Three Men in a Boat ---- Summary, book review, critical appreciation etc.

3. Jerome Klapka
Jerome (2 May 1859
– 14 June 1927) was
an English writer and
humorist, best known
for the comic
travelogue Three Men
in a Boat (1889).

4. Jerome was born in Caldmore, Walsall,
England. He was the fourth child of
Marguerite Jones and Jerome Clapp (who
later renamed himself Jerome Clapp Jerome),
an ironmonger and lay preacher who
dabbled in architecture. He had two sisters,
Paulina and Blandina, and one brother,
Milton, who died at an early age.

5. Jerome was registered as Jerome Clapp
Jerome, like his father's amended name, and
the Klapka appears to be a later variation
(after the exiled Hungarian general György
Klapka). The family fell into poverty owing
to bad investments in the local mining
industry, and debt collectors visited often, an
experience that Jerome described vividly in his
autobiography My Life and Times (1926).

6. The young Jerome attended St Marylebone
Grammar School. He wished to go into
politics or be a man of letters, but the death
of his father when Jerome was 13 and of
his mother when he was 15 forced him to
quit his studies and find work to support
himself. He was employed at the London
and North Western Railway, initially
collecting coal that fell along the railway,
and he remained there for four years.

7. Jerome sat down to write Three Men in a Boat as soon as the
couple returned from their honeymoon. In the novel, his wife
was replaced by his long-time friends George Wingrave (George)
and Carl Hentschel (Harris). This allowed him to create comic
(and non-sentimental) situations which were nonetheless
intertwined with the history of the Thames region. The book,
published in 1889, became an instant success and is still in
print. Its popularity was such that the number of registered
Thames boats went up fifty percent in the year following its
publication, and it contributed significantly to the Thames
becoming a tourist attraction.

8. In its first twenty years alone, the book sold over a million
copies worldwide. It has been adapted to films, TV and radio
shows, stage plays, and even a musical. Its writing style
influenced many humorists and satirists in England and
elsewhere.
With the financial security that the sales of the book provided,
Jerome was able to dedicate all of his time to writing. He wrote
a number of plays, essays, and novels, but was never able to
recapture the success of Three Men in a Boat. In 1892, he was
chosen by Robert Barr to edit The Idler (over Rudyard Kipling).
The magazine was an illustrated satirical monthly catering to
gentlemen (who, following the theme of the publication,
appreciated idleness). In 1893, he founded To-Day, but had to
withdraw from both publications because of financial
difficulties and a libel suit.

9. In 1898, a short stay in Germany inspired Three Men on the
Bummel, the sequel to Three Men in a Boat, reintroducing the
same characters in the setting of a foreign bicycle tour. The book
was nonetheless unable to capture the life-force and historic roots
of its predecessor, and it enjoyed only a mild success. In 1902, he
published the novel Paul Kelver, which is widely regarded as
autobiographical. His 1908 play The Passing of the Third Floor
Back introduced a more sombre and religious Jerome. The main
character was played by one of the leading actors of the time,
Johnston Forbes-Robertson, and the play was a tremendous
commercial success. It was twice made into film, in 1918 and in
1935.
However, the play was condemned by critics – Max Beerbohm
described it as "vilely stupid" and as written by a "tenth-rate
writer"

11. Jerome
Jerome is protagonist of his own classical novel. He is
also the narrator. He is a Hypochondriac who is all
the time concerned about his health. He is not so
vocal. He rarely takes any initiative but his presence is
indispensable. He is keen observer of persons and
places. He gives a wonderful description of peoples,
places on rivers because he has a long association with
river Thames. His sense of humour is unique and he
does not forget to laugh at himself also. He loves
beauty and romance. He displays a deep knowledge of
the social practices, history, food, costumes, drinks
that people of Thames region are associated with. In
fact he has all the qualities of a professional traveller.

12. George
He has been painted as lazy man
who knows only one work that is
sleeping. He goes for sleep from ten
to four each day except Saturdays,
when narrator and Harris wake him
up at two o’clock. He is also a
hypochondriac like others.
Sometimes he appears to be very
clever, though he is not.

13. harris
He is a happy-go-lucky man who wants to enjoy
life to the brim. He is fond of drinking. He does
not like to camp out in the rainy weather because
everything is damp and wet outside. He thinks he
knows how to do everything whereas what he
does is only to mess up everything. He is ever
ready to take the burden of everything himself
and transfer it on the back of other people. He
shows a poor understanding of his talent as a
singer of ‘comic’ songs and make a sorry picture
of himself before the people who are present
there.

