The P. G. Wodehouse thread

[Bick]

There seem to be a fair few Wodehouse fans lurking around, so how about a thread for the great man's books? What are your favourites? My top 5, including at least one Jeeves, one Blandings and one 'other' would perhaps be:

Thank you, Jeeves
Code of the Woosters
Summer Lightning
Leave it to Psmith
Joy in the Morning

 

[Ray McCarthy]

The Golden Bat
Blandings
The School stories where we meet Psmith in the last part (pronounced Smith, but spell it with a P sir!)

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

So hard to choose, and I am sure I am forgetting some favorites, but off the top of my head my top five would be:

How Right You Are, Jeeves (British title: Jeeves in the Offing) -- which was the first Wodehouse I ever read, so naturally I have a soft spot for that one.
Uncle Fred in the Springtime -- starring the inimitable Frederick Altamont Cornwallis Twistleton, who could resist?
Ice in the Bedroom -- this was another book I read early on and it introduced me to some of his most memorable characters: Freddie Widgeon, Soapy and Dolly Molloy, and Chimp Twist.
Mulliner Nights -- because I think it is the best collection of Mulliner stories, though all the collections have favorite stories, really.
Laughing Gas -- not an original premise, but I don't think anyone has handled the mind/body switch better.

 

[Alex The G and T]

"In the Summer the river is at the bottom of the garden. In the Winter; the garden is at the bottom of the river."

Tough to choose any favorite titles. Favorite characters might be easier. Chef Anatole's fractured english is always good for a laugh.
Lord Emsworth and the Empress of Blandings. Bertie's Aunt Agatha. (Or, at least, the terror which she inspires.) Ukridge.

I have utterly no interest in Golf, as a pastime; but I even find the Golf (excuse me, "Gawf") stories amusing.

When I'm fed up, disgruntled, disturbed, annoyed or oppressed; I just grab a little "Piggie," and just go to bed. Always a lift for the spirits; though probably not quite as good as Jeeve's little pick-me-up.

 

[Bick]

Nice list Teresa, and the idea of favourite characters is a good one, Alex. I would like to propose Gussie Fink-Nottle, 'Stilton' Cheesewright and The Efficient Baxter for consideration as fine supporting cast. I can't help grinning just thinking of the names he comes up with.

 

[Alex The G and T]

Indeed, how could I forget the Newt Fancier.

Or the ancillary denizens of the Drones Club identified only by what they are eating. Likewise, Patrons of the Angler's Rest identified only by their beverage of choice.

Okay, here's a favorite short, by Title: The Amazing Hat Mystery. So obvious to the reader. Such a bafflement to the cast of characters.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I love "The Amazing Hat Mystery."

So obvious to the reader

Of course it's obvious. It has something to do with the Fourth Dimension.

 

[Alex The G and T]

There's no other conceivable explanation.

 

[Bick]

Where do I find that short story?

 

[Bick]

Teresa, is "Ice in the Bedroom" a U.S. title for "Money for Nothing", as that has the same characters?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

No, those are two different stories. As you know, Wodehouse had a rotating cast of characters, and the Molloys and Chimp Twist were part of that. If there are jewels to be stolen or spurious stocks to be sold, there you will probably find Dolly and Soapy, and all too often Chimp Twist follows, drawn like the eagle to his mate.

"The Amazing Hat Mystery" is in one of the Drones Club collections, but I don't remember which one. It may have been anthologized elsewhere, too.

 

[Allegra]

Thanks for the thread, Bick. We owe the master this one! Only 5? Okay...

Uncle Fred in the Spring Time
Uncle Dynamite
Psmith, Journalist
Leave It to Psmith
Right Ho, Jeeves

One of the short stories I liked very much:
The Crime Wave at Blandings (in Lord Emsworth and Others)
Also liked many short stories of Jeeves & Wooster.

My renewed Wodehouse fever since last year was inspired by the fellow Chroners, read some Jeeves short stories before but for some reason paused. My plan is to read all his 90+ books in 3 years. Even though they are easy read and relatively short, free time is luxury for me. But I can always be in the mood to read him one after another without feeling overdosed.

 

[Allegra]

"The Amazing Hat Mystery" is in one of the Drones Club collections, but I don't remember which one. It may have been anthologized elsewhere, too.

Just looked it up, it is in Young Men in Spats.

 

[Vince W]

I'm not sure I could narrow my favourite Wodehouse to five. I adore the Jeeves stories and the Blandings are brilliant. I should get around to reading his golf stories, but since I have no interest in golf I'm not sure they would keep my interest.

 

[Bick]

Narrowing favourites to 5 is a tall order, I agree. I named a few favourites to get the ball rolling. I see Uncle Fred is getting a good mention - I loved 'Springtime' too. I can't now recall if I've read 'Uncle Dynamite'. I think so... I presume it involved key characters pretending to be people they're not to avoid getting in the soup with their wife or fiancé, or may have involved hiding a pig or stealing something... I get some of them mixed up, I have to admit!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Uncle Fred may be my favorite character. I only regret that we never allowed to meet Aunt Jane. She must have been a woman of endless patience. It is interesting that she only unleashed him on the world at intervals, yet they seem to have had a very happy marriage.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I can't now recall if I've read 'Uncle Dynamite'. I think so... I presume it involved key characters pretending to be people they're not to avoid getting in the soup with their wife or fiancé, or may have involved hiding a pig or stealing something.

All of those except the pig. (And it was the fiancé's father if I recall correctly.)

 

[Michael Colton]

I would have to say My Man Jeeves because it is the first I owned. I discovered Wodehouse late and have only just begun going through his work. It is what I read now when I need a cheering up. I have watched every episode of the Jeeves and Wooster television show at least a dozen times - it is through the show that I first heard the name Wodehouse. I then saw an interview with Stephen Fry where he mentioned that Wodehouse was one of the most significant influences of his life and so bought My Man Jeeves (I generally do whatever Fry recommends in interviews) and enjoyed it immensely. Needless to say, I shall be continuing along the Wodehouse path.

 

[Allegra]

I get some of them mixed up, I have to admit!

Yes there seem to be some similarities in plot in the Blandings books such as impersonating (there are forever impersonators on the premises), stealing jewels or the pig, breaking engagement... But you just don't get fed up of them!

 

[Vertigo]

Afraid I've not read enough to have favourites yet. I'm sure I read some in my (much) younger days but way too far back to remember names or plots. I recently started reading them again but at a very slow rate - maybe one a year - and have so far read The Man with Two Left Feet and My Man Jeeves and I'm now reading Right Ho Jeeves (and loving it). Definitely preferred MMJ to THWTLF and I suspect RHJ will be right up there and possibly a little higher as I do so much prefer a full novel to short stories.