On Memory by Jerome K. Jerome. Short summary

5 seconds

The English writer compares memory to a capricious child and gives various examples from his own life, the memories of the details of which have not been retained in his mind.

1 minute

The author argues that memory is very much like a capricious representative of the younger generation. Jerome cites a host of examples from his own life, memories of the details of which have irretrievably disappeared.

For example, he writes of remembering only the beginning of the first poem he once had the chance to learn.

Also, the English writer was once able to save four pence. He was told that if the writer saved them until he had another 2 pence, he would have 6 coins in all. Be that as it may, after advice given to him by people he knew, Jerome spent 4 pence the very next day. But what for — this is a mystery even to him.

In addition, the English writer tells of an incident from his own childhood, when he fell into a deep hole. According to him, he has absolutely no memory of how he managed to get out of it.

The author believes that past life events resemble ruins.