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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
'You have been misinformed, I fear, Sir Alfred. I have not trespassed in your grounds for--ah--a considerable time.' The Head could not resist this thrust. In his unregenerate 'Varsity days he had been a power at the Union, where many a foeman had exposed himself to a verbal counter from him with disastrous results. Now the fencing must be done with buttons on the foils. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not just because it's the first, but because it's good!
Apparently the very first book he managed to get published - but a far cry from being the last! And no wonder: I won't be surprising any of his legion of fans by mentioning that Wodehouse is wonderful. Who can turn a phrase like him? The dialogue is gorgeous. The descriptions likewise.

I think some have criticised this book because of its `Boy's own' public school style, but for me that was just an added bonus. Besides, Wodehouse never let a plot drag him too far from his all conquering wit and charming characters. Perhaps that happens a little towards the end of this story, but it's the smallest distraction from a constantly amusing book.

I consciously went back to the start and intend to work my way through as much of his mountain of publications as possible. One handy thing about doing this is that since the royalty sun set for Pelham Grenville some time ago you can download a stack of his books gratis at Gutenberg, and his style works very nicely with dipping in and out on your PDA in queues or wherever.

For Wodehouse completists only
While pleasant enough, this book lacks the careful plotting and pointed characterization on which Sir Pelham worked so hard in his later books.
The coincidences are there, not because they're funny, but to save the author a small amount of work.I confess that I had to keep jumping back in the book to keep the various characters straight, and I never did discern much, if any, plot.Wodehouse poked fun at plotless, coincidence-driven novels in his later books; perhaps he was trying to atone for his first one.

The Pothunters - Wodehouse's First Novel
There is a glowing review appended as an afterword to the story in this novel about schoolboy adventures in England.That review would be 5 stars, and I would probably agree, except I want to save 5 stars for later Wodehouse works such as Luck of the Bodkins.I discovered Wodehouse because Douglas Adams praises him in his final book, The Salmon of Doubt.I love Wodehouse and think of him as an older, even more English version of Adams.In Pothunters, some trophies are stolen from a boarding school, and the adventures of the boys involved are intricate, extremely well written, and quite entertaining.Wodehouse peppers his prose with extremely clever phrasing, which causes me to laugh out loud.In the Pothunters I only laughed once per chapter.In Luck of the Bodkins it was every other page.Still, this book is worth the reading!

Wodeghouse's first novel shows early signs of his genius
Written in 1902, The Pothunters was the first novel of P.G. Wodehouse's 70-year career. As might be expected, it is somewhat immature, but shows signs of his eventual genius.

The Pothunters is set is an English boy's school at the turn of the centurry, an environment Wodehouse was familiar with. As such, it was written with those young readers in mind, and is consequently may not be very interesting to the modern reader.

The plot concerns some stolen prizes (the "pots" of the title). As a mystery, the book is not particularly well done, but the characterizations of the heroic though mischieveous boys would appeal to the young readers of the time.

As is the case in many of Wodehouse's works, characterization and plot are secondary to his amusing language and style.There are signs throughout of this development, which alone makes the book readable today.

Generally, one gets the impression that the book was written quickly, almost dashed off without the careful polish exhibited in Wodehouse's later works. Generally, the book would probably appeal most to a Wodehouse collector. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
It was precisely this quality of elusiveness which had first attracted Mr. Montague. He was a far-seeing man, and to him the topographical advantages of the theater were enormous. It was further from a fire-station than any other building of the same insurance value in London, even without having regard to the mystery which enveloped its whereabouts. Often after a good dinner he would lean comfortably back in his chair and see in the smoke of his cigar a vision of the Windsor Theater blazing merrily, while distracted firemen galloped madly all over London, vainly endeavoring to get some one to direct them to the scene of the conflagration. So Mr. Montague bought the theater for a mere song, and prepared to get busy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An early delight
Weighing in at around 90 pages, this may seem a rather minor bit of Wodehouseana. But it really is a rare find. These six stories form a serial which ran in the Pictorial Review in 1916. Even at this early date PGW had mastered the short story form, and it's not exactly right to call these short stories. Magazine writing is its own form, and as many readers know, most of his later novels first appeared as serials in magazines, primarily the Saturday Evening Post. Numerous bits that would later crop up as Woosterisms or bits from Barmy Phipps or Bingo Little are here already finding print, presaging the sort of themes that would develop during the roaring 'twenties.

