Jerome K Jerome (1859-1927) was born in a poor English family. Having lost his parents at an early age, he left his studies to work in the railways. Later, he joined the theatre and wrote On the Stage--and Off, but found little success. He made a breakthrough with Three Men in a Boat (1889). Although the critics disliked it, the book was a huge success. However, he could not revive the glory with his later works. Even the sequel, Three Men on the Bummel, enjoyed only a mediocre success.