The novel “Three Men in a Boat”, is the story of three men, accompanied by a dog, as they travel in a boat down the River Thames. It was written by Jerome Klapka Jerome and was first published in 1889.
The story begins as the three main characters George, William Samuel Harris and J, the narrator are sitting a room discussing what should be done to alleviate themselves of their supposed illnesses. Accompanying them is Montmorency, the narrator’s dog. George and Harris feel they are ill because they are bored. The narrator however is assured that his liver is failing him because he recently read of the symptoms of liver disease. They felt over-worked and began discussing how they should travel on a boat for a week to calm their nerves.
Before their departure, they must first agree on the details. It is decided that on clear nights they will camp outside in tents but in rainy weather they will find lodging. With that part of the plan agreed upon difficulties now arise as they begin to list the items that they will need to bring along. After some arguing they instead begin to list the things that they won’t need.
Next they turn their attention to listing food and cooking materials. Above all else they declare that paraffin oil must not be taken as they had done so in the past. By the end of that trip they couldn’t rid themselves of its smell. The group held similar thoughts against bringing any cheese along. J narrates a story where he once traveled with some cheese and its smell bothered other travelers and even sent a horse running in fear.
The next day they gathered everything on their lists and begin to pack. To be sure that he had taken his tooth brush, J searches the bags only to find it after unpacking everything. He now has to repack all of the supplies a second time. After breaking many of the supplies they were finally done.
On the morning of their departure they oversleep. Over breakfast they reviewed the weather report but declare it must be wrong because the report seemed to recall yesterday’s weather. “It is bad enough when it comes without our having the misery of knowing about it before hand.”
Stacking all of the bags outside they wait for a cab to bring them to the train station. A large crowd forms to cheer their departure as it is believed it is a wedding or funeral. At the train station no one seems to know which train runs from Waterloo to Kingston. They pay an engine driver to make sure he goes to Kingston as no one will notice if it is the wrong stop for that particular train. The engine driver agrees and they are eventually able to board their boat.
Without George who will be picked up later in the day from work, J, Harris and Montmorency set sail. J becomes engaged at watching the English country side and day dreams about events that have happened there in the past. He forgets that he is steering the boat and they crash into the river bank. The group again begins moving up the river once again. As they arrive at Hampton Court J admires its walls. He narrates an episode of Harris getting lost in the palace’s maze and they plan to have George enter it when they return.
Dress was an important part of boating. J warns that the clothes should complement the wearer but still be suitable for a boat ride. Harris wants to stop to visit a cemetery as he enjoys viewing interesting tombstones. J dislikes this pastime and argues that they needed to pick up George from his job at the bank and so they continue on. Angrily looking for a drink, Harris causes them to crash once again.
At Weybridge, they pick up George who is carrying a new banjo. He is immediately put to work on the towline where we are introduced to the difficulties that exist when towing a line. If the person doing the towing doesn’t pay mind, they may lose the boat all together. J provides us with several examples of misadventures that began because of an unmindful tower. As the day draws to a close, the group decides to stop and sleep in the boat.
The following day they continue on their trip up the river. J and George recall the first time that they all took this trip. They searched one particular town looking for a place to sleep but couldn’t find one. Finally finding a room in a small cottage they were able to share a child’s bed. That experience made them less picky in choosing their lodgings.
After a second day, exhaustion had stolen their desire to rest among a picturesque setting so they simply fastened the boat to a tree. Before supper they undertook to cover the boat with a canvas. This results in George and Harris becoming entangled beneath it in a struggle for freedom. They finally finish setting up the boat and begin their supper. All four are famished and all eat well. J remarks how food can alter one’s overall feeling. They all feel full and happy. They are so happy with their own company that they contemplate going off to live together on an island alone.
“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.”
The group all wake very early. They had determined to take a morning swim the evening before but the cold morning changes everyone’s mind. J however decides to crawl out on a tree branch and splash some of the water on himself but the branch brakes and he falls into the Thames. No one else is willing to join him.
For breakfast Harris attempts to make his famous scrambled eggs but ends up spilling some and burning the rest. J again thinks about the surroundings and the historic events that had once happened on the scenic river. He envisions the signing of England’s Magna Carta and how the hills, banks and even the river must have looked similar to how they looked to him then. When they reach Marlow, they leave the boat near a bridge and get a room for the night. It is a small town surrounded by lovely country. The following morning they again wake very early. Montmorency meets a cat and causes a ruckus of himself. This fearless Tom Cat meets his challenge undisturbed and sent Montmorency retreating with his tail tucked between his legs.
With his return, the group was able to shop at the market place for food to replenish the boat. At each shop they request that the delivery boy follow them back to the boat with their packages in hand. Their trip back entails an entire procession of delivery boys carrying packages through the town. They continued on their trip up the river, stopping only for lunch. Following their meal, a good wind carries them further still, up past Wargrave to Sonning. They end the day by making an Irish stew.
When they rise the next day it was decided that they should row instead of towing. They couldn’t however decide which two men should row while the third steered. All claimed to have done the most work during their brief trip up the Thames. Luckily later in the day they get pulled up the river by a steam boat until they reach Reading. In the water they witness a black shape floating toward them and find the body of a dead woman. It is found out that she had left her baby behind and committed suicide in the river.
They next stopped at Streatley where they stay for two days. While there they paid to have their clothes washed. Originally trying to wash them in the river they found that they became dirtier from the water. During the last leg of their trip was the most difficult. The final mile before reaching Oxford the current makes navigating nearly impossible. They spend two more days here where Montmorency spends his time fighting other dogs.
Throughout this trip, the narrator J provides stories for the reader about historic events and individuals that have occupied these same waters and surrounding lands. The group continuously runs into episodes that create drama along the whole of their trip. Originally meant to be a travel guide for boating up the River Thames, this novel has lasted as a comedy about the hilarious misadventures of this troublesome group of three men plus one dog in a boat.
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