Which also ties in, as this slim volume (too slim to have printing on the spine) comes from Boomer Books/ Waking Lion Press. As attractively designed as the cover is, the real surprise is on the back, in the color logo for Boomer Books. It features art by Jazz Age cartoonist and illustrator John Held, Jr., one of this writer's personal favorites. The Boomer series is not large print, but the font is a bit larger, and chosen for relaxed reading. The books are reasonably priced, attractively designed, well lain out, really a joy to read, and, the library includes, at least in this case, some rare finds. I, for one, will be hunting down more of them. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
When I said I would marry you, you were a hero to me. You stood to me for everything that was noble and brave and wonderful. I had only to shut my eyes to conjure up the picture of you as you dived off the rail that morning. Now--her voice trembled--"if I shut my eyes now,--I can only see a man with a hideous black face making himself the laughing stock of the ship. How can I marry you, haunted by that picture?" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Another great Wodehouse
It was utterly hilarious, a marvelous read when you are in the mood for somehing light and frothy.

So funny!
This book is so, so funny! Beginnig with a wedding that never happens, thanks to the ingenious plans of a mother, down to the pains taken by an attentive young man to prove his love. Very 'G' rated and ever so funny! Recommended to everyone for a bunch of good laughs!

Good, but not the best book P. G. Wodehouse wrote.
Upper class Sam Marlowe is bitten by a small dog and smitten by its cute, but ditzy redhead owner.

This is not the funniest thing the Master ever wrote, but it is certainly better than some of his. It takes the novel a few chapters to really get going on the laughs.The first part of the book is amusing;The second part is laugh out loud funny, with some genuine momemts of hilarity. ... Read more

Book Description
Word count: 7366. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
When I gaze at your broad, bulging forehead, when I see the clear light of intelligence in your eyes, and hear the grey matter splashing restlessly about in your cerebellum, I say to myself without hesitation, 'Comrade Windsor must have more scope.'" He looked at Mike, who was turning over the leaves of his copy of Cosy Moments in a sort of dull despair. "Well, Comrade Jackson, and what is your verdict?" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Psmith
Very funny. I love how Wodehouse uses language. If you like that sort of thing and you haven't read Wodehouse before, shame on you. If you do and you've read other Wodehouse books, well, it's like that.

amazon service sucks
I ordered this book along with another one(PG Wodehouse's - forgot the name). It was meant to be a gift, so i needed it within 5 days or so, i paid additional shipping charges for it. 3 days later , i get an e-mail saying "item will be shipped when available". What the heck ? I ordered that particular book only because i got an e-mail from amazon recommending the book. I called up the customer service, they seem to have no clue. So I had to cancel my order, purchase ot from another website(way more reliable)

This is the last time i am buying directly from amazon. Even if I use amazon, i am going through a local seller.

Psmith, Action Hero!
Readers of Psmith's previous adventures (Mike and Psmith, Psmith in the City) will appreciate Psmith's adventures in darkest New York.Wodehouse limbers up his dese, dems, and doses as he introduces us to "Bat" Jarvis and his gang of lowlifes, with whom Psmith interacts in an amusing manner-- even, at times, becoming strenuous in his defense of justice and his own corpus!Psmith bonking miscreants over the head with a stick?Yes!Psmith disarming pistol-wielding evil-doers?Yes!And along the way, much of the artful and absurdly witty banter that Psmith and Wodehouse specialize in is served up in heaping dollops.Enjoy!

Psmith at large in New York
This isn't Wodehouse's funniest novel, butit is definitely the most exciting, with a more dramatic plot than usual.Psmith takes on a crooked slum landlord, hounding him through the pages of 'Cosy moments' a bland family paper that he has transformed with the help of assistant editor Billy Windsor. Psmith is a wonderful character, languid, frivolous and comic on the surface, tough man of action underneath, a modern Pimpernell.there are some wonderful comic characters, especially Bat Jarvis, the tough gangland boss with a passion for cats.I wish Wodehouse had written more about Psmith, he could have been the hero of a whole series of thrillers, with Mike Jackson as his stalwart sidekick.Instead Wodehouse married him off in the next Psmith novel (Leave It To Psmith) and we hear no more of him, what a pity!

Audiobook is a real let-down
Maybe I've had an overdose of Wodehouse lately, having read Piccadilly Jim, Biffen's Millions, Plum Pie, and this book practically in a row, but I was simply not entertained by Psmith Journalist at all.

Perhaps it was Jonathan Cecil's reading (and I know that had a lot to do with it). His characterizations are indistinguishable and his attempt at an American accent is laughable (if you have heard any Monty Python, you'll recognize it).

But I think that could have been overlooked (or overlistened?) if the story had grabbed me. It seemed to be about Psmith taking over a New York rag and making it into a scandal sheet, involving a boxer somewhere along the way, but I can't be sure. I just didn't care, and I found nothing funny at all.

There is nothing to offer the casual Wodehouse fan in this novel. However, I will read his work again, as he has so much to offer in other books.

