Ebook: Three Men (Not) in a Boat. And Most of the Time Without a Dog

Timothy Finn's Three Men (Not) in a Boat is a stylish update of a humorous classic. With echoes of Jerome K. Jerome's masterpiece 'Three Men in a Boat' Timothy has introduced new characters, a new plot, new paths to be trodden by fearless men in search of a holiday. But still the hazards that face our modern trio—Fraser and Henry and T—in their exploration of Offa's Dyke are every bit as baffling as those which perplexed the original Three Men over a century ago.

There are the detours in conversation as well as travel plans; T's recollection of how Sir Hector, ad agency guru, was inspired with the promotional concept for a new brand of port by sampling the samples—too well. And observations on how nobody will ever admit to having a bad holiday. And Fraser's interminable rendering of the Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens.

There is the problem of where and when to go. And how to tackle a multi-storey carpark. And the Lurking Druid as well as razors with a life of...