Three Men In A Boat Audiobook - Introduction - Read by Dr James Gill (ASMR ?)

good evening to Harry with every good wish of the future from Dorothy Shaw July 1947 given to James 2014 pars favorite book three men in a boat three men in a boat to say nothing of the dog Jerome K Jerome published by Harry Smith the bibliographical note this book has been printed many times in various editions the date of this new edition which is the 108 impression is July 1946 author's advertisement the world has been very kind to this book the sales of the English editions in their various forms have exceeded a million and a half in Chicago I was assured many years ago by an enterprising pirate now retired that the sales throughout the United States had exceeded million and although in consequence of its having been published before the copyright convention this has brought me no material advantage the fame and popularity it has won me among the American public is an asset not to be despised it has been translated into I think every European language also into some of those of Asia it has brought me many thousands of letters from young folk from old folk from well folk from sick folk from merry folk and from sad folk they've come to me from all parts of the world from men and women of all countries had these letters have been the only result I would I should feel glad that I had written the book I retain a few blackened pages of one he sent to me by a young colonial officer from South Africa they were taken from the knapsack of a dead comrade found in Sepang cop so much for testimonials it remains only to explain the merits justifying such an extraordinary success I am quite unable to do so I have written books that have appeared to me more clever books that have appeared to me more humorous but it is as the author of three men and a vote to say nothing of the dog that the public persists in remembering me certain critics used to suggest that it was the vulgarity of the book its entire absence of humor that accounted for its success with the people but one feels by this time that such a suggestion does not solve the riddle bad art may succeed for time and with a limited public but it does not go on to extend its circle through nearly half a century I've come to the conclusion that be the explanation what it may I can take credit to myself for having written this book that is if I did write it for really I hardly remember doing so I remember only feeling very young and absurdly pleased with myself for reasons that concern only myself it was summertime and London is so beautiful in the summer it lay beneath my window a fairy City veiled in a golden mist for I worked in a room high above the chimney pots and at night the lights shone far beneath me so that I looked down into an Aladdin's Cave of jewels it was during those summer months I wrote this book it seemed the only thing to do preface to the first edition the chief beauty of this book lies not so much in its literary style or in the extent and usefulness of the information it conveys as it's simple truthfulness its pages form the record of events that really happened all that can be done is to color them and for this there is no extra charge George and Harris and Montmorency are not poetic ideals but things of flesh and but especially George who wastes about 12 stone other works may Excel this in depth of thought and knowledge of human nature other books may rival it in originality and size but for hopeless and incurable veracity nothing yet delivered can surpass it this more than all its other charms will it is felt make the volume precious in the eye of the earnest reader and will lend additional weight to the lesson that the story teaches London August 1889