Big Money

The book is fine. Justice prevails; greed is undone; falling in love at first sight works after some difficulties; falling in love later in life also works. The main difficulty seems to be the lack of money; a rich man trying to become richer deceptively leads not only to conflicts, but also to their solution for friends of the valliant young victim, as well as the poor man himself. I especially liked the two swans and dangers of a seemingly idyllic suburb of London.

Rereading this in a different age of the world, I realize that Wodehouse sometimes takes lightly bad behavior. In this case, and I quote:

There are two schools of thought concerning the correct method of dealing with small boys who throw stones at their elders and betters in show more the public street. Some say they should be kicked, others that they should be smacked on the head. Lord Hoddesdon, no bigot, did both. [~p. 116] show less

One of Wodehouse's Finest: This 1931 novel has long been one of my favorites among Wodehouse's many novels. It's a mix of farce and romantic comedy; whereas in much of Wodehouse's later work, the love plots seem almost perfunctory, here the romance between English Berry Conway and American Ann Moon (Wodehouse loved to work in trans-continental romances for his American readers) takes up much of the novel and is given a sweetness and warmth not always apparent in Wodehouse's funny, but sometimes slightly mechanical, post-WWII work. Of course, there's plenty of farcical action too, including many inspired sequences set in Wodehouse's "Valley Fields" (a thinly disguised version of the London suburb Dulwich). The hilarious chapter in which show more Lord Hoddesdon visits Valley Fields - and runs into a menacing fellow with an admiration for Stalin - is alone worth the price of this wonderful book. show less

A large cast of characters in typical Wodehouse scenarios, starring two young men with the unlikely names Berry and Biscuit. The story involves high finance, integrity and broken engagements as well as double- and triple-crossing by dubious people from the dregs of society.

The people are rather two-dimensional and unmemorable, but it doesn't spoil an enjoyable story that made me smile several times. Wodehouse's stories rather stretch one's credulity but it doesn't matter; plenty of ironical humour, and a dramatic - if slightly ridiculous - ending.

Well worth the 50 cents I paid for this at a church bookstall.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2020/09/big-money-by-pg-wodehouse.html

Although not one of my favourite tales to flow from the Wodehouse pen – or typewriter – it’s still good fun.

If you want some light-hearted humour with a sprinkling of chaos, give this a try.

What a hoot! Laugh-out-loud funny, clever and silly. Another Wodehouse favorite.

Hilarious!!! Never a dull moment with PG Wodehouse. A joy to listen to with my husband. We kept having to back it up and hear it again to catch the clever repartee.

Hugely enjoyable tale of multi-engagements, subterfuge, finance daft scenarios.