Jerome Klapka Jerome (1859 - 1927), was born in Walsall and moved
to London with his family when he was still a young boy. His
unusual middle name was from a Hungarian friend of his father.
Jerome left school at fourteen, after his the death of his mother.
This was not unusual in those days in poor families and Jerome's
family was certainly poor. Jerome started work as a railway clerk
but had an artistic nature and soon spent time acting with various
theatre companies - as well as reading in the British Museum
library. His stage experiences led to his first book On the Stage -
and Off and to his determination to make a living as a writer.
Three Men in a Boat, published in 1889, brought him success and
worldwide fame. The critics didn't like Jerome's humour and
easy-going style but the public did. The book was a huge bestseller
on both sides of the Atlantic. Sales of the American edition
reached a million copies, even though it was being sold there
illegally! The qualities the critics disliked have now made the
book a timeless classic.
Three Men in a Boat is a fictional, and hugely exaggerated, version
of an actual boat trip up the River Thames that Jerome took with
two friends. After this book's success Jerome worked as a novelist,
playwright and editor. He made lecture tours, especially in the USA
and caused a scandal by publicly criticising the racism in the
Southern States. Three Men in a Boat was his only best-seller. It
was so popular in Germany that clubs were started for people to
make their own boating trips in the style of the trip taken by
Jerome and his friends.
Ask a Question About this Product More... |