I’ve never read P.G. Wodehouse despite glowing reviews from people whose opinions I respect. But it’s a huge body of work. Where should I start?
I would recommend the Jeeves and Bertie Wooster short stories for a beginning, or the J&BW novel, Right Ho, Jeeves, which contains one of the LOL-funniest scenes I have ever read (IMO, of course)–wherein Gussie Fink-Nottle distributes the school prizes while more-than-a-little tipsy.
I agree with Miss Mapp for starters.
I do warn you, however, that for all but the most devoted fans, a little Wodehouse goes a long way.
If you try to read too many of his stories at once, it has the effect of watching an all-day sitcom marathon on TV Land. All the plots begin to look identical.
In small doses, however, they can be wonderful.
There is a short story collection called “The World of Jeeves” which begins at the beginning - and goes through… and it’s short stories. Many (if not all) of the Bertie and Jeeves stories are told from Bertie’s point of view, and Bertie’s style of writing (which suits him perfectly) can be hard to get into. A short story is easier.
For novels, I’d recommend “Leave it to Psmith” which is just hilarious.
I’d say definitely start with the Jeeves and Wooster stories. Bertie’s narrative voice is one of the most uniquely funny and distinct characterizations in literature.
Fair warning: These stories are highly addictive. If you’re like me and practically everyone else I’ve known who discovered these stories, prepare yourself for a binge.
Amarinth, I believe that all of the Jeeves stories but one are narrated by Bertie. The lone exception is narrated by Jeeves.
The British TV series is also great. According to the linked article, some members of the Wodehouse Society were doubtful about the casting. They were wrong.
“There are too many notes!”
For a starter, I heartily second Miss Mapp’s recommendation. Spink-Bottle awarding the school prizes at the Market Snodgrass Grammar School is one of the gems of English literature.
If I may suggest another Wooster novel, one of my favourites is The Mating Season, which again involves Fink-Nottle, no less than 5 aunts, an agnostic police constable, impersonaters - the full meal deal.
The other major line of works in the Wodehouse oeuvre is the Blandings Castle stories. Leave it to Psmith is one of these, but a bit unusual because Psmith plays such a major role - Blandings is simply the backdrop to Psmith.
For a more rounded Blandings Castle story, I’d recommend Summer Lightning, which is the major introduction to the Earl of Emsworth, his sister Constance, his brother Galahad, and the prize sow, Empress of Blandings, all of whom play so great a part in the subsequent stories. The Empress is, in many ways, the largest McGuffin of all times. (I believe Summer Lightning was released in the states under the title Fish Preferred, but the Penguin edition uses Summer Lightning.)
Another factor in selecting which books to read is the time of composition. In my opinion, Wodehouse really hit his stride around 1930, and then began to decline around the mid-50s. The early ones don’t have the same fluid wordplay and characterisation; the later ones are more mechanical.
Pearls, Girls, and Monty Bodkin.
That is all.
The Jeeves stories are an excellent place to begin, although I am fond of the various Blandings Castle stories, so if you find a copy of one of them, dont’ pass over it just to find a Jeeves book.
I would advise you to avoid the gold stories, unless you are fond of golf. Although the stories usually involve a romance and the confusions that go with it in the Wodehouse universe, Wodehouse was obviously a golfer and includes a bunch of “and then on the sixth hole, she scored a birdie” and it can get a bit dull. For me, the same goes for his stories that start in a bar and have an old guy talking about his various nephews or such that had narrow escapes (again, usually while winnign the girl). the stories are fine, but not up there with Jeeves, Bertie or the crew at Blandings.
I loved Leave it Psmith–in fact, I laughed a out loud reading that one.
finally, I also agree that you shouldn’t read too many of them at once. Wodehousee re-uses plots, but each has it’s own little twists, so they are all worth reading. If you read too many at once, they run together and feel a bit shopworn. Also, many of the books were re-printed under different names (sometimes because of British/American publication, sometimes just a new edition), so dont’ be surprized if yu go to find a certain book and can’t find it.
Yes, this is too true. I was first introduced to Wodehouse and the Jeeves stories some years ago when I was sick in bed; I read about 20 or 30 of them all in a row, and towards the end of it was beginning to wonder what tacky article of clothing Bertie would be forced to give up this time so that Jeeves would consent to smooth the path of true love for one of his brainless chums.
My edition of The World of Jeeves has a preface by Wodehouse, which I can quote from now that I’m home. He recommends that the reader:
This seems like reasonable advice to me, particularly since some of the specific stories mentioned are among my favorites. The menu may be varied according to individual tastes.