The Battle of Squashy Hollow
by P. G. Wodehouse, Argosy (UK) Vol. XXVI, No. 10 (October 1965), 14-28.
By Wodehouse’s standards a fairly tame and inconsequential short story—involving golf and marriage proposals, two staples of the Wodehouse diet, but also hypnotism, which isn’t. Droll enough, but the protagonist’s troubles are never really plumbed and he is extricated without difficulty.
The Story of Webster
by P. G. Wodehouse
The American Magazine (February 1932); reprinted Mulliner Nights (Herbert Jenkins, 1933)
Like so many of Wodehouse’s ‘Mulliner’ stories, this comes across as a repurposed bit of business from a Bertie Wooster novel. The delivery is quintessential Wodehouse but there’s a nagging sense that the events described are taking place divorced of greater context. $466
Thank You, Jeeves
by P. G. Wodehouse (Herbert Jenkins, 1934)
audiobook read by Jonathan Cecil (Bolinda, 2014)
The usual hijinks, predictable in outline but spontaneous and delightful in the detail. While Jeeves may have lodged more firmly in the public consciousness than has Bertie, the latter presents as the more quintessentially Wodehousian character, frothing over with witter and wit.
The Girl on the Boat
by P.G. Wodehouse (George H. Doran, 1922)
audiobook read by Frederick Davidson (Blackstone, 1998)
Consummate audiobook reading. Incongruous cover. Though P.G. muffs the ending a bit—rather than prove himself through breaking up a dog fight, Sam Marlowe prevails upon Billie Bennett as a cowardly Galahad—the buildup is vintage Wodehouse, ingeniously woven and drolly expressed.
Jeeves & Wooster, Series One
adapted by Clive Exton, dir. Robert Young (ITV, 1990)
A frivolous bit of fun, and well-cast (in the over-the-top support roles as well as Fry & Laurie, who are about as Jeeves-ish & Wooster-like as one could imagine). Ultimately, however, there’s only so much that can be done without Wodehouse’s prose.
Much Obliged, Jeeves
by P. G. Wodehouse (Barrie & Jenkins, 1971)
audiobook read by Dinsdale Landen (Bolinda, 2014)
Standard fare with many a trope revisited and little to distinguish it from preceding volumes. (A pleasantly diverting rehash!) Landen, though generally sound as a narrator, grows carried away when dishing out dialogue, often running it together, blending characters into one another.
The Clicking of Cuthbert
by P. G. Wodehouse (Herbert Jenkins, 1922)
audiobook read by Frederick Davidson (Blackstone, 1998)
Ten golfing short stories, diverting enough when taken individually but together not unlike hacking at the Lernaean Hydra with a niblick. Wodehouse evinces his usual way with words but, tongue-in-cheek fantasy historical tale ‘The Coming of Gowf’ notwithstanding, lacks for club selection.
Something Fresh
by P G Wodehouse (Methuen, 1915)
audiobook read by Frederick Davidson (Blackstone, 1995)
The first Blandings Castle novel evinces much of Wodehouse’s penchant for twisty intertwinings of plot, and even more of his fondness (particularly in the early days) for facetious observation and scathing characterisation. Compared to later works, however, it’s all a bit artificial.
Very Good, Jeeves
by P.G. Wodehouse (Doubleday, Doran, 1930)
audiobook read by Jonathan Cecil (Blackstone, 2011)
Wodehouse give the impression he could dash off a Jeeves & Wooster story between breakfast and elevenses, and would happily do so should ever he feel himself wanting for joie de vivre. Jonathan Cecil gives perfect voice to the frivolous restorative fizz.
Uncle Fred in the Springtime
by P.G. Wodehouse (Doubleday, Doran, 1939)
audiobook read by Stephen Fry (Audible, 2021) [as part of “The Blandings Collection”]
![Book cover: “Uncle Fred in the Springtime” by P.G. Wodehouse (Doubleday, Doran, 1939); audiobook read by Stephen Fry (Audible, 2021) [as part of “The Blandings Collection”]](https://www.derelictspacesheep.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Wodehouse_Uncle-Fred-in-the-Springtime.jpg)
Perhaps the most twisted and entwined plot that Wodehouse ever laid down. If anything, the Gordian Knot is perhaps too great, for the sheer effort of describing it leaves Wodehouse a bit short of his usual sparkle, the pitfalls not so precarious.