P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975)
Author of The Code of the Woosters
About the Author
P. G. Wodehouse was born in Guildford, United Kingdom on October 15, 1881. After completing school, he spent two years as a banker at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in London and then took a job as a sports reporter and columnist for the Globe newspaper. His first novel, The Pothunters, was show more published in 1902. He wrote over 100 novels and short story collections during his lifetime including A Perfect Uncle, Love Among the Chickens, The Swoop, P. Smith in the City, Meet Mr. Milliner, Doctor Sally, Quick Service, The Old Reliable, Uneasy Money, A Damsel in Distress, Jill the Reckless, The Adventures of Sally, A Pelican at Blandings, The Girl in Blue, and Aunts Aren't Gentlemen. His most famous characters, Bertie Wooster and his manservant, Jeeves, appeared in books such as Much Obliged, Jeeves. He also wrote lyrics for musical comedies and worked as screenwriter in Hollywood in the 1930s. In 1939, he bought a villa in Le Touquet on the coast of France. He remained there when World War II started in 1939. The following year, the Germans appropriated the villa, confiscated property, and arrested him. He was detained in various German camps for almost one year before being released in 1941. He went to Berlin and spoke of his experience in five radio talks to be broadcast to America and England. The talks themselves were completely innocuous, but he was charged with treason in England. He was cleared, but settled permanently in the United States. He became a citizen in 1955. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1975. He died from a heart attack after a long illness on February 14, 1975 at the age of 93. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by P. G. Wodehouse
P.G. Wodehouse : Five Complete Novels (The Return of Jeeves, Bertie Wooster Sees It Through, Spring Fever, The Butler Did It, The Old Reliable) (1983) 613 copies, 4 reviews
The Jeeves Omnibus: No. 1 (Thank You, Jeeves ; The Code of the Woosters ; The Inimitable Jeeves) (1989) 598 copies, 5 reviews
The Jeeves Omnibus: Carry on, Jeeves; The Inimitable Jeeves; Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves (1972) 576 copies, 7 reviews
The Jeeves Omnibus: No. 3 (Very Good, Jeeves! ; The Mating Season ; Ring for Jeeves) (1991) 323 copies, 3 reviews
The Jeeves Omnibus: No. 2 (Carry On, Jeeves; Right Ho, Jeeves!; Jeeves in the Morning) (1990) 312 copies, 3 reviews
Jeeves and Wooster Omnibus: The Mating Season; the Code of the Woosters; Right Ho. Jeeves (2001) 258 copies, 4 reviews
The Jeeves Omnibus: No. 4 (Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit ; Jeeves in the Offing ; Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves) (1992) 248 copies, 1 review
The Jeeves Omnibus: No. 5 (Much Obliged, Jeeves; Aunts Aren't Gentlemen) (1993) 203 copies, 2 reviews
Just Enough Jeeves: Right Ho, Jeeves; Joy in the Morning; Very Good, Jeeves (2010) 166 copies, 14 reviews
Wodehouse on Wodehouse: "Bring on the Girls", "Performing Flea" and "Over Seventy" (1980) — Author — 146 copies, 2 reviews
Best of Blandings (Summer Lightning / Service with a Smile / Pigs Have Wings / Full Moon / Uncle Fred in the Springtime / Heavy Weather) (2004) 62 copies