But I really think it's mainly Jonathan Cecil's fault. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
It is an ironical fact that Lady Wetherby was by nature one of the firmest believers in existence in the policy of breaking things gently to people. She had a big, soft heart, and she hated hurting her fellows. As a rule, when she had bad news to impart to any one she administered the blow so gradually and with such mystery as to the actual facts that the victim, having passed through the various stages of imagined horrors, was genuinely relieved, when she actually came to the point, to find that all that had happened was that he had lost all his money. But now in perfect innocence, thinking only to pass along an interesting bit of information, she had crushed Bill as effectively as if she had used a club for that purpose. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A disappointing reading
"Simon Vance's delivery is understated..." is an understatement!Sadly, this reading is nowhere near as entertaining as a reading by Martin Jarvis, Jonathan Cecil or
Ian Carmichael.The story is excellent, but I recommend reading the book instead of listening to this particular audio presentation.But with the right readers (identified above) Wodehouse stories can be fantastic accompaniments to travel or other activities during which you'd rather listen to, than read, the stories.

not his finest moment
This early Wodehouse novel has much of the charm of his 'classic' work but lacks that touch of comedic genius that his finest novels display with such gusto.This is a pleasant farce that will take up a nice summer afternoon but is not one that this reader will return to in years to come.

Easy Reading
This book was first published in the U.S. on March 17, 1916 by D. Appleton and Company, and then in the U.K. on October 4, 1917 by Methuen & Co., so it is a fairly early Wodehouse story.Although this is better than most of his early stories, it is not as good as some of his writing that would come later.Those who know Wodehouse will find themselves in familiar territory.

The main character of this story is Lord Dawlish, who has a title but not much money, a fact of which his fiancée, Claire Fenwick, reminds him repeatedly.He suddenly finds that he has been left a fortune by a man he hardly knew, and being the honorable man he is he feels he needs to restore at least some of this money to its rightful heirs.This takes him to America, where Claire also finds herself when a friend of hers writes her asking to visit.

To attempt to cover a Wodehouse plot completely would take much too long and I could never do it justice.As one would expect there are several interesting characters, and lots of plot twists.In the end, as with all of his stories, love wins out, and the reader enjoys the ride all the way.

This edition is another in "The Collector's Wodehouse" series being published by The Overlook Press in the U.S. (in the U.K. it is "The Everyman's Wodehouse" series being published by Everyman's Library).

Ailing?Try some Wodehouse medicine!
I do not regret having read all of the Wodehouse books written before this one, but I have to express my delight at finally starting to get to the books that made Wodehouse's reputation. This particular one isn't tied to any of his serieses, but shares a lot with both the Blandings castle and Bertie & Jeeves books. First off, there's Lord Dawlish, the sort of chap who is just a little too nice for his own good, the kind who always gets nipped by one and all for a fiver here or a ten-spot there. Then there's his fiancee, who's obsessed on the money deal; an eccentric wealthy old man; a couple of Americans; and a nightclub-singing Lady (as in Lord and Lady). There's money, and the lack of it, that seems to be a separate character content to flirt with all the rest of the cast. A little plot line regarding golf, keeping bees, transatlantic trips, people who may or may not be who they are, a will that may or may not be the operative one, people mistaken for themselves and others, and true love. My god, the formula is so easy, yet as any one knows who has tried a hand at this stuff, just because you've got the recipe, it doesn't mean your souffle rises in the same way.

This is a good one to recommend to people who have never read Wodehouse before, because it is compact and self-contained. It's been said that laughter is the best medicine--if so, then Wodehouse is a wonder drug.

Not one of the Master's best,
A pleasant enough read, but falls far short of most of the other Wodehouse that I have read.A person reading only this work would have no idea that Wodehouse is probably the greatest writer in the history of the Englishlanguage except perhaps for that Bard guy from back when. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
I went exploring there this morning. It's an enormous place, with hot-houses and things, and there's the cunningest farm at one end with a stable yard full of puppies that just tear the heart out of you, they're so sweet. And a big, sleepy cat, which sits and blinks in the sun and lets the puppies run all over her. And there's a lovely stillness, and you can hear everything growing. And thrushes and blackbirds... Oh, Ginger, it's heavenly! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Super Spectacular!
Wodehouse at his comic, yet startlingly thoughtful best.Although it doesn't have the familiarity of a Jeeves-Wooster dynamic, this book hums with dramatic tension & comedy of the 1940s romantic comedy genre.A treasure, a gem - a must-have for any Wodehouse devotee.

I'm in love!
Sally is the neatest gal ever!I'm in the middle of the book, but so far Sally has been an absolute pippin.This is one of the ultimate feel-good books; Wodehouse at the top of his form.

I may change my mind about it after I read more, but I doubt it...

