Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat was published in 1889 but his breezy, chatty style remains very readable and we still recognise, and indeed use, most of his jokes. Was this approach Jerome’s invention? Or had this style already been developed by others, now forgotten?

Paul Dixon, Didcot, Oxfordshire

• Post your answers – and new questions – below or email them to nq@theguardian.com. Please include name, address and phone number