A Bounty of Blandings (Summer Lightning / Heavy Weather / Blandings Castle) (2011) 52 copies, 1 review
Jeeves & Wooster: Thank You, Jeeves ; Right Ho, Jeeves ; The Code of the Woosters ; Joy in the Morning ; The Mating Season ; Ring for Jeeves (1997) 42 copies, 1 review
Jeeves & Wooster: Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit / Jeeves in the Offing / Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves / Much Obliged, Jeeves / Aunts Aren't Gentlemen (2000) 22 copies
Jeeves Omnibus 2 (No. 2) 20 copies
Leave it to Jeeves and Other Works by P.G. Wodehouse (Unexpurgated Edition) (Halcyon Classics) (2011) 15 copies, 1 review
The Mating Season and Other Stories 11 copies
Plum Punch 10 copies
Jeeves And Friends 8 copies
Bobbles and Plum - Four Satirical Playlets by Bertram Fletcher Robinson & PG Wodehouse (2009) — Author — 7 copies
Jeeves in the Springtime & Other Stories - From the Manor Wodehouse Collection, a Selection from the Early Works of P. G. Wodehouse (2008) 6 copies
Jeeves, Tome 2 : Au secours ! Jeeves : Bonjour, Jeeves ; Jeeves, au secrous! ; Jeeves dans la coulisse ; Pas de pitié pour les neveux (2009) 6 copies
Mr. Mulliner Stories 4 copies
The World of P.G. Wodehouse (Code of the Woosters / Uncle Fred in the Springtime / Psmith in the City / Egg, Beans and Crumpets / Spring Fever) (1981) 4 copies
PSMITH - Complete Series: Mike, Mike and Psmith, Psmith in the City, The Prince and Betty and Psmith, Journalist (2022) 4 copies, 1 review
Golf Stories 4 copies
Pobre, vago y optimista 3 copies
Plum Punch: To Marry or Not to Marry 3 copies
Plum Punch: Four Short Tales 3 copies
Obras Vol, I 3 copies
Spring Fever, and Pigs Have Wings 3 copies
Стрихнин в супата и още много други 2 copies
טוב ויפה, ג'יבס : הפרשה הסבוכה של גאסי פינק-נוטל, מדלן באסט, הדודנית אנג'לה, דודה דהליה, הדוד… (2005) 2 copies
Buenas obras y sonrisas 2 copies
Short Mystery Story Collection 001 2 copies
De grote match 2 copies
Wogan on Wodehouse 2 copies
Bertie Changes His Mind 2 copies
An Early Crop of Plum's (e-book) 2 copies
Jeeves Takes Charge [short story] 2 copies
Jeeves and Psmith Collection - Mike, Psmith in the City, Psmith, Journalist, the Man with Two Left Feet, My Man Jeeves and Right Ho, Jeeves (2012) 2 copies
Wat een familie! 2 copies
By the Way, Day by Day 2 copies
Best of Jeeves & Wooster: First Set 2 copies
Se sei saggio ridi 1 copy
The Spot of Art 1 copy
“The Metropolitan Touch” 1 copy
L'Eredita' sotto chiave 1 copy
Avanti Jeeves! 1 copy
Infrusna tillgångar : roman 1 copy
Franskbrød og arme riddere 1 copy
Grazie Jeeves! 1 copy
Alla buon'ora Jeeves! 1 copy
“Fixing It For Freddie” 1 copy
Without the Option 1 copy
Jovencitos con Botones 1 copy
De krenterige miljonair 1 copy
“The Purity of the Turf” 1 copy
The Jeeves Omnibus Series by P.G. Wodehouse 3 Books Collection Set (Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3) (1998) 1 copy
The passing of Ambrose 1 copy
Látum Psmith leysa vandann 1 copy
Short Story Collection 1 copy
Roderick the Runt 1 copy
“The love that purifies” 1 copy
Le serate di Mulliner. 1 copy
Denaro trovato 1 copy
Forduljon Psmithhez 1 copy
Indian Summer of an Uncle 1 copy
Young men in Spanish s 1 copy
