(Book Review By: Master Vibhute A.A) S. No.03 Date: 25/01/13 1. Author of the Book : Jerome K. Jerome 2. Title of the Book : Three Man in a Boat 3. Name of the Publisher : Orient BlackSwan Pvt. Ltd 4. Place of Publication : 17, Chittaranjan Avenue Kolkata 700 072 5. Year of Publication : 2012 6. Acc. No. ----- Three Man in a Boat Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) The story begins by introducing George, Harris, Jerome and Montmorency, a fox-terrier. The men are spending an evening in J.'s room, smoking and discussing illnesses they fancy they suffer from. They conclude they are all suffering from 'overwork' and need a holiday. A stay in the country and a sea trip are both considered, then rejected (J. describes the bad experiences had by his brother-in-law and a friend on sea trips). Eventually, the three decide on a boating holiday, up the River Thames, from Kingston upon Thames to Oxford, during which they'll camp, notwithstanding Jerome's anecdotes regarding previous experiences with tents and camping stoves. They embark the following Saturday. George must go to work that morning ("George goes to sleep at a bank from ten to four each day, except Saturdays, when they wake him up and put him outside at two") so J. and Harris make their way to Kingston by train. They are unable to find the correct train at Waterloo Station (the station's confusing layout was a well-known theme of Victorian comedy) so they bribe a train driver to take his train to Kingston, where they collect their hired boat and start their journey. They meet George later, up-river at Weybridge. The remainder of the story relates their river journey and the incidents that occur. The book's original purpose as a guidebook is apparent as the narrator describes the passing landmarks and villages such as Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Church, Monkey Island, Magna Carta Island and Marlow, and muses upon historical associations of these places. However, he frequently digresses into funny anecdotes that range from the unreliability of barometers for weather forecasting to the difficulties that may be encountered when learning to play the Scottish bagpipe. The most frequent topics are river pastimes such as fishing and boating and the difficulties they present to the inexperienced and unwary. The book includes classic comedy set-pieces, such as the story of two drunken men who slide into the same bed in the dark, the plaster of paris trout in chapter 17 and the "Irish stew" in chapter 14 - made by mixing most of the leftovers in the party's food hamper: I forget the other ingredients, but I know nothing was wasted; and I remember that, towards the end, Montmorency, who had evinced great interest in the proceedings throughout, strolled away with an earnest and thoughtful air, reappearing, a few minutes afterwards, with a dead water-rat in his mouth, which he evidently wished to present as his contribution to the dinner; whether in a sarcastic spirit, or with a genuine desire to assist, I cannot say. —Chapter XIV Questions 1. Did you like the book? (Yes/No) Why? Ans: Yes I like this book as the experience of characters in this book teaches us many things which will help us to lead a good life. 2. Which characters you liked most? Why? Ans: The character which J K. J as he is the writer of the book and a good character in the story. Conclusion: -Experience & Knowledge is needed more than education. .