Money in the Bank

Glorious, bright and carefree country-house romp, written in 1940 under the grim conditions of a German internment camp in Upper Silesia, a time when Wodehouse could have been forgiven for feeling that life couldn't get much worse. As well as the magnificent new one-off Lord Uffenham (apparently inspired by the character of an eccentric fellow-internee) we get a splendid hero combining the "buzzer" and "rugbyman" types in one, a perfect Wodehouse Girl, a female big-game hunter, and the welcome return of the crooks Chimp Twist and Soapy and Dolly Molloy from Sam the Sudden.

The language perhaps isn't quite as rich as in some of his best books — he didn't take his faithful Bartlett's familiar quotations into captivity with him — but show more the bright and breezy mood and some wonderful comic set-pieces more than make up for this. show less

Wodehouse does it again. I listened to this on audio while commuting and at some points I became concerned that I was laughing too hard to drive safely.

Top-of-the range Wodehouse. Lord Uffenham has put all his savings into diamonds and hidden them... somewhere. Problem is, he can't remember where. The result is a typical Wodehousian plot of deception, intrigue and unexpected twists and turns. This is vintage Wodehouse - written with a light hand and perfected comic language, complete with a love triangle, more than one imposter, and halcyon summer days at a country house. Money in the Bank is worth reading just for the endearing character of Lord Uffenham, and for the unrivalled dialogue of the two American crooks.

This is one of the great non-Jeeves & Wooster novels by good ol’ P.G. It has some of the best characters that only show up in a few books.

It’s got Lord Uffenham, a contemplative yet forgetful older gentleman who drops random facts whenever the spirit moves him. Next we have the American criminal husband and wife team of Dolly and Soapy Molloy with great slang. Finally there is the Molloys’ conniving frenemy Chimp Twist, another American criminal. The main character, Jeff Miller only shows up in this book, but for a stand-alone Wodehouse male lead, he is pretty good. Sometimes Wodehouse’s standalone leads are insufferable, but Jeff is mostly funny and charming. All around, “Money in the Bank” is a winner!

“Money in the Bank” features plenty of Wodehouse-type situations and humour, which means it’s a fun read.

I like the plot’s complexities, and most of the characters are entertaining, especially the absent-minded Viscount Uffenham. Although Uffenham isn’t the main character, he’s the most memorable.

A dashed good read.

It's a comic novel, so it's a bit silly to quibble, but: I cannot believe that an 1940s American criminal would use the phrase "oompus-boompus." It's such a Bertie Wooster phrase.

2021 reread via Audible Plus lending library - I am increasing my rating from 3 to 3.5*
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2017 review:
Simon Vance does an okay narration for this stand-alone Wodehouse novel. The book itself is not one of Wodehouse's best but was still an agreeable way to spend a snowy day.