Carry on, jeeves 1 copy
Quick Service 1 copy
5 complete novels 1 copy
P.G. Woodhouse 1881 - 1981 1 copy
The butler did it 1 copy
The swoop! and other stories 1 copy
The Little Warrior 1 copy
Jeeves and the Stolen Venus 1 copy
Benissimo Jeeves! 1 copy
Ваша взяла, Дживс;Не позвать ли нам Дживса?;Фамильная честь Вустеров: Романы: Пер. с англ. (2001) 1 copy
Собрание сочинений. 3 тома 1 copy
The Toll Booth 1 copy
Molto obbligato 1 copy
“The Ordeal of Young Tuppy” 1 copy
I gioelli di Monty Bodkin 1 copy
P.G. Wodehouse short stories 1 copy
Hahó! 1 copy
Az ellopott levélnehezék 1 copy
A JEEVES OMNIBUS 1 copy
Jeeves I 1 copy
Jeeves #28 1 copy
Una signorina in imbarazzo 1 copy
The Tabby Terror 1 copy
Come On, Jeeves 1 copy
Best of Wodehouse Includes; a Jeeves Story; Freddie Widgeon Story Good Bye to Butlers; Strychnine in the Soup; Level Business Head (1949) — Author — 1 copy
The Postman-dog Imbroglio 1 copy
Harold mag niets weten 1 copy
Aldershot, 1913 1 copy
The bacon and egg affair 1 copy
Een Model Kinderjuffrouw 1 copy
Uit de pekel 1 copy
Ambrose op stap 1 copy
The Man Who Dislikes Cats 1 copy
Goede gnoes 1 copy
Fate [short story] 1 copy
Uncle Fred in the Springtime / Lord Emsworth and Others / Summer Lightning / Blandings Castle (1974) 1 copy
Een hondenleven : in De Narrenkap, nr.23+24, 4+11 maart 1937 — Author — 1 copy
Sommarpippi 1 copy
High Stakes [short story] 1 copy
Het mondharmonica mysterie 1 copy
Laughing Gas / Quick Service / Summer Moonshine / The Code of the Woosters / Uncle Fred in the Springtime / Very Good, Jeeves! (1938) 1 copy
Petticoat Influence 1 copy
Jeeves and Wooster set 1 copy
"Een, die alles in de war stuurt" : door P.G. Wodehouse in 1922 — Author — 1 copy
Berlin broadcasts 1 copy
More Plum's at School 1 copy
The week-end book of humour 1 copy
Psmith 1 copy
Uncle Fred Compendium 1 copy
En las redes de Broadway 1 copy
Associated Works
The Camelot Chronicles: Heroic Adventures from the Age of Legend (1992) — Contributor — 136 copies, 1 review
The Sophisticated Cat: A Gathering of Stories, Poems, and Miscellaneous Writings About Cats (1992) — Contributor — 112 copies, 1 review
Murder at Teatime: Mysteries in the Classic Cozy Tradition (1996) — Contributor — 56 copies, 2 reviews
Crimes of New York: Stories of Crooks, Killers, and Corruption from the World's Toughest City (Adrenaline Classics) (2003) — Contributor — 21 copies, 2 reviews
My Most Inspiring Moment: Encounters with Destiny Relived by Thirty-Eight Best-Selling Authors (1965) 12 copies
Oh, Kay! (1994 Studio Recording) — book — 11 copies
The Wonderful Edison Time Machine: A Celebration of Life (1999) — Contributor, some editions — 9 copies
A Treasury of Great Short Stories — Contributor — 7 copies
The Best from Cosmopolitan — Contributor — 4 copies
Piirakkasota; valikoima huumoria — Contributor — 3 copies
Blandings: The Complete Series — Original book — 3 copies
Modern Short Stories — Contributor — 3 copies
Georgian Stories 1924 — Contributor — 2 copies
Rex Lardner Selects the Best of Sports Fiction — Contributor — 2 copies
The Gent, April 1959 (Vol. 3, No. 4) — Contributor — 1 copy
Punch September 17, 1902 — Contributor — 1 copy
50 seltsame Geschichten — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Wodehouse, P. G.
