Uneasy Money

It was interesting to come back to this after many, many years. I have always listed this amongst my absolute favourite Wodehouse novels, and in some ways I can see why. So why the downgrade to 3 stars? It just didn't click for me this time.

Genre writing that in some ways transcends genres has always appealed to me, and I classify this as a comic novel with some deviations from the norm: it's not jam packed with snappy one liners/laughs all the way and, unusually for Wodehouse if you go by his golden era Jeeves & Wooster output, there are smatterings of honest, closely-observed human emotion and heartbreak. By golly, there's even a death or two, albeit one is that of a monkey and the other that of an eccentric American millionaire whom show more we never actually meet. In other words, this early-ish Wodehouse (originally published in 1917) strays from his usual "musical comedy" type set-up.

There's something about dropping bits of real emotional pain into a generally humorous plot, the stark juxtaposition of comedy and tragedy, that has always triggered my emotions strongly. Generally I find myself more moved by such moments than by the entirety of a "serious" novel. I'm reminded of Garrison Keillor's writing, which often leaves me in tears that are mostly of laughter but can also be of sorrow.

Despite my tendency to like that sort of thing, I found myself feeling slightly uninspired. Perhaps I've grown up and am less idealistic/more cynical, or perhaps I expected too much of this book and it couldn't quite bear the weight of those expectations. Perhaps reading this at the same time as Helen Garner's gruelling Monkey Grip put me in the wrong frame of mind. I don't know. I'm going to try a few of my other favourite Wodehouse's next, The Adventures of Sally, Jill the Reckless and Sam the Sudden and see whether there really has been a seismic shift in my tastes over the years or whether this is just a slight aberration. show less

Bill Chalmers is a genial idiot, affably coasting through life with neither money nor ambition (except when it comes to perfecting his golf swing). But Bill is also William, Lord Dawlish, which means that his gorgeous but venial fiancée has expectations for him, and following an unexpected inheritance, Bill heads to America to try to put things right. This is gently amusing, with a bit with a monkey and some decently pithy one-liners/observations. Not peak Wodehouse, but a nice way to spend an afternoon.

PG Wodehouse is always a delightful treat. I’m so happy there are more than fifty books still to come! I went by the US publication date in order to include this book in my round up of 1916, which some may consider cheating.

Lord Dawlish has a title but no money, so he is delighted when an eccentric millionaire leaves him all his money just because Lord Dawlish (aka Bill) gave him a few golf pointers once. But when Bill discovers that the eccentric millionaire has stiffed poor but deserving relatives, he sets out for Long Island to try to set things right. There is beekeeping, romance, people pretending to be other people, and lots of hilarity. The only sad part is something that happens to a monkey. In the end, everyone ends up show more engaged to the right person. On the final page we are at the train station in Islip, Long Island, which today is a gross and unappealing town, but apparently 100 years ago was a bucolic spot where the rich built mansions. If this book doesn’t make you smile, your soul is in mortal danger. show less

Genial but broke Lord Dawlish inherits a vast sum from a near-stranger whom he helped with his golf technique, and sets off to restore at least part of the fortune to the person he considers its rightful possessor - the niece of the deceased.

A definite Happy Book. Less laugh-out-loud than some of Wodehouse's work, but the book is by no means lacking in humour. There are some wonderful comments and descriptions. The plot is a strong farce, with people appearing and disappearing from view, hearing things they shouldn't from behind pillars, and being in the wrong room at the wrong time. It's well paced, and has a good cast of amusing characters.

Our hero, Lord Dawlish, is told that he has inherited a lot of money from an eccentric American millionaire whom he helped with his golf game. When his offer to share the money with the man's niece is rebuffed, he travels to Long Island to try and convince her in person. Meanwhile, Lord Dawlish's fiance, an actress who aspires to wealth and status, also arrives in New York. She is beautiful but bossy and we quickly realize that he deserves better; she will appear with a different name in other Wodehouse stories. There are complications, but everything works out for almost everyone.

Like many of Wodehouse's protagonists, Lord Dawlish is young, affable, kind-hearted, and well meaning, but not especially sharp. He finds himself in his early twenties in possession of a title, but not of a fortune, as the family assets have been entirely dissipated by a succession of improvident forebears. However, he has little interest in luxuries and so he is untroubled by this impecunious state: a large circle of friends and a lifestyle which affords him time to play golf are all he requires to feel contented. Continued

Familiar fun in elegant prose. Not laugh out loud, though he did chuckle at the tycoon's dialogue with his Unconscious Self. Online reading, which was painless.