Despre Jerome

Imi amintesc perfect de intalnirea cu Jerome. Nu cred ca aveam mai mult de 10-11 ani. Tata comandase niste carti (lucru destul de neobisnuit pe vremea aceea) si a venit de la posta cu coletul maro de carton. Nu mai stiu exact ce carti mai erau in cutie, dar tin minte zambetul larg al tatalui meu cand a scos din pachet o carte mica, patrata, cu coperta neobisnuit de colorata. Trei intr-o barca, fara a mai socoti si cainele. In zilele urmatoare, auzeam doar chicoteli din coltul de casa unde se afla tata, cu cartea in mana. Mi s-a parut teribil de ciudat si abia asteptam sa o termine, sa pun si eu mana pe ea, sa aflu ce poate sa fie atat de amuzant.

foto

N-am aflat. La 10 ani, umorul excesiv de britanic al lui Jerome nu te prinde. Abia prin liceu am inteles de fapt de ce radea tata in continuu in timp ce citea si abia atunci mi-a mers de-a dreptul la inima.

De cand l-am cunoscut pe Jerome au trecut vreo 18 ani. De cand ii citesc cartile in fiecare an au trecut vreo 10. Timp in care ne-am cunoscut, ne-am placut, am ras cot la cot si ne-am emotionat impreuna, am uitat putin unul de altul, doar sa ne putem bucura si mai mult cand ne revedem. Si, de fiecare data cand ne revedem, ma surprinde de parca e prima data cand pun mana pe una din cartile lui, prima data cand imi spun ca pur si simplu nu se poate mai bine si mai britanic de atat:

"One or two friends to whom I showed these papers in manuscript having observed that they were not half bad, and some of my relations having promised to buy the book if it ever came out, I feel I have no right to longer delay its issue. But for this, as one may say, public demand, I perhaps should not have ventured to offer these mere "idle thoughts" of mine as mental food for the English-speaking peoples of the earth. What readers ask nowadays in a book is that it should improve, instruct, and elevate. This book wouldn't elevate a cow. I cannot conscientiously recommend it for any useful purposes whatever. All I can suggest is that when you get tired of reading "the best hundred books," you may take this up for half an hour. It will be a change." (Preface - Idle thoughts of an idle fellow)

“I don't understand German myself. I learned it at school, but forgot every word of it two years after I had left, and have felt much better ever since."(Three men in a boat)

 “It would not be a good place for the heroine of a modern novel to stay at.  The heroine of a modern novel is always “divinely tall,” and she is ever “drawing herself up to her full height.”  At the “Barley Mow” she would bump her head against the ceiling each time she did this." (Three men on a boat)

 “It must be eight years since I last saw Joseph Taboys. How pleasant it would be to meet his jovial face again, to clasp his strong hand, and to hear his cheery laugh once more! He owes me 14 shillings, too.” (Idle thoughts of an idle fellow)

Puteti descarca gratuit cartile lui Jerome pe Project Gutenberg