Jerome K Jerome

The author of Three Men in a Boat, writes himself in as a character in this marvelous novel. The plot unfolds as he and three of his bachelor friends (he is married) set out to write a novel. As they embark on this venture and their eccentricities come into play, will they ever manage to finish the story?

In this funny short story from British humorist Jerome K. Jerome, the formidable Mrs. Korner contemplates gender roles, and her henpecked husband tries to live up to her expectations. Though originally published in 1904, Jerome's canny take on the war between the sexes still rings true today.

(Excerpt): "The most extraordinary dream I ever had was one in which I fancied that, as I was going into a theater, the cloak-room attendant stopped me in the lobby and insisted on my leaving my legs behind me. I was not surprised; indeed, my acquaintanceship with theater harpies would prevent my feeling any surprise at such a demand, even in my waking moments; but I was, I must honestly confess, considerably annoyed. It was not the payment of the...

Tea-table Talk is an imaginary conversation between the writer and a number of un-named characters at the afternoon tea table. The Woman of the World, the Old Maid, the Girton Girl, the Philosopher and the Minor Poet wax lyrical on subjects like marriage, art, society and politics.

Another classic short story by Jerome K. Jerome, The Love of Ulrich Nebendahl is a mirthful then sobering story during the Franco-Prussian War of a non-traditional embodiment of "love." Poetic in both scope and style.

(Excerpt): "Kindness," argued little Mrs. Pennycoop, "costs nothing." "And, speaking generally, my dear, is valued precisely at cost price," retorted Mr. Pennycoop, who, as an auctioneer of twenty years' experience, had enjoyed much opportunity of testing the attitude of the public towards sentiment. "I don't care what you say, George," persisted his wife; "he may be a disagreeable, cantankerous old brute-I don't say he isn't. All the same, the man...

Christmas-the very word conjures up memories of the most wondrous childhood holiday of all-filled with the glitter of colorfully-wrapped presents, family visits, carols, photographs, decorating the tree, attendance at church to celebrate the birth of the Christ child, and tummy-stuffing dinners tucked with treats seen at no other time of the year. But the yule holiday has been celebrated for at least two centuries in North America, and our writers...

Few people would want to test their mettle in an ice-encrusted boat with Ernest Shackleton, sail the Straits of Magellan with Joshua Slocum, or watch with Owen Chase as an angry whale sends his ship to the bottom, thousands of miles from the nearest land. But it's quite another thing to read these true accounts while settled into a favorite chair. Shackleton and Chase persevered in the face of travails that would have given even Job pause. Their stoic...