- Legal name
- Wodehouse, Pelham Grenville
- Other names
- Plum
- Birthdate
- 1881-10-15
- Date of death
- 1975-02-14
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Dulwich College, London
- Occupations
- journalist
novelist
humourist
lyricist - Organizations
- The Globe
The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank - Awards and honors
- Medallion of the International Mark Twain Society (1936)
Hon. D.Litt, Oxford University (1939)
Order of the British Empire (Knight Commander | 1975)
Madame Tussaud's (waxwork) - Cause of death
- heart attack
- Nationality
- UK (birth)
USA (1955) - Birthplace
- Guildford, Surrey, England, UK
- Places of residence
- London, Middlesex, England, UK
Emsworth, Hampshire, England, UK
New York, New York, USA
Great Neck, New York, USA
Hollywood, California, USA
Le Touquet, France (show all 13)
Auribeau, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Loos, Lille, France
Huy, Liège, Belgium
Tost, Silesia
Berlin, Germany
Hotel Adlon, Berlin, Germany
Remsenburg, New York, USA - Place of death
- Southampton, New York, USA
- Burial location
- Remsenburg Presbyterian Church, Remsenburg, New York, USA
- Map Location
- England, UK
Members
Discussions
Folio Archives 466: Short Stories by P. G. Wodehouse 1983 in Folio Society Devotees (February 5)
BRITISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE DECEMBER - MANTEL & WODEHOUSE in 75 Books Challenge for 2015 (December 2015)
February Author Read: P.G. Wodehouse in 2014 Category Challenge (February 2014)
who is your favorite Wodehouse narrator? in Audiobooks (November 2011)
wodehouse virgin seeks defloration in The Drones Club (all things P.G. Wodehouse) (March 2011)
Reviews
Rating: 4* of five
The Book Description: "Golf is the Great Mystery. Like some capricious goddess, it bestows favors with what would appear an almost fat-headed lack of method and discrimination." These words, uttered by "The Oldest Member," set the stage for a romp around the greens only Wodehouse could have conjured up. In nine stories Wodehouse describes not only the fates of the goofs who have allowed golf "to eat into their souls like some malignant growth" but also the impact of the show more so-called game on courtship, friendship, and business relationships.
This volume includes "The Heart of a Goof," "High Stakes," "Keeping in with Vosper," "Chester Forgets Himself," "The Magic Plus Fours," "The Awakening of Rollo Podmarsh," "Rodney Fails to Qualify," "Jane Gets off the Fairway," and "The Purfication of Rodney Spelvin."
My Review: I bow to no man in my appreciation of Wodehouse, even when the subject of his talent is the shudder-and-narcolepsy inducing topic of golf. (Seriously, have you ever watched golf? It is unspeakably dull...almost as boring as cricket, which is the emperor of all screamingly tedious pastimes. Both feature commentators explaining the goings-on in such hushed, reverential tones that they rival nature documentary narrators for comatosity. The mind boggles and the spirit quails before the notion of viewing the “action” live in either case. Has the World Court heard about this? Seems they need to pep up their torture prosecutors, haven't heard of a single case against golfers or cricketeers.)
Where was I? Oh, Wodehouse and his brilliance. The stories in this collection are uniformly amusing, with moments of laugh-out-loud funny. I chose this moment from “Chester Forgets Himself,” a tale of a young man of fine sensibilities and a distinct inability to let loose his baser instincts in cursing the duffers who infest golfing:
If that doesn't raise a smile, or as in my case cause a laugh, avoid the book, and indeed possibly Wodehouse. He's like this a lot. The Oldest Member, a stock character of great and enduring popularity...the tedious old buttonholer in a prominently placed chair who will talk your ear off about nothing much...is so marvelously played for laughs that he's a National Treasure. The Oldest Member always has a story to match your circumstances, explain your problem, soothe your temper. That is, if one isn't whipped into frothing frenzied hatred by the old boy, as quite a lot of 21st-century people are.
But if one can slow down a bit, forget Adam Sandler's insulting humor or Jim Carrey's manic muggings for a moment, there's a humor in here that might just wind a tendril of affection around one's heart. It's a humor of silly and sly and slow genesis, from subjects of daily familiarity. Not the butlers and not the expensive golf clubs, no, those are the set decorations. Wodehouse's humor is about what kind of people there are in our lives. Old people who want to tell you things to help you, but go on and on. Young people in love with each other and not knowing how to say so to each other. Harried strivers working the angles and never quite seeing the forest for all those pesky trees.
