Jerome Klapka Jerome

Biography & Style

BIOGRAPHY

Jerome Klapka Jerome (1859 –1927)

He was an English writer and humourist.The son of an ironmonger, a ruined businessman, Jerome was born at Walsall in Staffordshire.Jerome's childhood was very diffi cult as his parents were falling into financial ruin and it left its mark on him.

He could not finish school because his father died in 1871 and the boy had to begin working to support his family.

With the help of his father’s old friend he got the place of a clerk in the London Railway Offi ce and received two pounds a week.

Offi ce work did not interest Jerome and he took up teaching, journalism and acting.

His first literary success was a one-act comedy that was performed in the Globe Theatre.

BIOGRAPHY

Novels:Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow (1886)

Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) (1889)

Diary of a Pilgrimage (1891)Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow (1898)

Three Men on the Bummel (a.k.a. Three Men on Wheels) (1900)

Paul Kelver, a novel (1902)All Roads Lead to Calvary (1919)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Short stories :The Haunted MillThe New UtopiaThe Dancing PartnerEvergreens

Silhouettes

The SkeletonThe SnakeThe Woman of the

SaeterChristmas Eve in the

Blue Chamber

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jerome’s writing is much more magazine- style, quick and effi cient.

His works is characterized by the garrulous style of genial wit and wisdom

Jerome gives picturesque and vivid descriptions created with the colourful metaphors and different similes.

He shows us a developing situation as if he had no prior knowledge of the consequences; when they emerge we recognize the funny side for ourselves.

STYLE

Jerome K. Jerome’s writing style is characterized by

SatireDroll and straight-faced style – he does not laugh at his own humour

Self-mockery, and embarrassing truths we can all relate to.

STYLE

His vivid style and his humour which is generally expressed in laughter-provoking situations. So the humour is often based on: Exaggerations IncongruityMisunderstandings

STYLE

Incongruity – opposition to the order of things – provides humour by placing a normal action or remark in the wrong context and, in Jerome’s style, in an understated way.

STYLE