Customer Reviews

Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel (Oxford World's Classics)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been reading some good, but bleak literature lately, so I decided to turn to something a bit lighthearted. I think there is nothing better to fit that bill than Jerome K Jerome's hilarious "Three Men in a Boat." This Penguin edition also adds "Three Men on the Bummel," a worthy sequel that Jerome wrote roughly ten years later. I cannot believe I'd never heard of these gems before. This is, without a doubt, one of the funniest books I've ever read. Despite the fact that Jerome is writing to us from the Victorian era, the humor is timeless. The writing style could be a bit touchy for some, but for me, that is what added extra dimensions of humor to the stories. It's the intricate way Jerome conveys his acidic comments that leave you in stitches.

"Three Men in a Boat" is certainly the more humorous of the two. In this tale, three friends, J., George, and Harris, with Montmorency the dog in tow, decide to take a jaunt down the Thames for rest and relaxation. What ensues is a wild stream of hilarious tales and misadventures. Often, the trip takes a backseat to the stories, as J. talks about an assortment of topics. My favorite stories concerned the cheese, the weather, and the German singing the "humorous" song. Another favorite is the descriptions of how the three learned to sail and row. I don't want to give away any of the details of these stories because they are just too hilarious; I would also kill the humor if I tried to relate them. This story also gives some detail to historical places along the river. The introduction to this book shows how historical accounts of river travel were quite popular. Jerome set out to write such an account, and the publisher dropped much of this material and left the funny anecdotes intact.

"Three Men on the Bummel," written in 1900, reunites the three (minus Montmorency) for a biking excursion in Germany. While still funny in spots, it lacks the vigor of its predecessor. I found the tale about the water hose a hoot, but Jerome tends to spend more time on travelogue. His observations about the German people are eerily prophetic, as you'll see when you read the book. The language is still acid sharp, and Jerome has an interesting eye for details that make this story a joy to read.

If you don't mind roaring at the misfortunes of others, and enjoy wry sarcasm, you will delight in these two stories. Also, you are lying if you don't recognize Uncle Podger in your own family. As I write this review, I'm chuckling over the memory of some of the stories. In fact, you may want to be careful while reading this; you'll continue to laugh later as more layers of Jerome's humor emerge in your mind. A great book for a rainy day!

I first read this book in translation to Russian, many (too many!) years ago. In the former Soviet Union (and in Russia proper, before there ever was a Soviet Union), this and other books by Jerome. K. Jerome were very popular. When I came to Boston 20 years ago as a refugee from Soviet Union, this was one of the first books I bought. I was hoping that, in its original language, it would be even a greater fun to read and I was not disappointed! In fact, the book has been in constant use ever since, having been loaned to many friends and even taken by some of them on a holiday trip to England (which included a week-long boat trip on the Thames!). It is very funny and its wit is timeless. This book is a great antidote against winter blues. It is also good as a remedy for our tendency to exaggerate shortcomings of others while papering over our own little faults and imperfections. Whether discussing their problems, high on the list of which is their "general disinclination to work of any kind", or planning their trip and packing supplies for it; whether rowing their boat or pitching a tent and trying to keep dry on a rainy night -- the characters are totally alive and recognizable. In fact, I am sure we all met people just like them, except they were not dressed as Victorian gentlemen on a holiday! But forget what they wear and what items they pack (or forget to pack) for their trip, or the fact that a cab they take to the railroad station is horse-driven, and these guys could be living in an apartment next door! Never will you hang another picture on your wall without thinking of Uncle Poger and never will you buy Stilton cheese again without some trepidation! I'd recommend this (and other Jerome's books, especially, "Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow") to anyone above the age of 12 and possessed of even a bit of a sense of humor. P.S. Did I mention that this book improves upon re-reading? A rare quality, indeed!

Warning: if you have any abdominal problems - for your own sake do not read this book cause you will die laughing! There are some great books, and then there are some all-time best. Three Men In A Boat unquestionably belongs to the latter category. This is easily one of my all-time favorites, and since I first read it when I was 11, I have re-read it well over 10 times, every time discovering new layers of Jerome's humor. It's a very different type of humor from the one we are used to from the contemporary sit-coms. This humor is very refined and sharp, always on the boundary with acid sarcasm. The characters in the book are so real and alive that you will definitely recognize in them someone that you know, or maybe even yourself at times. The overall quality of writing is incredible, and I must reiterate - hours of non-stopping laughter are guaranteed! If you haven't read it, you can't imagine what you are missing!

This is one of the funniest books I've ever read. So why only 4 stars? Because it's not consistantly funny. The problem seems to be that Jerome started to write a travel story, with some serious thought on history and life, and added a few humorous bits as he went along. His editor got him to tone down the history and emphasize the humor, but we, the readers, are still stuck with some dreary Victorian romantic musings.

But then there are the funny bits. And there are a lot of them. I'd say 80% of this book is funny, and a good 10% is hysterically funny. Well worth the few dull patches.