Arch

More Plum fun!
Not my favorite Wodehouse but still very good.No fan of P.G. the Great will be disappointed in this one.For those who have yet to discover the most prolific and delightful writer in the English language, "P.G.Wodehouse: Five Complete Novels" is a better place to start. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
P.G. Wodehouse is at his whimsical best when the characters of Belpher Castle muddle through impending catastrophes and frivolous intrigue to figure out who belongs to whom in this comedy of errors. We begin with the American George Bevan who composes musicals and is in England to attend a performance of one. After the show, Lady Patricia Maud Marsh slips into his taxi in an attempt to escape her brother, Percy, who has fashioned himself protector of the family name, and her father, Lord John Marshmoreton, whose sister, Lady Carolyn Byrd, is trying to marry Maud off to her step-son, Reginald. George suddenly witnesses the members of Belpher Castle as overbearing relatives, loutish familiars, and literary snobs in Lord Marshmoreton's idyllic home. Maud has mistaken George for another man she fell in love with earlier because of the American accent. Wodehouse's plot twists and vaunty satire portray scheming servants who make bets on the capricious attachments of the Castle's inhabitants and the aunt-dominated Earl who loves to garden and is half-heartedly writing the family history. These marvelously comic eccentrics spend their aristocratic leisure aghast and preoccupied. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Charming and entertaining!!
Wodehouse is one of my favorite writers whenever I want to laugh with very witty conversations and funny situations.I like the most the way he portrays the characters and overall I know that at the end I will have a very satisfying conclusion.This book is not an exception, I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
As an extra comment I would like to add that being a Georgette Heyer fan myself, I found that his writing resembles that of Georgette Heyer in the way the characters speak. It is a treat!

Classic Early Wodehouse
"A Damsel in Distress" was published in the U.S. on October 4, 1919 by George H. Doran, and then in the U.K. on October 17, 1919 by Herbert Jenkins, and it is a splendid example of early Wodehouse.This edition is part of The Collector's Wodehouse series being released by The Overlook Press (in the U.K. it is The Everyman's Wodehouse series from Everyman's Library).

As with many Wodehouse classics, this one includes a collection of colorful characters, a complex love story involving many characters, and of course the happy ending where everything works out.It is the story of an American Composer, George Bevan, who falls in love with Maud (The Earl of Marshmoreton's daughter).Maud is already in love with another American, Geoffrey Raymond, who she met in Wales the previous year.Her brother and aunt, Lord Belpher and Lady Caroline Byng oppose her getting involved with the American and want her to marry someone from her social class.There are more characters as well, including some servants, Lady Caroline's son Reggie, Lord Marshmoreton's secretary Alice Faraday, and an acquaintance of George's Billie Dore who is in the Chorus of George's latest musical comedy.

As with most Wodehouse stories, the plot is very complicated, and attempts to describe it in detail would fail to do it justice.It does involve a case of mistaken identity, a pool among the servants on who will marry Maud, and several characters finding their loves.Overall this is a very good example of a classic Wodehouse story, and it is well worth reading.

Screwball Comedy Wodehouse Style
Just today I was making a list of the best-written bits in Wodehouse, and Damsel in Distress topped the list. Gracie Allen of Burns and Allen fame starred in an old black-and-white film based from this book and cast in the Billy Wilder screwball comedy vein. Arguably this book may not top the PGW cannon--nearly everyone would have a Jeeves, Mulliner or Drones book at the pinnacle of great reading--but it does contain some of the most delightful passages in Wodehouse.

The movie falls far short of the book simply because it was made when "All Singing, All Dancing"--(and no plot) was considered a good review for a movie. Any number of PGW novels critique and lampoon his experiences in Hollywood, but seeing the film first and then reading the book, one might be pleasantly surprised. For me, this novel holds up as one of the best non-Jeeves stories, others being French Leave and The Girl On the Boat.

Plaisir d'amour
The course of true love never did run smooth with the "Damsel in Distress", naturally.Love may not care if time totters, light droops, and all measures bend.The problem, of course, in thisboy loves girl and vice versa romance, the respective love-light is shining at the wrong object d'amour. This merry mix-up is further complicated by the differences in class ("blood").

In this delightful comic tale, Wodehouse reminds us once again the universal truth mused by e.e. cummings: love's function is to fabricate unknownness.That known is being wishless, but love, is all of wishing.

Wodehouse's "Damsel in Distress", like all his other works, isframed in the Edwardian Era.In contrast to the acme of vulgarity of this prosaic age, no one could write like he did, nor would want to. His large collection of works is held like an extinct specimen in the amber of the moment - capturing the bubbling gaiety and the insouciance of the Gilded Age.

Life does move on.Once a while though, it's pleasing and reassuring to hold and peer with appreciation inside the polished resin that was Wodehouse - knowing that the English language is still at its zenith, and few has mastered it.

