Customer Reviews

Three Men on the Bummel (Penguin Popular Classics)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(2)
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I read this book--which I assume is a fictionalized account of an actual journay--after having spent a year in Germany and I bemused by the fact that the Germans that Jerome K. Jerome characterizes in this book (published in 1900) are very similar to those of the present day. Added to this, is the fact that the book is mainly set in the Black Forest region of Germany, which is where I stayed. So not only was this book humorous and entertaining, it rekindled fond memories as well. The writing I fear will disillusion the more casual reader, but for those who have the inclination, this book is a very worthwhile read.

I read this book both because I, like so many, was delighted with Jerome K. Jerome's earlier book, Three Men In A Boat (To Say Nothing Of The Dog...), and because this sequel has the reputation of being a "bicycle book," a genre I often enjoy. In both regards I was slightly disappointed. Though entertaining, Bummel is not as funny as Three Men in a Boat, and though the protagonists in Bummel do travel in part by bicycle, the book is mostly a discussion of the process of planning a trip, and of the German cities they visited.

As with Three Men in a Boat, this book seems thoroughly modern in tone and style of humor. Jerome K. Jerome is particularly fond of comical exaggeration of the sort that would seem totally natural on a television sitcom today. After a mistake involving somebody else's bicycle, and a run-in with the authorities, he summarizes "My going scot free is regarded in police circles there to this day as a grave miscarriage of justice."
Portions read much like Douglas Adams ("I wish no one to read this book under a misapprehension. There will be no useful information in this book.") and others like John Cleese in Fawlty Towers (a discussion of an English shopkeeper frustrated when the protagonists, as a prank, pretend not to be able to speak English). The material near the start of the book about the friends and their wives is all quite funny, and thoroughly modern in the way the women effortlessly outsmart the men. The discussions of stereotypical German behavior are remarkable mostly for how little such stereotypes have changed. Germans were, 120 years ago and today, thought to be officious and compulsive in following rules. Fans of old bicycle books will find much here to like, with description of the hazards of amateur bike-tuning, and lies in bike advertisements, and the observation that uphills always seem to last longer than downhills.

The book is in some regards dated. These passages are in some cases fascinating -- the discussion of how beautiful Dresden is (in 1895), and other German cities that were burned out in World War II. Others are merely confusing (what is the significance of the hats owned by "Mrs Hemans"?). One brief section, told in stereotypical black dialect, will offend some modern readers.

This book is a long time favorite of mine and to have it so conveniently packaged on Playaway is such a luxury. Can now laugh out loud even at the gym! Would like to see more of the David Case(records under several names) recordings available on Playaway. If you haven't encountered this book in ANY format---do so quickly----you are missing a treat and a world of happy memories.

Three Englismen decide to go on holiday in Germany. They plan to take their bicycles; they will travel by train between the major cities and do day trips by bike. What could possibly go wrong?

The answer is EVERYTHING! You will laugh yourself sick.

I'm surprised that this hasn't been made into a film or a TV series; get some of the guys from Monty Python, or the guys who played James, Tristan and Sigfried on "All Creatures Great & Small".

Three Men On The Bummel is Jerome K. Jerome rollicking story of three late-Victorian gentlemen on a cycling tour in Germany's Black Forest. This long out of print comic classic of English literature is now finally available in a complete and unabridged audiobook format (6 CDs, 6 hours, 56 minutes) enhanced with a superb narration by David Case. School and community are encouraged to send for the free Tantor Media catalog for a complete listing of their unabridged literary classics of popular fiction.

Three men in a boat is a fantastic read - the mix of comedy and adventure is perfect and it captures the Victorian era to a 't'.

I therefore had high hopes of the sequel, Three men on the bummel. Unfortunetly I can not praise it. The laugh aloud comedy element has given way to, at beast monologues you smile through, at worst, ones you want to skip. The adventure is in short supply and doesn't sit well with the comedy. A real shame.

After reading Three Men in a Boat (a five-star for me), I was eager for this one. What a disappointment...
Maybe only three pages are really funny, the book is simply boring at many passages. I should've reread 3MiaB instead.


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AND, to top it all - Montmorency is missing!