Wodehouse knew them, smiled at them, made them into figures of fun, and never once insulted them. I love that, I treasure that, I batten on it. Given the right mind-set, maybe you can too. What have you got to lose? A half-hour reading a story? Try “The Heart of a Goof,” first of this collection, and if there are no smiles, no chortles, no guffaws, return the book to the library and pass on to your next read. You won't be harmed, and you might be enchanted. show less
The Book Description: "Golf is the Great Mystery. Like some capricious goddess, it bestows favors with what would appear an almost fat-headed lack of method and discrimination." These words, uttered by "The Oldest Member," set the stage for a romp around the greens only Wodehouse could have conjured up. In nine stories Wodehouse describes not only the fates of the goofs who have allowed golf "to eat into their souls like some malignant growth" but also the impact of the show more so-called game on courtship, friendship, and business relationships.
This volume includes "The Heart of a Goof," "High Stakes," "Keeping in with Vosper," "Chester Forgets Himself," "The Magic Plus Fours," "The Awakening of Rollo Podmarsh," "Rodney Fails to Qualify," "Jane Gets off the Fairway," and "The Purfication of Rodney Spelvin."
My Review: I bow to no man in my appreciation of Wodehouse, even when the subject of his talent is the shudder-and-narcolepsy inducing topic of golf. (Seriously, have you ever watched golf? It is unspeakably dull...almost as boring as cricket, which is the emperor of all screamingly tedious pastimes. Both feature commentators explaining the goings-on in such hushed, reverential tones that they rival nature documentary narrators for comatosity. The mind boggles and the spirit quails before the notion of viewing the “action” live in either case. Has the World Court heard about this? Seems they need to pep up their torture prosecutors, haven't heard of a single case against golfers or cricketeers.)
Where was I? Oh, Wodehouse and his brilliance. The stories in this collection are uniformly amusing, with moments of laugh-out-loud funny. I chose this moment from “Chester Forgets Himself,” a tale of a young man of fine sensibilities and a distinct inability to let loose his baser instincts in cursing the duffers who infest golfing:
...there was something particularly irritating about the methods of the Wrecking Crew {four bad late-life converts to golfing}. They tried so hard that it seemed almost inconceivable that they should be so slow.(p75, 1956 Herbert Jenkins Autograph edition)
“They are all respectable men,” {the Oldest Member} said, “and were, I believe, highly thought of in their respective businesses. But on the links I admit they are a trial.”
“They are the direct lineal descendants of the Gadarene swine,” said Chester firmly. “Every time they come out I expect to see them rush down the hill from the first tee and hurl themselves into the lake at the second.”
If that doesn't raise a smile, or as in my case cause a laugh, avoid the book, and indeed possibly Wodehouse. He's like this a lot. The Oldest Member, a stock character of great and enduring popularity...the tedious old buttonholer in a prominently placed chair who will talk your ear off about nothing much...is so marvelously played for laughs that he's a National Treasure. The Oldest Member always has a story to match your circumstances, explain your problem, soothe your temper. That is, if one isn't whipped into frothing frenzied hatred by the old boy, as quite a lot of 21st-century people are.
But if one can slow down a bit, forget Adam Sandler's insulting humor or Jim Carrey's manic muggings for a moment, there's a humor in here that might just wind a tendril of affection around one's heart. It's a humor of silly and sly and slow genesis, from subjects of daily familiarity. Not the butlers and not the expensive golf clubs, no, those are the set decorations. Wodehouse's humor is about what kind of people there are in our lives. Old people who want to tell you things to help you, but go on and on. Young people in love with each other and not knowing how to say so to each other. Harried strivers working the angles and never quite seeing the forest for all those pesky trees.