14. Montmorency
The dog Montmorency is a fox-terrier. The
writer gives a human face to dog. He is
naturally gifted with a sharp understanding
of men, matters and situations, traits rarely
found in the breed of animals like him. In
fact he is an important part of the three
men’s journey on the river Thames. He is
portrayed as clever and a root cause of all
mischief and trouble. He shows traits which
are not found even in some human beings.

16. George, William Samuel Harris and narrator, Jerome, were all
suffering from various diseases. George and Harris recount their
tales of woe, of the apparent one hundred and seven fatal illness
that they are affiliated with, and while they do praise the giant
leaps in medical knowledge and the prescription that doctors, they
come to the conclusion that they are all terribly overworked and need
a holiday of sorts to help them recuperate. They first propose a sea
voyage, but narrator is far from thrilled by that idea. So they finally
agree to take a boat trip for a holiday ----- ON River Thames, from
Kingston upon Thames to oxford. The narrator still enlists problems
of a boat trip that he was aware of, but the motion was finally
passed, in three to one majority --- their dog, Montmorency had
voted against the boat trip.

17. Now that they had already decided to go on the boat trip to rid
themselves of all their tensions, they had to figure out what course
they should take and where all they should visit. And as was
expected, all three digress from the immediate job at hand start
discussing the pleasure of camping expeditions and the sheer joy of
camping under the clear sky on fine nights; and then they soon go on
to discuss the joys of camping out under raining nights as well.
Montmorency’s first impressions are available through their
discussions and otherwise. Montmorency was of the clever, belief
that he was indeed too superior for the world ---- but then his so
called fears are soon washed away. The meeting to discuss their
travel details is immediately adjourned.

18. The narrator says that the following evening, the three friends sat
down together and discussed at length their plans for their
upcoming holiday in a boat. After comparing Harris’ method of
working to the tale of Uncle Podger, the narrator goes on to
describe how Harris took charge of the entire situation himself
and the plans for the trip were finally made final. George too
chips in to the discussion with some sensible and thought
provoking suggestions. And soon the group go on to discuss the
benefits and the pleasures of bathing in first few hours of morning
, particularly since they would all be on the boat for the next few
days. And finally, the three men made all kinds of provisions to
make sure that neither of them got upset during the holiday.

19. Now that the basic arrangements for the trip had been and finalized,
the question regarding what they should eat during their t boat ride
holiday came up. They began by eliminating paraffin oil as the
medium of preparations, claiming that the scent of the oil would
spread through the entire boat, making it impossible for them to
breathe easily. Of the commodities, the three men discuss the
advantages and the disadvantages of cheese as a travelling
companion on such travels. As they continued their discussions, more
provisions were added to make sure that none of belongings, talking
at the same time of the choice of toothbrushes needed for the trip.
George and Harris too get their packing done for the trip.
Montmorency displays some troubling behaviour during the same
time. Finally, after a tough and tiring day, the three men retire to
take some rest.

20. The narrator is woken up by the housekeeper the next morning at nine,
three hours later than when George had been instructed to wake them
up ---- only that George had been instructed to wake them up ------
only that George was fast asleep even after the narrator wakes up
Harris. Before leaving, the narrator makes a statement about the
weather forecasts, claiming them to be completely bogus. As the three
men assemble with their baggage at the street with their baggage at the
street with their bags, people make fun of the sheer enormity of their
baggage ----- quite as if they were planning for a visit to Africa. The
crowd starts to grow. The men finally reach Waterloo station, and the
South Western officials there too are amused and concerned about the
amount of baggage carried by the three men. However, all runs
smoothly from then on and the men are finally able to float around in
their boat as was planned.

21. The holiday begins with the arrival of three men, and their dog to
Kingston. The narrator takes up most of the beginning of this
chapter in recounting the history of Kingston as known of in the
histories of Eng land. Then the narrator draws several
observations on life in the past and in the present. That the
narrator believes is the principal paradox of life. Which he talks
about the case of Stivvings, his friend from school, and how he
always received the opposite of what he was looking for.
There is also a slight embarrassment to the narrator in this
chapter, when he loses focus of the fact that he was indeed
steering the ship. However, the results of the blunder are quite
advantageous, as it brings them to the Hampton Court maze.
Harris immediately assumes the role of the guide.

22. Harris wants to get out of Hampton Court and visit
Mrs. Thomas’ Tomb. The Narrator says he cannot as
they have to reach Shepperton by 5 o’clock to pick up
George. Harris gets irritated. He says George should have
taken the day off. Then he wants to have a drink. The
pub is not near. So he tries to take a bottle from the
hamper. In doing so, he pulls the wrong line which sends
the boat into the bank. This upsets hi balance, and he
has to stand on his head holding on the sides of the boat.
The narrator gets hold of his legs and hauls him back.

