Who was Jerome. K. Jerome?
Novelist, Humourist and Dramatist.
Date and Place of Birth:
2nd May 1859, Walsall, West Midlands, England.
Christened Jerome Klapka Jerome.
Family Background:
Son of the Reverend Jerome Clapp Jerome, a non
conformist minister, and Marguerite Jones, the daughter of a Swansea
solicitor.
Education:
Philological School, Lisson Grove, London. Marylebone
Grammar School, London.
Chronology/Biography of Jerome K. Jerome:
1862: Family moved
to London after father lost money in his coal mining interests.
1871: Death of his
father. Family then moved to Finchley, London.
1873: Started work
at the age of 14 as a Railway Clerk with the London North Western
Railway at Euston. Death of his mother and Aunt's made him an orphan
and alone. Joined a local touring theatrical company and enjoyed
a little success.
1877: Returned penniless
to London after acting with several touring companies. Became a
journalist for a few months before taking up teaching in a school.
1885: Publication
of his first major work "On Stage and Off", a series of
essays, in book form.
1886: Wrote "Stageland",
articles for the magazine "The Playgoer". "Idle Thoughts
of an Idle Fellow" appeared first in the journal "Home
Chimes" before being published as a book.
1887: Wrote the
preface and one chapter for a work entitled "Humours of Cycling".
1888: Had three
plays presented in London which brought him some success. ("Sunset",
"Barbara" and "Pity is Akin to Love").
1889: "Three
Men in A Boat" published on which his name chiefly rests.
1890: Went on a
tour of Germany and then published his story in "The Diary
of a Pilgrimage".
1891: Produced the
play "Woodbarrow Farm" and published a book for Christmas
entitled "Told after Supper".
1892: Became one
of the founders of "The Idler" Magazine with Robert Barr.
Began producing a series of plays each year until 1897.
1893:Started his
own Twopenny Weekly magazine called “To-Day”.
1897: A libel suit
forced him to sell his interests in "To-Day".
1900: "Three
men on the Bummel" published recording events on a cycling
trip across Germany.
1901: Published
"The Observations of Henry".
1902: Wrote "Paul
Kelver", his autobiographical novel.
1904: "Tommy
Talk", his second novel published.
1908: Produced his
play "The Passing of the Third Floor Back"
1909: "Published
a novel "They and I".
1911: Wrote "The
Master and Mrs Chilvers", a play about women's suffrage.
1914: Had his play
"The Great Gamble" closed in London by German bombing.
1915: Joined the
French Ambulance Corps during the First World War.
1916: Wrote "Malvina
of Brittany.
1917: Published
"The Celebrity", a successful comedy.
1919: Published
a novel "All Roads lead to Calvary".
1923: Published
"Anthony John", a novel about life in the industrial northeast
of England.
1925: Had his short
story "The Soul of Nicholas Snyders" dramatised.
1926: Published
his memoirs "My Life and Times".
1927: Made an honorary
Freeman of the Borough of Walsall, West Midlands.
Written Works:
- 1888:
"On Stage and Off", "Pity is Akin to Love"
- 1889: "Three
Men in a Boat". "Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow."
- 1892:
"Three Men on the Bummel".
- 1901: "The
Observations of Henry".
- 1902:
"Paul Kelver".
- 1904: "Tommy
Talk".
- 1907:
"The Passing of the Third Floor Back".
- 1909: "They
and I".
- 1911: "The
Master and Mrs Chilvers".
- 1914: "The
Great Gamble".
- 1916: "Malvina
of Brittany".
- 1917: "The
Celebrity".
- 1919: "All
Roads Lead to Calvary".
- 1923: "Anthony
John".
- 1925: "The
Soul of Nicholas Snyders".
- 1926: "My
Life and Times". (Autobiography)
Marriage:
1888 to Georgina Henrietta Stanley.
Places of Interest:
LONDON:
The British Library.
WEST MIDLANDS:
Walsall Museums.
Date and Place of Death:
14th June 1927 whilst traveling in Devon.
Age at Death:
68.
Site of Grave:
St. Mary’s Churchyard, Ewelm, Oxfordshire,
England.
Further Information:
Jerome K Jerome Society
C/O Fraser Wood
Maizo J Pindor
15 Lichfield Street
Walsall
WS1 1TS
