The Swoop! or, How Clarence Saved England

by P. G. Wodehouse

Other authors: David A. Jasen (Editor), Malcolm Muggeridge (Appreciation)

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Classic Literature. Fiction. Humor (Fiction.) HTML: Only a comic genius of the magnitude of P.G. Wodehouse could take a weighty subject like war and turn it into a rib-tickling joyride. The Swoop! is an account of a fictionalized invasion of England by several enemy armies�??and of the indomitable Boy Scout leader who uses psychological warfare to turn the leaders of the invading forces against one another.… (more)

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Showing 1-5 of 9 (next | show all)

Fun satire of England's pre-WW1 military readiness which also includes other British habits (such as the desertion of London during the summer).

Although peppered with typical Wodehouse silliness, this is a more serious book than most of his.

Kristen Hughes does a good (but not great) narration in this Librivox recording. (

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leslie.98 | Jun 27, 2023 |

Pure silliness with a couple of belly laughs. (

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AliceAnna | Nov 7, 2022 |

Excellent satire written in 1909 that is still valid today. In this smallish book, England is invaded by no less than 8 nations. Fourteen year old Clarence saves the day! (

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Oodles | Feb 16, 2016 |

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leslie.98 | Apr 28, 2015 |

A ſatire on war literature, ſpecially invaſion literature made between ðe French revolution and the fall of ðe Soviet empire, which was quite popular from the Franco–German war of 1 870 and the Great War. (

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leandrod | Feb 10, 2015 |

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Wodehouse, P. G.	Author	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Jasen, David A.	Editor	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Muggeridge, Malcolm	Appreciation	secondary author	all editions	confirmed

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The Manor Woodhouse Collection

Wodehouse - Eileen McIlvaine numbering (A11)

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Canonical title

The Swoop! or, How Clarence Saved England

Original title

Alternative titles

Original publication date

1909-04-16

People/Characters

Clarence Chugwater

Prince Otto of Saxe-Pfennig

Grand Duke Vodkakoff

Important places

England, UK

Important events

Invasion of Britain by Nine Armies (Imaginary event)

Related movies

Epigraph

Dedication

First words

It may be thought by some that in the pages which follow I have painted in too lurid colours the horrors of a foreign invasion of England. (Preface)

August the First, 19--

Clarence Chugwater looked around him with a frown and gritted his teeth.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

UK title The Swoop!, US title The Swoop! and Other Stories

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

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▾Book descriptions

Classic Literature. Fiction. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:

Only a comic genius of the magnitude of P.G. Wodehouse could take a weighty subject like war and turn it into a rib-tickling joyride. The Swoop! is an account of a fictionalized invasion of England by several enemy armies�??and of the indomitable Boy Scout leader who uses psychological warfare to turn the leaders of the invading forces against one another.

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Book description

This is a parody of the genre of invasion literature popular in England before World War I. Invaded by nine armies, the English are more or less oblivious, but the invaders are beaten back by 14-year-old Clarence Chugwater with the aid of his fellow Boy Scouts.

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