Part of group of Jeeves and Wooster stories about Gussie Fink-Nottle and Madeline Bassett and their friends and relatives. A silver cow creamer wanted by the husband of Bertie's Aunt Dahlia, a fascist who loves Madeline and has a guilty secret, a clumsy curate figure in this. Jeeves of course saves the day and there are lots of literary references retold in Bertie's inimitable style, and it's funny, and --- if only the world were as innocent as this one, where you can laugh at a fascist leader. ( )

A sunny summer read; an amusing wedding caper! ( )

Not, to my mind, quite as crystalline a work of perfection as some other Woodehouse*, but thoroughly splendid. I believe it is the first Woodehouse to contain the reference to the cloven hooves of aunts, and the second in which someone is referred to as a "dream rabbit." Notable also for the set-piece with the bicycle, and the telling-off of the loathsome Spode.

*Making any criticism of Woodehouse brings to mind A.A. Milne's caution to readers of Wind in the Willows: "don't be so ridiculous as to suppose that you are sitting in judgment on my taste, or on the art of Kenneth Grahame. You are merely sitting in judgment on yourself. You may be worthy: I don't know, But it is you who are on trial." To oppose Wodehouse in any serious way is literally to oppose the right order of the heavens. ( )

I want to say that this was a 'laugh out loud' kind of book but I'd be lying because I don't laugh out loud when reading a book nor have I seen many people laugh out loud while reading a book. I think there may be exceptions to this but have no explanations for this phenomena except maybe the possibility of drugs or the lack thereof. I do laugh inside my head pretty loudly and with this book the inside of my head was roaring. My brain was in tears.

Bertram Wooster and Jeeves are able to solve every problem that comes their way and problems come their way non-stop. I couldn't help but think of Fawlty Towers and Basil Fawlty. I'm pretty sure John Cleese must have read a bunch of Wodehouse. In fact I'd bet something of no value to me that Cleese was a huge Wodehouse fan... something of no value to me not because I don't feel strongly about the Cleese/Wodehouse connection but because I'm a lousy gambler.

It's a story about a cow-creamer, police hats, the formation and break-ups and reformations of marriages, and the enjoyment of a good brandy.

I l. until I c., inside my head that is.

My first Wodehouse. It will not be my last. ( )

This was my first Wodehouse on audio CD, and it was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. I've read and enjoyed several Wodehouse titles so far, but listening to Wodehouse on CD is a completely different experience. I loved every minute.

This story is a wonderfully convoluted plot in which Bertie goes to Totleigh Towers in quest of a hideous silver cow creamer for his uncle — or rather, for his Aunt Dahlia to give to his uncle to butter him up for the big cheque she needs for her ladies' journal. But Bertie is also winging his way to Totleigh to answer a desperate summons from his old pal Augustus Fink-Nottle. It seems that Gussie's engagement to Madeleine Bassett is off, which is terrible news for Bertie because whenever she's not engaged to Gussie, Madeleine considers herself engaged to Bertie. She is, Bertie says with revulsion, the sort of woman who would creep up behind her husband at breakfast, clasp her hands over his eyes, and say gleefully, "Guess who!" I shiver with Bertie in horror!

But as usual, there's so much more to the plot than just that. Stiffy Byngs, Aunt Dahlia, Roderick Spode, Sir Watkin Bassett, and several other great characters also have a lot to do in pursuit of matrimony, leather-covered notebooks, and silver cow creamers. Wodehouse uses each person's distinct personality and motives to press his finger firmly on the funny-bone, and the result is merciless hilarity.

Jonathan Cecil narrates this edition, and a fine job he does of it. His different voices for all the characters are excellent. He switches between them so effortlessly in the quick dialogue. His voice is smooth, his accent is perfect, and he has a great feel for comic timing and delivery.

I listened to this while driving home from work for the past two weeks, and it was a rare day that did not find me laughing aloud as I drove. I'm sure it looked a bit odd to my fellow motorists, but when Wodehouse is really tightening the vise you have no choice. Laughter will out. This is highly recommended! ( )