Water is the theme of countless books, poems and songs. My favourite book has a river as the main character.
Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the Dog), by Jerome K Jerome is a worldwide humour classic. We were introduced in our school days to the adventures of three young men spending a two week holiday on the River Thames, on a rented boat.
First published in 1889, every thing in the book, whether waking up to alarms or forgetting toothbrushes on trips, remains fresh and contemporary.
“It seems to be the rule of this world. Each person has what he doesn’t want, and other people have what he does want.”
“People who have tried it, tell me that a clear conscience makes you very happy and contented; but a full stomach does the business quite as well, and is cheaper, and more easily obtained. One feels so forgiving and generous after a substantial and well-digested meal—so noble-minded, so kindly-hearted.”
“It always does seem to me that I am doing more work than I should do. It is not that I object to the work, mind you; I like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.”
“He would use a bit of string this time, and at the critical moment, when the old fool was leaning over the chair at an angle of forty-five, and trying to reach a point three inches beyond what was possible for him to reach, the string would slip, and down he would slide on to the piano, a really fine musical effect being produced by the suddenness with which his head and body struck all the notes at the same time. And Aunt Maria would say that she would not allow the children to stand round and hear such language.”
Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the Dog), by Jerome K Jerome is a worldwide humour classic. We were introduced in our school days to the adventures of three young men spending a two week holiday on the River Thames, on a rented boat.
First published in 1889, every thing in the book, whether waking up to alarms or forgetting toothbrushes on trips, remains fresh and contemporary.
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| Cover of Three Men in a Boat. Penguin Publications 1994 edition. |
From the book -
“I can't sit still and see another man slaving and working. I want to get up and superintend, and walk round with my hands in my pockets, and tell him what to do. It is my energetic nature. I can't help it.”
“It seems to be the rule of this world. Each person has what he doesn’t want, and other people have what he does want.”
“People who have tried it, tell me that a clear conscience makes you very happy and contented; but a full stomach does the business quite as well, and is cheaper, and more easily obtained. One feels so forgiving and generous after a substantial and well-digested meal—so noble-minded, so kindly-hearted.”
“It always does seem to me that I am doing more work than I should do. It is not that I object to the work, mind you; I like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.”
“He would use a bit of string this time, and at the critical moment, when the old fool was leaning over the chair at an angle of forty-five, and trying to reach a point three inches beyond what was possible for him to reach, the string would slip, and down he would slide on to the piano, a really fine musical effect being produced by the suddenness with which his head and body struck all the notes at the same time. And Aunt Maria would say that she would not allow the children to stand round and hear such language.”