames, except minnows and dead cats...' (sic) - (2221)

The trip concludes when the gents decide to abandon, to a dock keep (not telling him so, of course), `The Pride of The Thames'... aka, Antediluvian drift-wood, at Paddington and train-it home.

An interesting read if you're looking for some dated, yet pertinent comedy, or if you're remotely interested in the early 1900's history of the locks on the Thames. Depicted quite vividly, and painted well in descriptive terms, this is a quick read that provides some hearty `laugh out loud' moments.

After attempting to plod through The Compleat Angler by Walton, Jerome K. Jerome is a most warm, welcoming, and hilarious diversion. Few books capture camaraderie in its many diverse forms. And Jerome's writing about the beauty and of the English countryside is matchless. This is one of those rare gems you may well want to read in one sitting.

The book is entertaining, but too repetitive. The same anecdote is told in different ways so often that the reader knows as soon as it starts, how it will evolve. A reader could skip about a third of the mid part of the book and enjoy it more.

A pleasant and very witty book that gives an insight into the middle class of England in the closing years of the 19th century.
Some insights into those days that seem so distant to the current pace of modern life.
It may well be the book to go back to on rainy days when you want something light to chase the blues away.

If you'd imagined Victorian era classic would be un-relatable to reader of 21st century, you'd be very wrong. Three Men in a Boat is immensely funny, laugh out loud humourous book of three extremely lazy and good for nothing men's journey along the river. Narrative is characterized by expansive digressions which feel all too familiar. It's salute to author's writing (not at all difficult to read) or human nature, that what was funny 100 years ago is still the same today. Recommended read among humour books.

One of the great comedy books of English Lit. Always a pleasure to read and re-read. Take care where you read it. A bit like reading Bill Bryson stuff e.g. "The life and times of the Thunderbolt Kid". People in planes will get annoyed with you snorting & giggling.

If you enjoy British humor then this book shouldn't go amiss. It put me in mind of Jeeves and Wooster quite a bit. Privileged young men getting themselves into silly situations and thinking themselves so mature and worldly.

The writing quality and humor of the anecdotes made this book stand out for me. The themes are universal enough to remain 'laugh out loud' funny more than a century after it was published in 1889. As a work of travel/humor writing I consider it to be way ahead of it's time. Thus, I also found the work interesting from a socio-historical perspective.

Some of the period writing was a little hard to follow and the white space is not quite correct for titles and subtitles in this free publication. However, the work is easy enough to follow overall and you become used to the style quickly. I personally do not find this to be the case for all classic authors of this period. (I find the works of Dickens for example, impressive, but a chore to get through.)

This book was entertaining and definitely worth the time investment. At the price it's worth a try for sure.

I bought this book because Connie Willis paid it tribute with her "Not to Mention The Dog". I was a little leery because it was written over a hundred years ago, but for most of it I was laughing out loud. Funny is funny, no matter what, and I'm glad that I read it. Gets a trifle stale at times, but you should realize that going into it, and the end result is rather delightful.

I downloaded this book in Kindle and read it again after many years of the first reading. It still maintains my interest, but the Kindle edition has one drawback....no sketches. The original book was filled with pen and ink sketches that further illuminated the prose. This lack of visual scenery was a put off for me, but only as I did remember the original book.

Reminds me of Mark Twain. Gentle humor, and great sarcasm. Many chuckles and frequently I laughed aloud. Be prepared with a dictionary for some British slang from the times, and many ten cent words.

I enjoyed the beginning of the book. It was chock full of quick-witted banter that made me chuckle. But when I reached the middle of the book, a question came to mind: Why am I bothering? The book is not funny. It's mildly humorous. There's nothing about the story or the language that is particularly uplifting or edifying. I decided to stop reading and move on to something more beneficial to me.

This is a turn of the century adventure of friends and their dog who swap tales and experience new things as they
pole up a river just for fun. I laughed until I shook the bed. Great British writing
that can survive decades more without losing its tremendously clever humor. Pretty unusual since humor usually ages badly.

Okay, all jokes aside, this really is a pretty good book. It was sold to me as the funniest book of all time, and I'll humbly disagree with that statement. However, it had me laughing out loud many times. Reading it at work earned me several awkward stares, since I literally could not control myself. This is a fine piece of classic literature and should be enjoyed by people like you.

This is a funny rambling story told by a Victorian era ranconteur that still holds up well for the most part. The Boat trip up the Thames is the setting that allows Jerome Jerome to reflect on all sorts of things in the style of a Mark Twain and his wit is highly entertaining. Don't expect to be bowled over with laughter though, his material is a bit dated.
Nevertheless, this is a funny.witty and at times enlightening look at a period in England that is no longer.

