Oh, that Bertie Wooster.
I just finished Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit (1954) by P.G. Wodehouse. I do believe it is one of the only full-length novels that I have read starring the feckless Wooster and his man, the shimmering Jeeves. Mostly I have made their
acquaintance through short stories.
I recently wrote about watching all four seasons of Jeeves and Wooster with Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, and of course I could only see and hear them in my mind's eye as I read this comic tale. That only added to my enjoyment.
The trouble, and there is always trouble when Bertie is about, begins with Bertie growing a moustache to the disappointment and disgust of Jeeves. The action moves from London to Aunt Dahlia's stately home, Brinkley Court, and involves pearl necklaces, side whiskers, disappearing ladders, a restorative concoction invented by Jeeves, a cosh, a bout of dyspepsia, engagements made and broken, and more cliff-hangers than can be counted.
Just as Bertie gets out of one jam, another presents itself which is where the fun is. How will B.W. work his way out of this corner!
Odd as it may sound, a book with the unlikely title The Mystery of the Pink Crayfish and its author play a part in this romp. Of course, Jeeves is on hand to smooth Bertie's bumpy way. Bertie eventually sees the light regarding said moustache to which Jeeves, with just the tiniest raising of an eyebrow, can only reply:
"Thank you very much, sir."
Just as Bertie gets out of one jam, another presents itself which is where the fun is. How will B.W. work his way out of this corner!
Odd as it may sound, a book with the unlikely title The Mystery of the Pink Crayfish and its author play a part in this romp. Of course, Jeeves is on hand to smooth Bertie's bumpy way. Bertie eventually sees the light regarding said moustache to which Jeeves, with just the tiniest raising of an eyebrow, can only reply:
"Thank you very much, sir."
I love, love, love P.G. Wodehouse. I always laugh out loud. Some of my favorite books take place at Blandings Castle. I love Gally and the Empress of Blandings, especially.
ReplyDeleteI too love the Blandings Castle books. I still have not been able to bring myself to read the final one...I think it is called 'Sunset at Blandings.' I like to think of everyone still muddling about there. And, of course, the Empress reigning!
DeleteI must read some more Wodehouse -- it's so long since I've indulged. The aunts are always wonderfully awful, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteThe aunts are delicious! I read a biography about PGW and he had some pretty bossy aunts growing up. His parents lived in Hong Kong and he was shuffled from pillar to post among relatives in England.
DeleteIf you haven't seen the TV episodes of 'Jeeves and Wooster,' you really must! They are priceless. You can see some of them on YouTube or they are out on DVD.
I've only seen bits and pieces of the TV show - I have been meaning to watch it completely for ages.
DeleteIt is the best! I see that there is a new stage play in London's West End starring Matthew MacFadyen as Jeeves. I can't imagine anyone else in that role but the inimitable Mr. Fry. Stephen Mangan - not familiar with him - plays Bertie.
DeleteI love the Jeeves and Wooster books, too. I treated myself to the CD set of all four seasons and never get tired of watching them. Fry and Laurie are the quintessential Jeeves and Wooster. I love Hugh Laurie in anything, I just wish his House series wasn't about a hospital. I can't watch those without coming down with whatever virus, gangrene, or plague they're showing, so I've missed his wonderful performances in that show.
ReplyDeleteI really must buy the CD set of J&W! One never knows when an urge to watch those guys will strike. I love Hugh Laurie as well, Joan, and have watched all but the final season of 'House'. Some of my friends think they discovered Mr. Laurie, but I knew him from all the British TV shows I had watched and from the movie 'Stuart Little'. I was way ahead!
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