Wodehouse knew them, smiled at them, made them into figures of fun, and never once insulted them. I love that, I treasure that, I batten on it. Given the right mind-set, maybe you can too. What have you got to lose? A half-hour reading a story? Try “The Heart of a Goof,” first of this collection, and if there are no smiles, no chortles, no guffaws, return the book to the library and pass on to your next read. You won't be harmed, and you might be enchanted. show less
There is really no one who can wash away the troubles, soothe the careworn brow--how does that go again?
--And careworn brows forget, sir.
Exactly! When my brows need forgetting. No one can soothe and forget like P.G. Wodehouse.
I was idling away the morning, doing my best to make myself scarce, what with visiting family being more than a jot tiring, when I popped into the Strand to see if they could help improve the noggin. Not to say they had fish, but they did have a rather large assortment show more of the printed and bound word, and tucked under a table was a stack of bargain Wodehouse. "Right-ho," I thought and before another moment passed, I had picked up a copy with the intent to seal the deal.
It's tricky to describe how pleasurable the Jeeves and Bertie stories by Wodehouse are. Gentle farces, almost completely lacking in anything resembling modern action or soap opera dynamics, they lull one into an idyllic pastoral setting that calms and relaxes until a snort-worthy moment slides in. Besides the convoluted plots dreamed up to reunite separated lovers, or seek revenge for a practical joke, there are the witty bon mots and references that poor Bertie almost never gets, but result in a distinct upward curve of the naso-labial fold of the discerning reader. Wodehouse is a word-smith, but not one of the overflowing adjectives and adverbs variety; rather he plays with expectations and meaning in a clever and fun way.
For those new to Wodehouse, the central premise is that Jeeves, an intelligent, discerning, "personal gentleman's gentleman," is constantly using the grey matter to pull poor Bertie out of various scrapes. Occasionally the relationship is complicated by Bertie attempting to demonstrate cultural (that vase! that painting!) and problem-solving independence (the bag of flour gag!), but we all know Jeeves will win out.
These eleven stories are no exception to Jeeves' (and Wodehouse's) genius. The usual supporting cast stops by, including Aunts Agatha and Dahlia, Miss Bobbie Wickham, Bingo, and an assortment of characters in various stages of love. Poor Bertie often finds himself in the role of matchmaker. "Jeeves and the Impending Doom" is undoubtedly one of the stars, as Bertie is dispatched to Aunt Agatha's place to make an impression, and is manipulated into helping Bingo manage his wayward ward. A swan proves to be his undoing. Then, Jeeves has his Monte Carlo vacation postponed in "Jeeves and the Yule-Tide Spirit," so that Bertie can attempt practical joke revenge on Tuppy at the same time he presses his suit with Roberta. Luckily for us all, Sir Roderick (he of the overgrown eyebrows) is also in residence. "The Love that Purifies" was one of my favorites, as the plot hedges around a contest of good behavior between two small boys and various efforts to derail them, with Aunt Dahlia's chef Anatole at stake. "Mercenary little brute!" she said. "I never saw such a sickeningly well-behaved kid in my life. It's enough to make one despair of human nature."
Heartily recommended.
Delicious samples:
"You!" said Sir Roderick finally. And in this connection I want to state that it's all rot to say you can't hiss a word that hasn't an 's' in it. The way he pushed out that 'You!' sounded like an angry cobra, and I am betraying no secrets when I say that it did me no good whatsoever.
(--from Jeeves and the Yule-Tide Spirit)
Bingo said..., "By the way, Bertie, would you like a cocktail?"
"I would."
"Well you won't get one. We don't have cocktails anymore. The girl friend said they corrode the stomachic tissues."
I was appalled. I had no idea the evil had spread so far as this.
"No cocktails!"
"No. And you'll be dashed lucky if it isn't a vegetarian dinner."
"Bingo," I cried, deeply moved. "You must act."
(--from Jeeves and the Old School Chum)
"In a matter of this kind, Jeeves, the first thing is to study--what's the word I want?
--I could not say, sir.
"Quite a common word--though long."
--Psychology, sir?