I cannot say enough good about this little book. The blend of humour, fun, history, beautiful language, canine insight, travel guide, and overall brilliant writing have made this a new favourite.

I am really sad that it is done. I will return.

Hard to believe this is British and over 100 years old. (Could have been my dad and his fishing buddies in northern Michigan, I swear.) It strikes me as something Mark Twain might have written, if he were English. Looking forward to To Say Nothing of the Dog next.

I enjoyed the mishaps and good-natured arguments these three men have on this trip up the Thames. Montmorency might have played a more prominent role in the story, but I enjoyed the romp. Almost nothing goes as planned, but comes right in the end.

If you love Monty Python and all things British-- try this book written in the late 1800's. You will not be disappointed. It is a quick read and once you get into the style and dry humor you realize he's making fun of just about everything, everyone and himself. I laughed out loud several times and hope to read more of this author.

I enjoyed the mishaps and good-natured arguments these three men have on this trip up the Thames. Montmorency might have played a more prominent role in the story, but I enjoyed the romp. Almost nothing goes as planned, but comes right in the end.

Probably the funniest novel of the 19th century not written by Mark Twain. I found out about it by reading Connie Willis's "To Say Nothing of the Dog," which isn't exactly a sequel but which is at least as entertaining. Read them both.

This book was written nearly 100 years ago. It was recommended to me by a friend. I read it on the plane returning from London to Chicago. I laughed so hard tears ran down my face, I tried not to laugh out loud, but at times it was impossible.
Take the journey with J, . Mortmorency, and his friends as they boat down the Thames.

Imagine Bertie Wooster and two of his idiot friends out on a boat... with no Jeeves. That about describes "Three Men in a Boat : To Say Nothing of the Dog," Jerome K. Jerome's enchanting comic novel about three young men (to say nothing of the dog) who discover the "joys" of roughing it.

The three men are George, Harris and the narrator, who are all massive hypochiandriacs -- they find that they have symptoms of every disease in existance (except housemaid's knee). To prop up their failing health, they decide to take a cruise down the Thames in a rented boat, camping and enjoying nature's bounty.

Along with Monty -- an angelic-looking, devilish terrier -- the three friends set off down the river. But they find that not everything is as easy as they expected. They get lost in hedge mazes, end up going downstream without a paddle, encounter monstrous cats and vicious swans, have picnics navigate locks, offend German professors, and generally get into every kind of trouble they possibly can...

Even though it was published more than a century ago, "Three Men in a Boat" remains as freshly humorous as when it was first published. While editor/playwright/author Jerome K. Jerome wrote a lot of other books, this book remains his most famous. And once you've read it, you'll see why.

Jerome's real talent is in finding humor in everyday things, like trying to erect a tent in the woods, getting seasick, or questioning whether it's safe to drink river water. Written in Jerome's dry, goofy prose, these little occurrances become immensely funny. One of the funniest parts of the book is when the boys listen to a fishermen telling of his prowess, only to accidently knock down his record-breaking stuffed fish.... and discover it's made out of plaster. Oops.

But Jerome takes a break from the humor near the end, when the boys find a drowned woman floating in the river. And here he becomes solemn and quietly compassionate: "She had sinned - some of us do now and then - and her family and friends, naturally shocked and indignant, had closed their doors against her."

But back on the funny stuff. The capstone on all this humor is the "three men." These guys are basically pampered Victorian aristocrats, who have a romantic yearning for the great outdoors. You'll be laughing at them and with them, as they struggle through the basics of boating and camping.

Funny, wacky and creepily true to life, "Three Men in a Boat" is an enduring comic classic in the vein of PG Wodehouse. Not to mention the dog!

Speaking only to the physical book, not its literary content. It would be better to spend a little more and get a version that is more readable. The book is awkwardly sized, big pages with teeny print. It's off-putting. I wish I had spent a few dollars more for a conventional book.

I absolutely loved this glimpse at British life in 1889. Pairing it with the audio version was a stroke of genius. The narrator took me along with him and those 3 feckless friends on the boat ride down the Thames.

It is so funny! Very enjoyable reading, quite realistic (yet comical) situations, interesting subplots, good language. Have not finished Three Men in a Boat yet, can't say much about Three Men on the Bummel.

Reading about these three men (and a dog) taking a leisurely boat trip, sometimes rowing, sometimes pulling from the tow paths, up the Thames in the latter part of the 19th Century was a real pleasure. Good writing sprinkled with interesting bits of history about the country the boaties travelled through.