Slang and cant in Jerome K. Jerome's works : A study

The book offers a meticulous examination of the everyday language that flows through the novels and essays of a popular late‑Victorian humorist. By tracing the colorful slang, cant and vulgarisms that pepper his dialogue, the author reveals how a few lines can instantly signal a character’s class, occupation and temperament. Drawing on the writer’s varied career—from clerk to actor—the study shows how authentic speech patterns were captured with surprising accuracy, making the work a valuable snapshot of the period’s spoken English.

Organized as a grammatical survey, the text moves from phonetic observations to discussions of word formation and syntax before delving into the nuanced distinction between true slang, vulgar colloquialisms and the more genteel colloquial speech. Each entry is annotated with social context, gender and cultural background, and whenever possible the etymology of the expression is traced. Readers interested in linguistic history, social stratification in literature, or simply the lively idioms of the 19th‑century streets will find the study both informative and engaging.