WARNING: Do not read this in a public place. You WILL embarrass yourself by laughing out loud. The pages on cheese are especially deadly. I still giggle uncontrolably each time I re-read them.

Three Men in a Boat (To Mention Nothing About the Dog) is a timeless wonder in humor-writing whose value as a cure for many psycho-somatic maladies of the present day, high-speed, existense shall keep the voloume ever-popular. The book begins in an ominous note as one of the rowers-to-be is self diagnosed to be sufferring from all maladies but Housemaids Knee, in the compendium. A professional advise calls for a change of air which plunges the three men on a boat. The hilarious (mis)adventures apart, the story is embroidered with a picturesqe description of the English rain-meadows, the likes of which are feared to be on their banks of extinction, along with a quaint narrative of the history of the places. All these together catapults the story to a great height, with roars of laughter, but not only that. Recollections of, the happenings at the Maze; the curios incident of the German singer; and Montmorency: his very thoughts; will continue to coerce the reader to belly-laughs The enlivening, to say the least, line drawings as illustrations, is a jewel in the books crown. Never more, than sufferring bleak, cloudy and chill weekends in my present occupation in Strasbourg, have I realised what an a gem JKJ has left for us.

There are very, very few laugh-out-loud literary classics, but this is one of them. I speak of THREE MEN IN A BOAT. The sequel is not unreadable, but it is a considerable disappointment after the glorious earlier novel.

The great thing about THREE MEN IN A BOAT is that after you have read it, you can go back to your favorite parts and reread them whenever you feel like it. Or read any part at all. The plot really isn't very important. The narrative voice is all. And everyone is going to have their favorite lines. Mine could well be when the narrator remarks, "I am fascinated by work. I could sit and watch it all day." But the narrative tone is so perfect, that one derives enormous entertainment from the book even when nothing especially funny is being said at all.

So, read this volume for the earlier novel, but if you enjoy the second, all the better.

I have given away more copies of this book than I care to remember. It is one of the best examples of observational humour which exists in the English literary canon. This book is for anybody who has ever been camping, anybody who has ever been on a family trip, anybody who has been on holiday with friends or anybody who has ever left their house. If you fall into any of these categories, buy this book. If you fall into more than one category buy it now!

Warning: if you have any abdominal problems - for your own sake do not read this book cause you will die laughing! There are some great books, and then there are some all-time best. Three Men In A Boat unquestionably belongs to the latter category. This is easily one of my all-time favorites, and since I first read it when I was 11, I have re-read it well over 10 times, every time discovering new layers of Jerome's humor. It's a very different type of humor from the one we are used to from the contemporary sit-coms. This humor is very refined and sharp, always on the boundary with acid sarcasm. The characters in the book are so real and alive that you will definitely recognize in them someone that you know, or maybe even yourself at times. The overall quality of writing is incredible, and I must reiterate - hours of non-stopping laughter are guaranteed! If you haven't read it, you can't imagine what you are missing!

This book actually contains 2 books: the first and the more famous of the two is " Three men in a boat " , a very Very funny book, and the second " three men on a bummel" wich is the overlooked sequel. it's maybe overlooked but it's a very wothy book, masterfully written, just as funny as the first.
Three men on a boat tells the story of 3 young friends who go for a 2 weeks vacation in a river boat on the thames.
This vacation takes place in the last years of the 19th century in England but don't expect British gentelmans in hamburg hats politely nodding each other at their clubs while sipping their port. oh no - this 3 chaps although being friends, annoy each other to the degree of internal haemorrhage, as any people would do if locked togather fo too long, and the peatty grudges they hold against each other is the funniest thing you'll ever read. that grudge is ofcourse forgotten at once when someone from the outside comes along to ruin their cruise,and immediately they hate him instead.
The essence of the book is what we all know to happen on vacations and trips- we moan and grumble at the food, the prices the weather and everything else, but as we look back at it when we return home, we say we had a great time.
The author has an aproach to life that kind of takes after "Merphy's law" only he is so much funnier.
The second book is about the same 3 chaps and was written after the first book was recieved with great success.
This time they go on a "bummel" ( wich is the german word for trip ) on bysicle across germany.
As i said before, this book is less known, but it's also a must, and although they were both written many years ago, both the writing and the characters are still fresh , precise and unbelivingly amusing.

J.K.J.'s Three Men in a Boat is a hillarious story about middle class Victorians travelling on a boat on Thames. The book is filled with many humorous stories about the "tribulations" and "disabilities" they have and had experienced. One the most comical moments is the trio packing their luggage. Unfortunately, to the end of the story, the author evidently runs out of humorous scenes to narrate. Still, this book is a comical classic.
The sequel to Three Men On A Boat, Three Men On The Bummel is less succesful. Despite, this it is still amuzing to to read J.K.J. describe the laws and customs of German people.
Both Three Men On A Boat and Three Men On The Bummel are comical, clasical gems. It is amazing how J.K.J. combines history, humor, philosophy, and descriptions together. Some of the greatest books ever written.