Three Men in a Boat with Sandra Bond

This Book I Read...

00:00 / 40:08

This month CM Lowry is talking to author Sandra Bond about Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome in ‘This Book I Read…’

Topics covered include:

Sandra gives us an introduction to the book Three Men in a Boat.
- First published in 1889, the book tells the story of three men on a boating holiday on the River Thames. The fact that it still holds its own, is funny and relatable to modern audiences, says a lot about how well written it is.
- There is a narrator in the book who tells the story of these three men and the ways that they annoy each other which makes for great comedy. They’re friendships survive but they certainly irritate one another along the way.
Sandra shares a quote from the book for us
- Jay, the protagonist, is trying to get the train from Waterloo to Kingston on Thames. The usual platform uncertainly ensures, something anyone who uses public transport in the UK can relate to.
Sandra shares her favourite thing about the book
- The sense of humour – the book is written almost like a string of comedy sketches. If it had been written now it could almost be material for a comedy show featuring three friends, such as the BBC series Peep Show.
- There is an exactitude of language that Jerome K. Jerome uses, and the words he uses really add to the hilarity.
The book is based on a rowing trip that the author took, with his wife, along the Thames.
Chris asks Sandra to share some of the issues with the book. She has three main concerns:
- There is a distinct lack of female characters and those that do appear perform very stereotypical genre roles like doing laundry
- It’s episodic, rather than weaving an ongoing narrative. Don’t expect much character development
- Jerome flip-flops from devil may care episodes to deep history or deeply disturbing content such as finding a dead woman. This feels odd at times
Sandra shares with the listeners why they should hunt out and read three Men In A Boat
- It’s laugh out loud funny
- It is a classic of English Literature that is actually easy to read and enjoy
- It also gives the read a good insight into late Victorian England
- Most importantly though, it’s just incredibly funny!
Chris asks Sandra to recommend book for listeners who enjoy Three Men in a Boat
- Three Men on the Bummel by Jerome K. Jerome. A sequel to Three Men in a Boat that involves the three friends going on a cycling holiday in Germany. It’s good but not as funny as the original
- The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith. It has a very similar sense of humour to Three men on a Boat
- Three Men in Orbit by Sandra Bond is her attempt to create something in the style and comedic genius of Jerome K. Jerome in a steam punk sci-fi universe featuring HG Wells anti-gravity generator.