Three Men in a Boat and Three Men on the Bummel

Jerome K. Jerome

Jul 1998 · OUP Oxford

About this ebook

`Other works may excel this in depth of thought and knowledge of human nature: other books may rival it in originality and size; but, for hopeless and incurable vivacity, nothing yet discovered can surpass it.' (Jerome, Preface to Three Men in a Boat). Three Men in a Boat describes a comic expedition by middle-class Victorians up the Thames to Oxford. It provides brilliant snap-shots of London's playground in the late 1880s, where the fashionable steam-launches of river swells encounter the hired skiffs of city clerks. The medley of social vignettes, farcical incidents, descriptions of river fashions, and reflections on the Thames's history, is interspersed with humorous anecdotes told by a natural raconteur. Three Men on the Bummel records a similar escapade, a break from the claustrophobia of suburban life some ten years later; their cycling tour in the Black Forest, at the height of the new bicycling craze, affords Jerome the opportunity for a light-hearted scrutiny of German social customs at a time of increasing general interest in a country that he loved. This account of middle-aged Englishmen abroad is spiced with typical Jeromian humour. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Ratings and reviews

In spite of the title on the book itself, the •listed• title and description •are• correct; this •is• a 2-book volume. It's worth noting that both books are in the public domain in •all• worldwide regions; it's not clear to me how Oxford can assert copyright. If you can get them to download (which I couldn't, which is why I made this purchase), both of these books are legally, freely available at Project Gutenberg (gutenberg dot org). The books themselves are classics and are some of the funniest material you will ever read. HIGHLY recommended!

any one who doesn't like this book is the saddest person ever!that book is so funny taht you need to stop and laugh and have a break because your body cannot take so much laughing!this is europian high class intelegent humor...is not for people with narrow minds!

I had never laughed in any other book than this. As the author says it is needed a book sticking to real facts ot to real life.

About the author

Geoffrey Harvey is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Reading.