Publisher's Summary

Martyrs to hypochondria and general seediness, J. and his friends George and Harris decide that a jaunt up the Thames would suit them to a ‘T’. But when they set off, they can hardly predict the troubles that lie ahead with tow-ropes, unreliable weather-forecasts and tins of pineapple chunks – not to mention the devastation left in the wake of J.’s small fox-terrier Montmorency.

Three Men in a Boat was an instant success when it appeared in 1889, and, with its benign escapism, authorial discursions and wonderful evocation of the late-Victorian ‘clerking classes’, it hilariously captured the spirit of its age.

©2011 Talking Classics (P)2011 De Agostini UK 2010

What listeners say about Three Men In A Boat

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

This is an abridged version

The original version of "Three Men in a Boat" contains many more musings about history, country side and the meaning of life.

12 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Heavily Abridged

Hugh Laurie's narration is fantastic, but be warned that this edition is heavily abridged: it's missing about half of the text. I wouldn't have bought it had I known this. Many of my favorite passages from the book are missing.

8 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Pick Steven Crossley's version

Hugh Laurie did a good job. There were quite a few good moments that are missing from this abridged version.

4 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Period Piece

Hugh Laurie sounding nothing like House! The feeling of life for the happy elite is seductive to imagine, although the author is clearly keeping a satirical point of view.

3 people found this helpful

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Utterly joyful, a jolly good ride

The river of life, really, is the theme told through this hilarious short river adventure of three dignified older English gentlemen and a dog. Hugh Laurie’s narration is captivating, giving life to little known author Jerome’s wit and witticisms of British life and manners. I’d swear John Cleese and friends were on deck. Not to be missed, and I’m so glad I didn’t!

1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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If you are a fan of doctor house and his humor you will enjoy this

Hugh Laurie is an excellent actor and the way he reads this book makes you laugh continuously. It’s true some jokes are more obvious and others hit you after a while but overall it has been an enjoyable story. Quite short for me - but enough to forget you’re stuck in the traffic jam 😅

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A Delightful Way to Spend An Evening😊

If Mark Twain had been British, he might have written this. You will laugh out loud, in spite of yourself. Highly recommend.

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Delightful

What a wonderful listen this was. I giggled all through it! Highly recommend it! Thanks

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Completely enjoyable

This is a story of three men in questionable times. It is funny. With a humorous bent that is soooo lacking in most current books. Very enjoyable.

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Love Hughes Laurie reading this English classic

Love Hughes Laurie reading this English comedy classic gold. Very British indeed. They could be the Kardashians

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Brooksies
  • 09-29-14

A trip along the Thames with Hugh Laurie

I never read this book before but have obviously heard about it so when I saw Hugh Laurie was the narrator I thought I don't have any excuse not to listen to this. I am glad I did. It's a wonderful plunge in a bygone society where three hypochondriacs and a dog go on a trip on the Thames. Jerome K Jerome really describes the scenery very well and it gives you an insight into what gentlemen used to get up to. Hugh Laurie is wonderful as always and the perfect person to read this book with his Cambridge accent. Enjoyed it immensly.

2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Lina
  • 02-03-23

Why?

Beautifully narrated by Hugh Laurie, this is one of my old time favourite books. Little did I know, the publishers decided to cut through it severly. Few of my beloved parts are gone, I'm quite disappointed

1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Barty
  • 08-14-18

wonderful

I have listened to this book it must be 20 times, Hugh Laurie is amazing, without doubt the best version

1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Matthew
  • 04-01-16

excellent

the best audio version, makes me hoot with laughter every time I hear it. 10/10 on all accounts.

1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Amazon Customer
  • 05-14-23

why the hell this is NOT entire book

what could I say... I know this and I love it. it is really great novel and Hugh Laurie reading it is absolutely brilliant but why oh why somebody decided to simply cut off parts of it.

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  • Ben
  • 01-04-23

Just fantastic

Amazingly calming and funny and with lovely description and poetry intertwined. Something about Hugh Laurie reading just makes me feel cheerful.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Jean
  • 11-28-22

A classic for everyone.

Wonderfully written humorous tale. Worthy of any audio book collection.
Superbly voiced by Hugh Laurie

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Sapphire Grey
  • 12-27-21

Too abridged to be worthwhile.

Well performed by the perfectly cast Hugh Laurie, but too much is missing. Get the full version instead; this is barely even enough to give you much more than a hint of the book's flavour. I 'm distressed to find myself saying this, because I love Hugh Laurie and I love Three Men In A Boat but I wish I hadn't spent a credit on this version.

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  • Captain Birdseye
  • 04-03-21

Got this on repeat to get me through hard times

A wonderful 'Blackadder' esque performance from Hugh Laurie. I've used this book to send myself to sleep in these difficult times. The piano interludes between chapters are soothing.

It's worth noting that this is an abridged version of Three Men coming in at 2 hours and 20 minutes, full performances of this book tend to be about 6 hours so get unabridged if you want a longer experience.

That said a lot of fluff from the book is cut out in this version so the story isn't necessarily worse off for being shorter and focusing on the humour.

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  • Peter Eustance
  • 01-04-21

Hugh Laurie's perfect Novel to Perform

If Jerome K Jerome could have foreseen Audible then he would have been delighted that Hugh Laurie would narrate his book! in the similar vein to Jeeves and Wooster he did an excellent job and whilst it is a short book of 2.5 hours it flew by with excellent narration. If you know the Thames it makes an interesting view of the area and I really enjoyed this book

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  • Peter A Yates
  • 06-24-18

Cut to Pieces

Dear editors: it is not about the story...a to b...it is about the language and the absurdity. so why cut so much language and absurdity out? I am returning this edition.

1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Denny R.
  • 07-06-17

A gorgeous, funny tale told by Hugh Laurie.

Jerome K Jerome's wonderfully funny tale of three men and a dog going on a river holiday is rendered perfectly by Hugh Laurie. He captures the deluded optimism, the ineptness and the trials of three friends who have scant idea of what they are doing. I could listen to this beloved classic over and over.

1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Louise
  • 06-20-20

Timeless hilarity

This is a great book and never gets old. Hugh Laurie is perfect as narrator for this classic tale.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Jenny
  • 02-16-16

interesting

Great choice of narrator. Humorous in parts, a bit dreary in others. Glad a chose to listen to it rather than read the book.