Three men in a boat

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

1. Three men in A boat

2. Author’s Introduction

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). Jerome Klapka Jerome

4. Early Life…. 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. Later Career & Three Men in a Boat ……. 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"

10. Major Characters

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.

15. Summary

16. Chapter- 1 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. Chapter-2

18. Chapter-3 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. Chapter- 4 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. Chapter- 5

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. Chapter- 6

22. Chapter- 7 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. Chapter-8

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. Chapter-9

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. Chapter- 10

26. Book Review

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 fictional character that represents “the inner consciousness .”

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 amusing adventures and misadventures.

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.

31. Critical Analyses

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 failures, and ironies of human life in an amusing manner.

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 appeal lies in the deep insight into the human nature that it provides.

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 remains fresh and witty even after centuries

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. Despite all this, the novel continues to amuse the reader of the modern era as well.