Love feast
George Bevan, burgeoning young american musical composer, fancies himself a knight-in-shining-armor when in the middle of Piccadily Circus a fair maiden flings herself into his cab to escape the obese pursuit of the dragon - her brother Percy, heir to the family title and vigilant protector of the family name. Our hero's fair lady Maud does indeed live trapped within the tower of Castle Belpher to which he repairs in swift pursuit of happiness.

George will face grim prospects in scheming servants, an evil aunt, a kindly but aunt-dominated Lord Marshmoreton and worst of all the fact that Maud is in love with another. The whole setting has obvious similarities to Blandings for those familiar with the Lord Emsworth stories. I wasn't roaring with laughter, but I was attached to the characters and couldn't put the book down. It is hard to say which book is a good introduction to Wodehouse because they are all so good! ... Read more

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Accents
The book itself I would rate three stars, but this edition only gets one star. This is an amateuristic edition in which all French accents are scrambled. Espièglerie becomes espiglerie and pied-à-terre becomes pied-terre. The printer should look for an other job, like taxi driver.
Don't buy this book.

Wodehouse's worst book
Wodehouse's books are usually very funny. They're full of clever wordplay, convoluted plots, and and lovable characters. Not George Washington doesn't have any of that. I only laughed once while reading the thing, and that was in the next-to-last chapter. The wordplay is not even remotely clever, in fact it's almost non-existent. The plot is slightly convoluted, but nowhere up to the usual Wodehouse standards. Quite frankly, I almost hated the main character, James Cloyster, because he's boring and a scoundrel. Trying to marry one woman when you're engaged to another is not the sort of behavior one expects from a Wodehousian hero.

This really isn't a good book at all. At best it's painfully mediocre. I can only recommend it to Wodehouse enthusiasts who want to collect copies of all of his works. Everyone else should steer clear. I can only give "Not George Washington" 3 stars, and that's being generous. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. Based on American editionDownload Description
On the contrary, it is, very much. I happen to have some self-respect. I've only just found it out, it's true, but it's there all right. I don't want to be a prince--take it from me, it's a much overrated profession--but if I've got to be one, I'll specialize. I won't combine it with being a bunco steerer on the side. As long as I am on the throne, this high-toned crap-shooting will continue a back number. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Early Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse had not really hit his stride yet when this story was published.The American accents/language seem somewhat stilted.Still a very funny story.Well worth collecting and well worth reading.ON the Wodehouse scale of 1-10 about a 4 (compared to Jeeves, and Blandings stories).That would translate to about an 8 on a scale with other writers.

Earlier/Alternate Version of "Psmith Journalist"
A previous reviewer has mentioned that the hero of this book, named Smith, seems so much like the more famous Wodehouse character, Psmith.The reason is that they are the same character with a few minor changes, most importantly Smith is American.

This has to do with the publication history of this book.In 1910, Wodehouse published a novel called "Psmith Journalist" werialized in the American magazine continuing the adventures of Psmith and Mike from "Psmith in the City" as they grapple with lots of American gangsters, boxers, slumlords, etc. This novel was published in book form as "Psmith Journalist" in 1915.

In the meantime, he published 2 different (US & UK) revised versions under the title "Prince and Betty" -- one with and one without an additional love story.The version here appears to be the US version.

I have read and enjoyed "Psmith Journalist," and while ,it is the weakest of his Psmith books I definately recomend it as a must for any Wodehouse fan.I haven't yet read "Prince and Betty"but am looking forward to it to see the differences between it and Psmith Journalist.Also, Jimmy Pitt the hero of the excellent Wodehouse book, "Gentleman of Leisure" makes an appearance in Prince and Betty

Wodehouse writing like Damon Runyon
Wodehouse is finely honing the comical style that characterizes the later novels. This novel, however, is very dissimilar to Bertie/Jeeves. Instead, it's more like Damon Runyon, if Runyon had written a novel. The characteristic near-misses and misunderstandings of Wodehouse are present, as is the jocular young man in spats (here called Smith, supposedly American, but reading like the Psmith of the Wodehouse books of that name), but the two main characters are college-educated Americans. It is the subplot in the last half of the story involving gangs and their "canisters" (guns) that makes it almost unbelievable that this is Wodehouse. Although comedic, the real level of danger presented to the characters is great, especially compared with later novels in which danger is usually in the form of an avenging aunt who threatens to cut off the money supply. Imagine what Wodehouse would have been like if he had chosen to follow the path of this novel rather than the Psmith novels or the Bertie/Jeeves stories!

