Three Men in a Boat

Just before we get into this book, it’s important for me to note that I got halfway through the sequel, Three Men on the Brummel, and had to put it down due to an offensive depiction of a black character. As a rule I often frown at books of this time with slurs and less-enlightened attitudes to people of colour, women or queer people, and can accept that as the ignorance of the time and move on, but this is a rare example of one that was unfortunately too egregious for me. I should also note that the first book contains no such content.

I was recommended this book as a fan of Dickens and Wodehouse, only to find that Jerome was born in Walsall, where one RD Whitehouse was also born. While I was disappointed by a lack of Black Country colloquialism, I nonetheless enjoyed Jerome’s writing and found that it did indeed sit on the scale between some of my favourite authors.

The book follows Jerome and two friends (and a dog) who decide to holiday together in a along the Thames. While it is the story of their travels, it’s more interesting as a collection of stories told by Jerome surrounding the trip - at every opportunity he tangents off into a witty tale that has some - often not much - relation to their progress on the trip.

I would certainly say that Wodehouse’s later works feel like more developed and mature examples of the genre than this one, but it is nonetheless strong on its own merits, and I would recommend it to any fan. Also, it’s given me another option for the Walsall Mount Rushmore: Me, Jorja Smith, Ellie Simmonds, Noddy Holder, Big Special and now JKJ too.