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Wodehouse died before finishing this novel, which uses the Blandings formula: a pretty niece brought to the castle to separate her from a suitor; suitor infiltrated under an assumed name by Gally; Lord Emsworth innocently blowing the gaff to an angry sister. Wodehouse's notes complete the story.Tags
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I’m glad Wodehouse’s last book was set at Blandings Castle, it being my favourite of his serials, though I’m sad it’s incomplete owing to the author’s death (he died on the day I was born).
What we have are sixteen unpolished chapters, yet they’re polished enough to make for entertaining reading. The notes following the sixteenth chapter make clear that the author outlined twenty-two chapters in all, so we have about three-quarters of the novel, which could’ve been much less considering Mr Wodehouse was working on the MS during his final days.
The story we do have has typical Wodehouse traits and familiar elements you’d expect to find at Blandings Castle. Lord Emsworth is my all-time favourite Wodehouse character, so I can show more never have too many scenes featuring the ninth earl.
Because Wodehouse reused formulas over the years, it’s not hard to guess the outcomes for the principle characters; however, not getting to see *how* these outcomes play out with the author’s style of humour injected into the scenes is a sad loss.
For me, the notes and info following the final written chapter are interesting in parts, repetitive in others, and in some instances overkill. I got bored reading the analysis on train times from Blandings to London, so skipped this and various other segments.
‘Sunset at Blandings’ was shaping up to be a fine novel with many funny episodes. I certainly enjoyed what there is. show less
What we have are sixteen unpolished chapters, yet they’re polished enough to make for entertaining reading. The notes following the sixteenth chapter make clear that the author outlined twenty-two chapters in all, so we have about three-quarters of the novel, which could’ve been much less considering Mr Wodehouse was working on the MS during his final days.
The story we do have has typical Wodehouse traits and familiar elements you’d expect to find at Blandings Castle. Lord Emsworth is my all-time favourite Wodehouse character, so I can show more never have too many scenes featuring the ninth earl.
Because Wodehouse reused formulas over the years, it’s not hard to guess the outcomes for the principle characters; however, not getting to see *how* these outcomes play out with the author’s style of humour injected into the scenes is a sad loss.
For me, the notes and info following the final written chapter are interesting in parts, repetitive in others, and in some instances overkill. I got bored reading the analysis on train times from Blandings to London, so skipped this and various other segments.
‘Sunset at Blandings’ was shaping up to be a fine novel with many funny episodes. I certainly enjoyed what there is. show less
When P.G. Wodehouse died in 1975 he left behind an unfinished novel in the Blandings Castle series. Sunset at Blandings begins with 16 first-draft chapters, of a planned 22. Copious footnotes identify errors, inconsistencies and plot gaps that would likely have been addressed in revisions. The book also includes copies of Wodehouse’ own notes, and a discussion of the Blandings “formula” and how the unwritten chapters could have further developed that formula to reach a satisfying conclusion.
Die-hard fans will appreciate the latter parts of the book, but I most enjoyed reading the story and footnotes which, while a first draft, were still very much up to Wodehouse’s usual standard.
Die-hard fans will appreciate the latter parts of the book, but I most enjoyed reading the story and footnotes which, while a first draft, were still very much up to Wodehouse’s usual standard.
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1252410.html
This was Wodehouse's last book, unfinished when he died aged 93 in 1975, here published just as he left it, with extensive notes by Richard Usborne. It is a Blandings Castle story, with the usual clutch of romances: one of the Emsworth nieces is in love with with a young man deemed unsuitable by her mother but who Galahad Threepwood smuggles into the castle; slightly more unusually, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is in love with one of the Earl's widowed sisters, but feels his wooing style is being cramped by his police guard; and the Earl himself, of course, remains dreamily obsessed with the Empress (his pig). It is all very familiar, comforting and funny. I lent it to an eastern European show more friend last night who had never heard of Wodehouse, and she was laughing out loud by the second paragraph. I may see how easy it is to find cheap paperbacks of his earlier, complete books on eBay. (Especially the early Blandings ones, Summer Lightning, Heavy Weather and Full Moon.)
I must say that I approve heartily of the decision to publish the book as it was when Wodehouse left it, with Usborne's detailed notes (which include also appendices on the floor plan of Blandings Castle and the train timetable). In the sf and fantasy world we have seen a number of posthumous or near-posthumous collaborations, and I have not yet heard of one that was any good. show less
This was Wodehouse's last book, unfinished when he died aged 93 in 1975, here published just as he left it, with extensive notes by Richard Usborne. It is a Blandings Castle story, with the usual clutch of romances: one of the Emsworth nieces is in love with with a young man deemed unsuitable by her mother but who Galahad Threepwood smuggles into the castle; slightly more unusually, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is in love with one of the Earl's widowed sisters, but feels his wooing style is being cramped by his police guard; and the Earl himself, of course, remains dreamily obsessed with the Empress (his pig). It is all very familiar, comforting and funny. I lent it to an eastern European show more friend last night who had never heard of Wodehouse, and she was laughing out loud by the second paragraph. I may see how easy it is to find cheap paperbacks of his earlier, complete books on eBay. (Especially the early Blandings ones, Summer Lightning, Heavy Weather and Full Moon.)
