P.G. Wodehouse Books

While best known for his novels featuring Jeeves and Wooster, P.G. Wodehouse demonstrates his comic genius throughout all of his novels, and that genius is on constant display throughout "The Old Reliable". The tale is a laugh-out-loud funny look at a few poor down-and-out souls in Hollywood desperate to get their hands on some money to get themselves back on their feet. And since everyone turns to Wilhelmina "Bill" Shannon to solve all of their problems, she has garnered the title nickname, the Old Reliable, for her quick thinking and ingenious plans.

Bill Shannon is down on her luck, having been fired from the Hollywood production firm she worked for, forced to live with her sister (former silent screen star and loaded widow Adela Shannon). She pays for her room and board by writing her sister's dull memoirs and trying to think of ways she can get back on her feet. Smedley Cork, Adela's brother-in-law has spent all of his money and must rely upon his sister-in-law for his keep which leads to a very boring existence. Joe Davenport, Bill's former colleague who was also recently fired, wants desperately to marry Bill's niece, if only he had some money and if only she would ever say yes to his proposals. When Smedley finds a diary belonging to the sensational star who used to live in Adela's mansion, everyone believes their problems are solved, and that the sale of the diary will make all of their dreams come true. But not if Adela and a certain sneaky former safeblowing English butler have anything to say about it.

"The Old Reliable" is a short, fast-paced read, full of Wodehouse's trademark wit and humor. The narrative is peppered with Hollywood references and quotes from Shakespeare. Readers will recognize some plot elements from other Wodehouse novels, but will still enjoy the "what else could possibly happen" scenes that Wodehouse concocts in an effort to make a happy and entertaining ending for everyone involved, except perhaps Adela.

Those new to PGW can find the going tough; you literally can't see the forest for the trees (well not literally). This brief (159 page)oversize intro in the Thames and Hudson Literary Lives series is drenched in beautiful b&w illustrations and peppered with lively prose. The best part, though, is the brief bibliography, which enables one to wade through the various editions and cross reference English and American titles, so you don't buy the same book under two different names. Rather than bog down his biography, Connolly has kept just the good bits in this once over lightly tour of PGW's life and letters, which surely numbers among the best of the books on PGW.

THis small coffee table book will give you a great perspective on the great English comic writer PG Wodehouse, a very merry fellow and master of the English eccentric, who was still going strong well into his 90's. From his magazine beginings in England through working in Hollywood with the like of Gershwin and Cole Porter, and Fred and Ginger, his very controversial radio broadcastings in Germany during WW2, and going all the way into the 1970's, we are given a nice trip through Jeeves and Wooster, Psmith, Uncle Fred, and just about all PGW's immortal characters. So if you're fan of PG's, click to order a copy of one this book!

This book is among the lesser known works of Wodehouse. It is a group of poems about various subjects : a parrot talking (very satirically) about the times, a beautiful and popular actress about whom everybody is talking just a little too much, a writer, the beauty of whose work was destroyed by printer's errors, who then murdered the printer, a cricket match on a beautiful day, etc. These are extremely funny and surprisingly simple in content. The play of words which make P.G. Wodehouse's works so delightful to read is present here with all its freshness. This book should be back in print to delight many more Wodehouse fans.

P.G. Wodehouse outdid himself when he wrote this story about a young man who has to WORK for a year in order to win the girl he loves. Monty gets a job at Ivor Llewelwyn's Hollywood studio and basically does nothing but receive a paycheck. While there his secretary falls in love with him. She is saddened though because she knows he loves Gertrude. Monty does his year of work and hottails it back to England only to find out Gertrude's father doesn't think his work counted. Sandy goes to England and gets Monty a job as Llewelwyn's personal secretary. In a short amount of time Mrs. Llewelwyn's pearls are seen as up for grabs by the underworld, Monty falls out of love with Gertrude and into love with Sandy, and Llewelwyn still searches for a way to get past his wife's strict diet. Wodehouse characteristically sums it all up at the end in a masterful fashion.

The diehard Wodehouse reader, having savoured of the Master's best, may justly wonder what possible good can come of yet another reviewer shoving in his oar. Suddenly noticing how warm it is, I run a finger around my collar, and fumble out, in a manner reminiscent of one Bertie Wooster, the only possible answer: "Er...I rather thought I would."

Strengthened by a beaker and overcoming my diffidence, I warm to my theme: that there aren't many books from 1903, that is to say, over 100 years ago, that one still feels like reading. And it's rather ripping, really, that this book is really three books: The Pothunters, A Prefect's Uncle, and Tales of St. Austin's. I mean more for your money, what? And the last tome is really a lot of short stories, with a longish one rivaling anything Plum ever wrote.