"The exact noun. It is a noun?"
--Yes, sir.
"Spoken like a man!"
(--from The Inferiority Complex of Old Sippy)
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/very-good-jeeves-by-p-g-wodehouse-very... show less
--And careworn brows forget, sir.
Exactly! When my brows need forgetting. No one can soothe and forget like P.G. Wodehouse.
I was idling away the morning, doing my best to make myself scarce, what with visiting family being more than a jot tiring, when I popped into the Strand to see if they could help improve the noggin. Not to say they had fish, but they did have a rather large assortment show more of the printed and bound word, and tucked under a table was a stack of bargain Wodehouse. "Right-ho," I thought and before another moment passed, I had picked up a copy with the intent to seal the deal.
It's tricky to describe how pleasurable the Jeeves and Bertie stories by Wodehouse are. Gentle farces, almost completely lacking in anything resembling modern action or soap opera dynamics, they lull one into an idyllic pastoral setting that calms and relaxes until a snort-worthy moment slides in. Besides the convoluted plots dreamed up to reunite separated lovers, or seek revenge for a practical joke, there are the witty bon mots and references that poor Bertie almost never gets, but result in a distinct upward curve of the naso-labial fold of the discerning reader. Wodehouse is a word-smith, but not one of the overflowing adjectives and adverbs variety; rather he plays with expectations and meaning in a clever and fun way.
For those new to Wodehouse, the central premise is that Jeeves, an intelligent, discerning, "personal gentleman's gentleman," is constantly using the grey matter to pull poor Bertie out of various scrapes. Occasionally the relationship is complicated by Bertie attempting to demonstrate cultural (that vase! that painting!) and problem-solving independence (the bag of flour gag!), but we all know Jeeves will win out.
These eleven stories are no exception to Jeeves' (and Wodehouse's) genius. The usual supporting cast stops by, including Aunts Agatha and Dahlia, Miss Bobbie Wickham, Bingo, and an assortment of characters in various stages of love. Poor Bertie often finds himself in the role of matchmaker. "Jeeves and the Impending Doom" is undoubtedly one of the stars, as Bertie is dispatched to Aunt Agatha's place to make an impression, and is manipulated into helping Bingo manage his wayward ward. A swan proves to be his undoing. Then, Jeeves has his Monte Carlo vacation postponed in "Jeeves and the Yule-Tide Spirit," so that Bertie can attempt practical joke revenge on Tuppy at the same time he presses his suit with Roberta. Luckily for us all, Sir Roderick (he of the overgrown eyebrows) is also in residence. "The Love that Purifies" was one of my favorites, as the plot hedges around a contest of good behavior between two small boys and various efforts to derail them, with Aunt Dahlia's chef Anatole at stake. "Mercenary little brute!" she said. "I never saw such a sickeningly well-behaved kid in my life. It's enough to make one despair of human nature."
Heartily recommended.
Delicious samples:
"You!" said Sir Roderick finally. And in this connection I want to state that it's all rot to say you can't hiss a word that hasn't an 's' in it. The way he pushed out that 'You!' sounded like an angry cobra, and I am betraying no secrets when I say that it did me no good whatsoever.
(--from Jeeves and the Yule-Tide Spirit)
Bingo said..., "By the way, Bertie, would you like a cocktail?"
"I would."
"Well you won't get one. We don't have cocktails anymore. The girl friend said they corrode the stomachic tissues."
I was appalled. I had no idea the evil had spread so far as this.
"No cocktails!"
"No. And you'll be dashed lucky if it isn't a vegetarian dinner."
"Bingo," I cried, deeply moved. "You must act."
(--from Jeeves and the Old School Chum)
"In a matter of this kind, Jeeves, the first thing is to study--what's the word I want?
--I could not say, sir.
"Quite a common word--though long."
--Psychology, sir?
"The exact noun. It is a noun?"
--Yes, sir.
"Spoken like a man!"