I must say that I approve heartily of the decision to publish the book as it was when Wodehouse left it, with Usborne's detailed notes (which include also appendices on the floor plan of Blandings Castle and the train timetable). In the sf and fantasy world we have seen a number of posthumous or near-posthumous collaborations, and I have not yet heard of one that was any good. show less
This is the last of Wodehouse's books, unfinished on his death at the age of 93. Coincidentally, "Aunts Aren't Gentlemen" which I read recently, was his last completed book.
He had written 16 of the 22 chapters, although they were not yet in their final polished state. The book includes his chapter notes, surmises about how the story would have ended, a picture of Blandings Castle and its surroundings, and an Emsworth family showing a total of 10 unbearable bossy sisters for Clarence and Galahad (2 of whom are only introduced in this final book) plus numerous nephews and nieces whose romantic travails provide plots for the Blandings books.
There is also an essay about the search for the house that inspired Blandings Castle. Knowing that show more W liked to use real houses in his books, in order to keep the layout of the rooms clear in his mind, N.P.T. Murphy narrowed the possibilties down to 30 and started visiting them. He found the grounds at Weston Park near Bridgnorth in Shropshire, complete with terraces, lake, boathouse, Greek temple and cedar tree, but the house was completely wrong, so he continued his search. He eventually found Blandings at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe in Gloucestershire, which is wonderful, as I have been there a couple of times and it is my all-time favourite stately home. Sudeley is an old and beautiful stone building dating from 1441, with a ruined wing, and Katherine Parr lived there when she re-married after Henry VIII's death.
On a visit to Hunstanton Hall in Norfolk, Murphy also tracked down a black pig that could well have inspired the creation of the Empress of Blandings in the mid-1920s, and a photograph of her rounds off the book nicely. show less
He had written 16 of the 22 chapters, although they were not yet in their final polished state. The book includes his chapter notes, surmises about how the story would have ended, a picture of Blandings Castle and its surroundings, and an Emsworth family showing a total of 10 unbearable bossy sisters for Clarence and Galahad (2 of whom are only introduced in this final book) plus numerous nephews and nieces whose romantic travails provide plots for the Blandings books.
There is also an essay about the search for the house that inspired Blandings Castle. Knowing that show more W liked to use real houses in his books, in order to keep the layout of the rooms clear in his mind, N.P.T. Murphy narrowed the possibilties down to 30 and started visiting them. He found the grounds at Weston Park near Bridgnorth in Shropshire, complete with terraces, lake, boathouse, Greek temple and cedar tree, but the house was completely wrong, so he continued his search. He eventually found Blandings at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe in Gloucestershire, which is wonderful, as I have been there a couple of times and it is my all-time favourite stately home. Sudeley is an old and beautiful stone building dating from 1441, with a ruined wing, and Katherine Parr lived there when she re-married after Henry VIII's death.
On a visit to Hunstanton Hall in Norfolk, Murphy also tracked down a black pig that could well have inspired the creation of the Empress of Blandings in the mid-1920s, and a photograph of her rounds off the book nicely. show less
must the sun set at Blandings. I could read about Blandings till the pigs came home. PGW has brought me more pleasure than i can say. not that i would ever find myself at B. and environs. doesn't matter, i'm not one of those moquers that Mencken always carped about.
Typical Wodehouse
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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 published in 1902. He wrote over 100 novels and short show more 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
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Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1977
- People/Characters
- Clarence Threepwood; Galahad Threepwood; Florence Moresby (nee Threepwood); Victoria Moresby; Jeff Bennison; Sebastian Beach (show all 10); James Piper, Sir James; Brenda Piper; Claude Duff; E.B. Murchison, Sergeant
- Important places
- Blandings Castle, Shropshire, England, UK
- First words
- Sir James Piper, England's Chancellor of the Exchequer, sat in his London study staring before him with what are usually called unseeing eys and snorting every now and then like somebody bursting a series of small paper bags.
- Quotations
- Here was plainly a niece whose soul had been passed through the wringer, a niece who had drained the bitter cup and, what it smore, had found a dead mouse at the bottom of it. (Chap. 3)
He was thinking as he resumed his search for his brother Clarence that talking like a Dutch uncle to somebody was alright unless that somebody happened to be a Dutch aunt. (Chap. 3) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"I have of course told Victoria that Mr. Bennison is leaving the castle immediately."
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