Quintessentially British, this little novel-cum-memoir exudes a Wodehouse-ish humour that is quite charming with a cup of tea of an afternoon. Jerome based his book on a journey he made with two friends (but no dog) up the Thames from Kingston to Oxford in a wooden skiff.

In the book J, George, Harris, and the endearing Montmorency the dog, set off for Oxford in order to boost their health and wellbeing after a fearful bout of terminal hypochondria. Taking turns rowing and towing their little boat, they share meals and memories, arguments and laughter. They explore the pretty riverside villages and spend the clear nights camping in the boat. Of course there are scrapes aplenty given their hopeless ineptitude and fearsome laziness...

The book is certainly very amusing, and I read most of the first half with a stupid smirk on my face. But I don't know whether it was my own 'winding down to Christmas' tiredness or the book itself, but it enchanted me less and less towards the end. Perhaps it was too much of a good thing, perhaps it was the same thread of humour growing thin, who knows. The final verdict: quite funny, yet also quite beautiful, with evocative descriptions of life on the river that reminded me of the narrowboating holidays I've enjoyed over recent years. Well worth a read, and I'll be reading 'Three Men on the Bummel' soon... ( )

Loved listening to this book on audio. The narrator had great comedic timing and an even better british accent. I think I underestimated this book being solely comedic, but no, you not only learn about the hilarious adventures of three men and a dog while on a boat, but you learn about geography and history and human nature. Very insightful in a great format. I loved this and it should be a must-read for everyone! ( )

I didn't enjoy this as much as P.G. Wodehouse, one of my favorite authors. But in the midst of the silliness there is a transcendent moment in the night when the narrator realizes that "Pain and
Sorrow are but the angels of God." (p. 107) He concludes the chapter with a story about a knight lost in a woods and his experience there.

Later in the book, they find the body of a woman who had drowned herself. He tells her story, as he later learned it, poignantly and with great sympathy for the woman's plight. (p. 181-183) ( )

Classic book narrated by a gentleman who describes--in great detail--his observations upon the boating trip he and two chums went on. Nothing much really seems to happen here, it's just an excuse for the narrator to share family antedotes and his own general opinions of the world as he relates their boating mishaps. Recommended as an early example of a 'thriller' but there's not much thrilling about it.  ( )

I believe Mulliner's review succinctly gives you an idea of what this book is like. I would say that it doesn't necessarily aim at upper and middle class 19th century English life so much as basic human frailties that can be seen today. There were even a few beautiful observations of scenery on the river Thames. Overall a good book. ( )