(--from The Inferiority Complex of Old Sippy)
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/very-good-jeeves-by-p-g-wodehouse-very... show less
an absolute perfect sampling; if it really was a classic (to be read and giggled at) during highfalughtin' dinner parties in the '20s, i can hardly blame them, and i'd say: a classic it remains, as well as the best intro i can imagine to the greatest humourist ever, as well as one of the few writers who achieved (rather often, actually) what we in the business of enjoying it call 'perfect prose'.
so throw away all fifty-eight of the wodehouse anthologies published since then... or don't, as i show more imagine they can't help but contain excellence also, not to mention almost certainly writings post-1939... but...
there is something to Weekend Wodehouse. 4 or 5-hundred pages, illustrations by one 'Kerr' peppered enticingly about, an introduction by Hilaire Belloc, and a text covering virtually all his major characters/series (such things are so often the same with Wodehouse): Jeeves & Wooster, of course, Blandings of course, as well as Ukridge, Wodehouse's great antihero, the Oldest Member, who tells stories about golfers but which you need no appreciation of golf to enjoy, as well as some autobiographical bits & bobs, and several novel extracts (which I normally disapprove of, but certain scenes of Wodehouse's novels are similar to short stories anyway, and shall still provide a good time).
one of those anthologies which, despite perhaps being surpassed in completeness is, due to its selection, sequencing and artwork, itself a classic.
If you need a perk up, pick it up. If you're new to Wodehouse, pick it up. The point is: pick it up. show less
so throw away all fifty-eight of the wodehouse anthologies published since then... or don't, as i show more imagine they can't help but contain excellence also, not to mention almost certainly writings post-1939... but...
there is something to Weekend Wodehouse. 4 or 5-hundred pages, illustrations by one 'Kerr' peppered enticingly about, an introduction by Hilaire Belloc, and a text covering virtually all his major characters/series (such things are so often the same with Wodehouse): Jeeves & Wooster, of course, Blandings of course, as well as Ukridge, Wodehouse's great antihero, the Oldest Member, who tells stories about golfers but which you need no appreciation of golf to enjoy, as well as some autobiographical bits & bobs, and several novel extracts (which I normally disapprove of, but certain scenes of Wodehouse's novels are similar to short stories anyway, and shall still provide a good time).
one of those anthologies which, despite perhaps being surpassed in completeness is, due to its selection, sequencing and artwork, itself a classic.
If you need a perk up, pick it up. If you're new to Wodehouse, pick it up. The point is: pick it up. show less
Somehow, I have made it this far into my life without reading anything by P.G. Wodehouse. My Man Jeeves is the first book in the Jeeves series. It is a delightful collection of short stories first published in 1919. It introduces readers to several eccentric and lovable characters. The collection features eight stories, four starring aristocrat Bertie Wooster and his brilliant valet Jeeves, and four featuring Reggie Pepper.
The Jeeves and Wooster stories are the standouts of the collection. show more Bertie constantly finds himself in absurd predicaments, only to be rescued by the infinitely resourceful Jeeves. The plots typically involve Bertie attempting to help friends with romantic entanglements or financial troubles, only to become hopelessly entangled himself. Jeeves inevitably steps in with an elegant solution (which often comes with a small price for Bertie to pay).
I found this book an excellent introduction to Wodehouse's writing. The prose is playful and witty. I have recently been looking for “fun” books, which also serve as escapism, and this book fits perfectly. I certainly will be reading more of this series. show less
The Jeeves and Wooster stories are the standouts of the collection. show more Bertie constantly finds himself in absurd predicaments, only to be rescued by the infinitely resourceful Jeeves. The plots typically involve Bertie attempting to help friends with romantic entanglements or financial troubles, only to become hopelessly entangled himself. Jeeves inevitably steps in with an elegant solution (which often comes with a small price for Bertie to pay).
I found this book an excellent introduction to Wodehouse's writing. The prose is playful and witty. I have recently been looking for “fun” books, which also serve as escapism, and this book fits perfectly. I certainly will be reading more of this series. show less
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