The Resume

(May 2, 1859-June 14, 1927)
Born in Walsall, England, United Kingdom
Author and humorist
Best known for the travelogue 'Three Men in a Boat' (1889)
Also wrote the essay collection 'Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow' (1885), the novel 'Paul Kelver' (1902) and the play 'The Passing of the Third Floor Back' (1908)

Why he might be annoying:

He claimed he was given the middle name 'Klapka' to honor an exiled Hungarian general, but his middle name was actually 'Clapp'; he changed it to something he considered more dignified when he began writing.
He originally intended for 'Three Men in a Boat' to be a serious travel guide, but the humorous elements took over to the point where the remaining serious parts seem like a distraction.
He wrote, 'The Standard spoke of me as a menace to English letters; and The Morning Post as an example of the sad results to be expected from the over-education of the lower orders.'
Max Beerbohm called him 'a tenth-rate writer.'

Why he might not be annoying:

When he was 14, he had to drop out of school to support himself after the death of his father.
'Three Men in a Boat' sold so many copies so fast, his publisher said, 'I cannot imagine what becomes of all the copies of that book I issue. I often think the public must eat them.'
He volunteered as an ambulance driver during World War I.
'Three Men and a Boat' ranked #2 in Esquire's list 'The 50 Funniest Books Ever.' (2009)
His humorous quotes include, 'I like work. I can sit and look at it for hours' and 'It's always the best policy to speak the truth -- unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• BBC Big Read: The UK's Top 200 Novels [2003] (Ranked: 101)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 35]
• I Did Not Graduate High School [J-M]
• I Died in 1927 (Ranked: 68)
• I was Cremated
• I was Cremated at Colder Green [London, England]
• Look at Me and My Pet
• Male Pipe Smokers
• Profiles 31001-31250 (Ranked: 31112)
• Repetitive Names
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 19270614)
• World War I Ambulance Drivers

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 24 Votes: 79.17% Annoying