23. Harris and Jerome stop under the willows by Kempton Park and
have their lunch. It is a beautiful spot. A man comes to blackmail
them but he retreats. Harris gets angry and then begins to sing a
comic song to calm himself. Jerome is reminded of a n incident.
The boat reaches Sunbury lock at half-past three. Then it comes
to Walton. Walton was once visited by Caesar and later by Queen
Elizabeth. At Weybridge they see George’s blazer on one of the
lock gates. Montmorency gives a furious bark, the narrator shrieks
and Harris roars. George waves his hat and yells back. He has
brought with him a banjo, and says he has got the instruction
book and would learn to play it.

24. Harris and the narrator make George work.. He tows them till
Runnymede. The narrator considers the tow-lines strange. He
recalls how he got into a mess when the dealt with tow-lines.
Then he says that being towed by girls was the most exciting
experience. Once he was out with a young lady, his cousin, on a
river trip down Goring. She was eager to reach home before
evening. The narrator consulted a map and found that they were
just a mile and half to the next lock at Wallingford. He rowed
on and on, but no lock appeared. The lady began to cry. Later he
was told that there was no such lock, but they were very close to
Cleeve now. At last they got home in time for supper.

25. George tows the boat upto Staines. At half past seven they row close to
the left bank and look for a spot to stay for the night. They fix the tent
after a lot of effort. Then they boil water, make tea and have their
supper. Later they feel a change in their mood. After supper they are
calm and loving. They go to bed at ten. The sound of the water round
the boat and the wind among the branches keep the narrator awake
and restless. It is however a glorious night. The narrator feels that
“pain and sorrow are but angels of God”. He is reminded of a story of a
knight lost in dark woods. This knight got tired and was bleeding. He
wandered there for many days. Suddenly a maiden took his hand and
took him took lighted place. It was a vision which provided him lots of
comfort and joy. He thanked the maiden who enabled him to see that
vision which not be described. The name of the dark forest was Sorrow.

27. Three Men in a Boat, by Jerome K. Jerome, is
a fictional account of a river trip taken by
three friends, J (the narrator), George and
Harris along with J’s dog, Montmorency.
Originally published in August 1889, the book
is a humorous account of the boating
experiences on the Thames from Kingston to
Oxford. All the characters in the story are
derived from reality: the narrator J is based
on the writer Jerome himself, George and
Harris are based on the writer’s real life
friends – George Wingrave and Carl
Hentschel. However, Montmorency is a

28. The story is a tapestry of anecdotes
on topics including weather forecasts,
learning musical instruments, towing
the boat to punting, sailing and other
river activities. While going through
different places, the narrator gives a
historical background of those places.
The boating holiday, that was supposed
to serve as a relaxation therapy to
cure them of their self-diagnosed
diseases, turns out to be a series of

29. The book is a powerful combination of
side-splitting humour and sarcasm. The
dissenting approaches of the three
friends make the novel all the more
funny and amusing. The jokes,
anecdotes, comic set-pieces and
experiences only make us laugh louder.
It is the humorous elements of the
book that keeps the reader consistently
involved in the reading of the travel
accounts.

30. It also provides sharp insights
into the human nature and points
towards the casual failures of
humanity in a light-hearted
manner. The account of the
local history of towns along the
river bank, topped with the
poetic musings on nature, gives
it a sentimental note.

32. The novel is a bundle of fresh
humour, sarcasm and comic
understatements accompanied with
hints of philosophical and
sentimental notes. The humorous
digressions and witty reflections
during the journey make this
travel guide a novel of interwoven
comic elements. The book points
out the absurdities, ordinary

33. Fixing up the tent, lighting a fire and
arranging food are parts of the
difficulties that one would generally
face while camping on a wet damp
night. Sea sickness, unreliability of
barometers, packing difficulties for a
trip, forgetting the toothbrush, chaos
at the railway station etc. are all based
on the problems that are perennial in
nature. The novel is full of anecdotes
and instances that many of us can
easily relate to. Thus, its universal

34. Major part of the book is
contemporary in nature. River
holiday had become a new craze in
the 1880s. In fact, boating
holidays and picnics, particularly on
Thames, had become quite popular
among the people of those times.
The story about three ordinary
guys was somewhat of a new
concept during the Victorian era.
The use of language and humour

35. However, the structure of the book is
not very well defined. The past
incidents in the minds of the
characters intrude quite often and
break the flow of the reader’s thought.
Historical digressions are way too long
in most of the chapters of the novel.
Besides this, almost one fourth of the
book discusses the plans for the trip
and their getting on to the river while
their being “well out of a Boat” is
described in the final few pages.