Three Men in a Boat

'Three Men in a Boat' (1889) is the bestselling comic masterpiece by English writer, humourist, and playwright Jerome K. Jerome. It follows the author and his two companions as they try to escape busy Victorian London on a two-week boating holiday along the River Thames, from Kingston to Oxford and back. Initially intended as a serious travel guide, the comical mishaps and misfortunes that happen along the way, turned the book into a satirical gem that perfectly captured the escapism of Victorian England. From pineapple chunks to tow-ropes, tents, and the pointlessness of weather forecasts, Jerome K Jerome's witticisms and social commentary remain as funny and relevant today. The novel has been adapted for TV and film on many occasions, including a recreation of the trip by the BBC, starring comedians Griff Rhys Jones, Dara Ó Briain, and Rory McGrath.