Wodehouse does a wonderful bit of satire here on the "wholesome" newspapers of the day, probably little knowing that his fare would be held up as wholesome in later years. ... Read more

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
Although this story is concerned principally with the Man and the Maid, the Miasma pervades it to such an extent that I feel justified in putting his name on the bills. Webster's Dictionary gives the meaning of the word 'miasma' as 'an infection floating in the air; a deadly exhalation'; and, in the opinion of Mr Robert Ferguson, his late employer, that description, though perhaps a little too flattering, on the whole summed up Master Roland Bean pretty satisfactorily. Until the previous day he had served Mr Ferguson in the capacity of office-boy; but there was that about Master Bean which made it practically impossible for anyone to employ him for long. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wodehouse is great; Davidson is not
This refers to the audio version.The stories are entertaining, but Davidson has a simpering delivery that I find hard to tolerate.For Wodehouse audio, I definitely recommend those stories read by Jonathan Cecil or Martin Jarvis. They are upbeat and deliciously entertaining without the "sticky sweet" quality you will find in Davidson's readings.

Wodehouse with his inimitable style does it again !
Those who consider reading a welcome break from the usual rigmarole of life should read this. Those of us who are die-hard fans of Wodehouse know just how good it feels !! ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

How Wodehouse saved the Swoop
Legendary humorist P.G. Wodehouse is best known for his upper-crust, screwball comedies, especially those of aristocratic goof Bertie Wooster and his serene valet Jeeves.

But Wodehouse was only embarking on his long, prestigious literary career when he wrote "The Swoop! Or, How Clarence Saved England." It's a very brief novel, lacking in Wodehouse's usual complexity, but it's still an amusing (if brief) read.

A faithful Boy Scout, Clarence is one of those kids who worries a lot about their country -- almost too much. He belongs to a pleasantly staid family who think he's a little nuts, because of his constant moans about how England has deteriorated. But it seems that he might be at least partly right when German prince invades during tea.

Nine other hostile armies invade England, much to the indignation of the populace. Unfortunately, the English don't put up much of a resistance, since "the Socialists had condemned the army system as unsocial." And suddenly Clarence and the Boy Scouts are the thing standing between Endland and total occupation.

"At last I begin to realise the horrors of an invasion -- for the invaders." Wodehouse wrote this amusing little book before World War II -- during that war, the idea of Germans invading wouldn't have been as funny. But the ideas are still quite amusing: of a smallish invasion force being politely but firmly ejected from an Essex house, because they interrupted teatime.

Plotwise, it's not very complex. In fact, compared to his usual tangles of love, blackmail and stolen policemen's helmets, it's simple. But it is amusing, the idea of a bunch of Boy Scouts overthrowing nine different invading forces. Wodehouse's entertaining dialogue is brilliantly absurd. ("An hour ago your camp was silently surrounded by patrols of Boy Scouts, armed with catapults and hockey-sticks").

"The Swoop! Or How Clarence Saved England" is a fun little novel by a master humorist, who was just starting to find his niche when he wrote it. It's not the best that P.G. Wodehouse wrote, but it's still amusing. ... Read more

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I try to think so, said Mr. Spence, "but it's a struggle. There's a Napoleonic touch about the business that appeals to one. Disorder on a small scale is bad, but this is immense. I've never heard of anything like it at any public school. When I was at Winchester, my last year there, there was pretty nearly a revolution because the captain of cricket was expelled on the eve of the Eton match. I remember making inflammatory speeches myself on that occasion. But we stopped on the right side of the line. We were satisfied with growling. But this----!" ... Read more

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. Titled in UK: Jill, The RecklessDownload Description
Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks.Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG- - Freddie Rooke gazed coldly at the breakfast-table. Through a gleaming eye-glass he inspected the revolting object which Parker, his faithful man, had placed on a plate before him."Parker!" His voice had a ring of pain. "Sir?" "What's this?" "Poached egg, sir." Freddie averted his eyes with a silent shudder. "It looks just like an old aunt of mine," he said. "Remove it!"He got up, and, wrapping his dressing-gown about his long legs, took up a stand in front of the fireplace. From this position he surveyed the room, his shoulders against the mantelpiece, his calves pressing the club-fender. It was a cheerful oasis in a chill and foggy world, a typical London bachelor's breakfast-room. The walls were a restful gray, and the table, set for two, a comfortable arrangement in white and silver. ... Read more

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
Come back, Jimmie, the Petts need you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Maybe I'm Just Dense, But Didn't Find It Too Hilarious
Missing the collected works of P. G. Wodehouse has not been a literary catastrophe of epic proportions for this discerning reader, who has finally decided to plunge into Wodehouse's quaint universe of madcap English eccentrics based on the praise he's heard from others, most notably a celebrated former teacher of his. Although Wodehouse's seemingly effortless witty prose runs wild throughout this short novel, I had much difficulty trying to understand the humor behind this mistaken identity tale about the carefree English bohemian Jimmy Crocker. Crocker seeks to find a new identity of sorts in America, after running afoul of the Fleet Street tabloids in London, having earned a roguish reputation of sorts as "Piccadilly Jim".I suppose if I want to laugh aloud, I'll have to take a look again at the literary classics written by the great Mark Twain himself, but judging from my brief exposure to Wodehouse, this isn't the sort of literary cup of tea I want to drink from again.

