“...this book was not at all intended to be humorous. The writer recalled that he was going to write “a story about the Thames,” its history, picturesque landscapes and attractions adorning its banks. But it turned out something completely different. Shortly before this, Jerome returned from his honeymoon. He felt unusually happy and was not in a serious mood. Therefore, looking out of his office window at the Thames, he decided to start not with essays about the river, but with humorous inserts that would enliven the book and link the essays into a single whole. The inserts came easily to Jerome; they captivated him and, as a result, became the basis of the book. Having finished writing, he “tortured” a dozen “serious” pieces and “squeezed” them into some of the chapters. However, the editor of the magazine in which the story was published found them unnecessary, and he threw almost all of them out. Yes, Jerome Klapka Jerome, no matter how hard he tried, found it difficult to remain serious - both in life and in his work.” Valery Chukhno (from the introductory article to the book).