Adding that most of them were scrawled out for a boys' rag called The Captain, and that they're all about the good ol' school and cricket and footer and all that, and given all the bilge being shoved out these days on the reading public, odds on twenty-five to one that my readers would give them a miss, not knowing that they're red-hot stuff. As someone said--I think it was the poet Burns. Jeeves would know. No wait--it was Colin McInnes: "Behind this seemingly effortless performance there is infinite skill, and a splendid, kindly wisdom; and in these early books, we can observe the young Wodehouse learning to enchant us with these two rare and beautiful gifts." Or maybe it was the poet Burns. Anyway, it's a ripping good read.

Stout fans will love this new edition of the definitive, Edgar award-winning biography of Rex Stout. This printing by James Rock Publishing Company contains a new introduction by Professor McAleer and an Afterword by his son, mystery writer Andrew McAleer (Appearance of Counsel) who visited Stout's home and study at age eleven. In addition, there are never-before-published photos of Rex Stout. As always, P.G. Wodehouse's Foreword is great fun. Satisfactory Times Three!!!

It seems impossible, but here is Jeeves serving the young lord and master, and .... it's not Bertie Wooster! Instead it's Lord Rowcester -- Jeeves has been lent out while Bertie is off to school learning to be more self reliant.

The plot is typical Wodehouse, fast and convoluted, but it's the wonderful reading by Nigel Lambert that prompts me to write this review. I consider myself a most excellent reader, but now I know I'm not worthy to fill the great man's water glass. He is superb! I didn't realize anyone could 'voice' characters that way, even the female ones! Nigel makes the book come alive, and I suspect, though I'm loathe to admit it, that it's better having Nigel read a book to you than to read it for yourself.

If you do not know the Jeeves stories, you are in for a wonderful treat. If you do, your appreciation will grow with the witty reading by the marvelous Alexander Spencer in this unabridged audio cassette version of four wonderful short stories. P.G. Wodehouse conceived of these stories as being in the musical comedy style, and as such they work better when read aloud.

These stories make for hilarious listening and are just the right length for short car trips. Take them along to cut the tedium of traffic during your next "rush" hour crawl.

Bertram (Bertie) Wooster is the narrator in three of the four stories. Bertie is longer on connections and money than brains. Seldom out of bed before late morning, his idea of a busy day is rallying around to his club to see if anyone wants to tour the nightclubs. He is an English gentleman, and strives to play the part in a languid way that doesn't require too much effort on his part.

But the brains of every story is Jeeves, his gentleman's gentleman (a combination of valet and butler). Jeeves is one of those brainy chaps who can always find a way. He tries to save Bertie from himself (especially when it comes to unsuitable fiancees and clothes), and always succeeds. Sometimes Bertie feels rebellious and indulges himself anyway in his taste for "far out" clothes. That can put a dent in their relationship, but Bertie always repents and does it Jeeves' way in the end.

Bertie has two redeeming qualities. He loves to help his cronies, who are a disaster at romance. How will the species be propogated? In a funk, they come to Bertie for help. He usually summons Jeeves.

The resulting schemes are always full of hilarious plot complications. Bertie may be trying to convince a fiancee's father that his friend is crazy. He may be inadvertently kidnapping children to help attract the girl for a friend. Or he may be in the middle of explaining all about men's fashion and helping pals avoid their wives embarrassing them in public. He does his best to entertain a lot of very conservative relatives and other people, whom he mostly alienates. Even his favorite aunt calls him a "fathead."

In these four stories, Bertie shows unexpected independence. Annoyed by his friends' preference for Jeeves' ideas, Bertie decides that he will cook up the solutions instead. This leads to no end of additional complications beyond the normal Jeeves stories.

To me, the height of all of the short stories I have read that contain Bertie and Jeeves comes in the fourth story of this group, Bertie Changes His Mind. Jeeves is the narrator for a change, and we get his perceptions of Bertie in undiulated fashion. If you like the Jeeves stories, you've missed an enormous treat until you read or hear this one!

Bertie's other redeeming quality is that he sincerely appreciates Jeeves in the end. To which Jeeves always replies, "Thank you, Sir." Jeeves has to put up with a lot in these stories before he gets to say his closing line, and you'll appreciate his stiff upper lip.

This reading beautifully captures the flightiness of Bertie and the subtle maneuvering and nuances in Jeeves. You'll feel like you are in the room as unexpected events intervene, and you can't think of what to do any more than Bertie can. Thank God for Jeeves! The reading also makes wonderful use of the dated language and customs to give the listener a sense of a distant time. These quaint anachronisms become quite charming in this context.

After you finish enjoying these droll tales of human fallibility, I suggest you think about all of the places where seeking advice before going ahead can help you achieve more. You may not be able to find Jeeves, but you may be able to eliminate some of your own mistakes this way.

Now, be a good chum and follow this advice!

I have been hearing about P.G. Wodehouse for 20 years, since I became a serious bibliophile, but I never picked a thing of his up until I saw this at the library. Now I am ordering everything I can find (unabridged, of course) on CD.

There are so many one-liners it's impossible to remember them all, but thankfully there is a great story in there, too. I have been giggling all day, remembering what I heard. If the rest of them are this good, I am in for a rolicking rest of 2005--hopefully I can make them last that long!