Top-notch Wodehouse
For anyone who likes the Jeeves stories, I recommend continuing with the Wodehouse oeuvre with this short novel.It's an embarrassing thing to laugh out loud in public, but I enjoyed every page of this quick-paced story.

The story involves Jimmy Crocker, who is a bit of a troublemaker.Always getting into scuffles in his home country of England (the papers call him "Piccadilly Jim" to his chagrin), he decides to go to New York.On the way, he meets a beautiful young woman, but later hears her talking to her family about what an awful person "that James Crocker" is.He decides in order to meet her, he will have to pretend to be someone else, one Algernon Bayliss (a name made up on the spur of the moment).

However, due to his uncanny resemblance to James Crocker (he is continually running into people who recognize him as Crocker), the girl plans to pass "Algernon" off as Crocker to their shared aunt.So Jimmy has to pretend to be Algernon pretending to be Jimmy, all the while trying to get this girl to fall in love with him.(They're really only step-cousins through a second marriage.)

This is a terrific story of mistaken identity (there are several other events involved including James' father masquerading as a butler and a rich couple's child who wants to be kidnapped in order to split the proceeds) but Wodehouse carries all the confusion perfectly, making sure we are able to follow the action, yet without insulting our intelligence, a great feat in itself.

A very witty and entertaining book!
I very highly recommend this book.It has a great storyline and is very funny and entertaining.I'd give it more stars if I could.If you like the novel I also recommend the 1936 movie version staring Robert Montgomery.

Funny as ever!
I fell off my couch, laughing, when reading this one. The only reason I gave it four stars is that I've had a Wodehouse overdose. As with any Wodehouse book, you'll smile when you read this one. If you're never read abook by him before, Wodehouse looks at life from a different perpespective.He has a light, almost playful, way of looking at problems his charactersface, exaggerating the problems ever so slightly to bring out the humor. ... Read more

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
Bailey came poorly through the ordeal. William Bannister, a stern critic, weighed him up in one long stare, found him wanting, and announced his decision with all the strength of powerful lungs. In the end he had to be removed, hiccupping, and Bailey, after lingering a few uneasy moments making conversation to Kirk, departed, with such a look about the back of him as he sprang into his cab that Ruth felt that the visit was one which would not be repeated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Won't Find this in your Public Library
I read "Bill the Conqueror" before "The Coming of Bill." I could not put either one down. Though it's true that "The Coming of Bill" is much more serious than other Wodehouse books, it gives rare insight into the dangers of letting too many people into your marriage, especially controlling relatives. A happy ending made it all worthwhile.

One You Can Skip
The synopsis on the back of this book indicates that this is "The nearest Wodehouse ever came to a serious story," which I initially thought was not a very accurate description of the story.The opening part of the story is fairly typical Wodehouse, as he describes an assortment of characters, perhaps the most interesting of which is Mrs. Lora Delane Porter, a woman of very strong opinions who is more than willing to run the life of her niece Ruth, and Kirk Winfield's, the man that she has selected for Ruth.

The characters though are unable to save the plot which, soon after the introduction of the characters, lives up to description of being the most serious story that Wodehouse ever wrote.It seems as if Wodehouse took a rather mundane plot, perhaps from another work of fiction, and inserted his characters into it.Unfortunately, Wodehouse characters need a Wodehouse plot for the story to work.Instead, the reader is left waiting for the story to come to life, and it never does.

I am a long time fan of Wodehouse's work, and it pains me greatly to give such a low rating to one of his books.I struggled with whether to give this book one or two stars, but ultimately I realize that there wasn't anyone to whom I would recommend this book.Completists will read this regardless of the rating, and all others would do well to stay away.

This is a fairly early Wodehouse book which was first published in the United States under the title "Their Mutual Child" in 1919 by Boni and Liveright.In the United Kingdom, it was first published under this title on July 1st of 1920 by Herbert Jenkins.This edition is part of The Collector's Wodehouse series published by Overlook Press in the U.S., and us similar to The Everyman Wodehouse series published by Everyman's Library in the United Kingdom.This title is not part of one of Wodehouse's series.

This Novel Doesn't Work Very Well
This novel is a very atypical Wodehouse undertaking, and it's a lucky thing, because "The Coming of Bill" is not particularly successful.Wodehouse departs from his usual cast of zanies to embrace a couple of fairly straight (i.e., non-misanthrophic) characters (Kirk and his wife Ruth), who are not entertaining in the usual Wodehouse way.The greatest flaw in the novel is the voice of Bill himself.P.G.W. simply cannot capture a child's voice, and what reader of Wodehouse wants to listen to a child speak anyway?The plot, at least with regard to Ruth, is completely unbelievable, which doesn't matter in the usual Wodehouse fare, because nothing ever comes close to being believable, but here it does matter and makes "Bill" an unsatisfactory read.

