Do I really need to write a review of this book? Surely you all know about Bertie Wooster and Jeeves already.
Right Ho, Jeeves finds the dynamic duo staying at Aunt Dahlia’s house, and quickly wrapped up in the romantic misadventures of Bertie’s friends Tuppy Glossop and Gussie Fink-Nottle (one of the best parts of any Jeeves and Wooster book is the names of his friends). Tuppy’s engaged to Bertie’s cousin Angela and Gussie is in love with another houseguest, Madeleine Bassett. Naturally hijinks ensue, Bertie becomes the butt of several jokes and at one point is unwillingly engaged (as per usual), and Jeeves eventually saves the day with an ingenious plan.
I didn’t love that this one was a full-length novel. I much prefer the short-story collections. Farces get really old after the first 100 pages or so. Also, Bertie is so exceedingly daft that in a full-length novel he becomes a bit insufferable. These stories just work much better in small doses.
On the other hand, reading PG Wodehouse is always enjoyable. It’s fluff, of course, but there’s something so satisfying and entertaining about the way Bertie talks. I especially love when he and Aunt Dahlia send telegrams back and forth. In real life I’m sure no one would be able to stand him, but on paper he’s great. Gussie Fink-Nottle, renowned newt expert, is one of my favorite of Bertie’s friends, and I love Aunt Dahlia. If you like Jeeves and Wooster, you’ll probably like this one, but if you’ve never read them before I’d start with one of the short story collections instead.
It’s fluff, but it’s so exquisitely crafted. He must be one of the funniest and most clever writers of all time.
I know. I WISH I was half as clever and witty as him.