A Lighthearted Look at Love and the Battle of the Sexes
Many authors today find it interesting to write novels about the early part of the 20th century.I prefer generally to read novels written at the same time by fine authors.The period details are ever so much more accurate and convincing that way.With the long and distinguished career of that brilliant comic author, Mr. P.G. Wodehouse, there are many treasures to be enjoyed in this vein.

In The Coming of Bill, Mr. Wodehouse wrote a classic about the troubled nature of wooing, family influences and rivalry among spouses for the upper hand.Into all of this turmoil comes one delightful little boy, Bill, who turns out to have the right stuff to be a future boxer.

The Coming of Bill is the unlikely story of how Ruth Bannister and Kirk Winfield came to meet and marry, abetted by Ruth's Aunt Lora Porter and Kirk's friend, Steve.Banished by an angry John Bannister, Ruth's father, they live in bliss as their marriage begins and Bill is born.Kirk abandons his feeble artistic efforts to spend time with Ruth and Bill.But unexpected setbacks in his investments make him take the desperate gamble to leave for a year to find his fortune in South American gold mines.He returns, lucky to be alive, with a greatly changed personal situation.His wife's father has died, leaving her wealthy and bored, and she soon finds Kirk and Bill boring, too.To save herself from distasteful duties, Ruth has turned over her parenting duties to a nanny and Mrs. Porter's obsessive fear of germs.To come near Bill, you have to be bathed in boric acid.The marriage is about as friendly.

Then, the marriage is rocked by Kirk's unwillingness to play along any more.Can this marriage be saved?

In most of Mr. Wodehouse's books, the plots are very predictable and the humor mostly comes in specific comic situations and funny dialogue.The Coming of Bill has all the usual comic elements, but has a quite surprising plot that takes many intriguing turns.I found myself wondering right up until the end how in the world all the problems could possibly sort themselves out.

At the bottom of all the humor, you will enjoy Mr. Wodehouse's fine sense that people are basically good and admirable . . . if you just let them do what comes naturally.Society and civilization just tend to misdirect the natural instincts, usually in the most ridiculous ways.

Bill himself is quite a charmer, as he struggles to learn how to speak and deal with all those "goims" that his Godfather Steve warns him not to worry about.

If you've liked any of Mr. Wodehouse's books, you will probably find The Coming of Bill will be one of your favorites.

I had the pleasure of listening to the Blackstone AudioBooks version which is read by Frederick Davidson.I found the reading to be an especially entertaining one that emphasized the humor effectively with many different funny voices.If you can find this version, I highly recommend it to you.

After you have finished, think about where you could show your love more clearly.Act naturally!! ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
Friesshardt and Leuthold lay on the ground beside the pole, feeling very sore and bruised, and thought that perhaps, on the whole, they had better stay there. There was no knowing what the crowd might do after this, if they began to fight again. So they lay on the ground and made no attempt to interfere with the popular rejoicings. What they wanted, as Arnold of Sewa might have said if he had been there, was a few moments' complete rest. Leuthold's helmet had been hammered with sticks until it was over his eyes and all out of shape, and Friesshardt's was very little better. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Simple Tale Told Simply, By A Master
This early example of Wodehouse's whimsy is perfect for reading aloud to a child before bedtime, or for enjoying ones' self no matter the age.The tale of Tell is not well known by many these days-- learn a little history (well, legend) and enjoy Wodehouse's always- sparkling prose and verse in this extended fable.

One hundred years later, he's still hard to beat for humor.

Reminiscent of _1066 and All That_, but without the accuracy or humor
The basic conceit of Wodehouse's part of this book was to tell a version of the legend of William Tell as if all the characters were ordinary English idiots of the early twentieth century.The effect is rather like that of _1066 and All That_, but without the accuracy, and hence without the humor.Wodehouse's prose was written to accompany verse by John W. Houghton, which in turn was written to accompany illustrations by Philip Dadd.I haven't seen the illustrations, but the verse is much worse than Wodehouse's prose; I'm sure he could could have done it better himself.Wodehouse's style was quite good even early in his career, so the book is readable; it's just not worth reading if you can read his later work instead.

An early masterpiece
One of Wodehouse's earliest efforts, this is a must-own for any Wodehouse fan. Still written in the days when the master was doing school tales, one can see precusors of that incredible ability that Wodehouse had, to take the English language to places few others could have imagined it could go to. A simple tale of good triumphing over evil - it is one of those rare Wodehouses (probably the only one) in which a character dies. In his later & much more celebrated efforts, one got the feeling that all his characters were ageless & immortal. ... Read more