When I met my wife, I noted she had a large collection of Wodehouse and Douglas Adams books. I took this as a good sign.
I think Wodehouse is right - one doesn’t necessarily need to enjoy the same authors, and mostly we do not - but you cannot even discuss or debate fiction with a non-reader.
Apropos to your most recent post about literary pessimism, I think this is linked to it.
There was a tipping point where people stopped talking about what they are reading and instead try to find common ground through what TV shows they have watched recently.
Having found something in common - the conversation can then move onto passionate agreement about how good it is, passionate agreement about how poor it is, or passionate disagreement.
(I am now wondering how much political argument is simply because it is a guaranteed shared subject of conversation)
The grass shoots on the Internet are an expression of a desire to talk about books. For all the doom, lots of people read but do not talk to each other about reading.
You might enjoy a short paper by Eliza Easton on Wodehouse and Christie - how they are not found on the curriculum, and looking at the lack of serious study they have received.
“It was one of the dullest speeches I ever heard. The Agee woman told us for three quarters of an hour how she came to write her beastly book, when a simple apology was all that was required.”
You left out “The Code of Woosters “, where we were introduced to Roderick Spode. “I know all about Eulalie”. Classic Pelham Guy Wodehouse. Hilarious and irreverent take on British aristocracy. Takes me back to form one.
Fabulous summation, old thing. I couldn't have said it better. No, really. I couldn't have. My favorite is the short, 'Crime wave at Blandings'. Much giggling abounds upon every re-reading. Love Wodehouse!
I have that one, too. Haven't gotten to it yet. He was so clever with his way of turning a phrase. So I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
Yet somehow, out off all the Wodehouse I've read over the years my, favorites are still the Blandings Castle stories. I know Jeeves and Wooster tales have been the more popular over the decades, but the deceptively bucolic atmosphere of a gentleman country pig farmer surrounded by relatives who wish a more posh lifestyle has always set me to giggling. Sadly, the Blandings tales don't seem to be available on kindle. I've just had to resort to tracking down actual physical books. Not always easy. Fortunately, they tend to hide out on library shelves to be found by someone like me whose eye is captured by titles such as, The Perloined Paperweight. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it. So goofy!
I look forward to further editorials on literary genius from your 'pen'.
"... a train that smelled like an old shoe that had been forgotten in a damp part of the house ..." is a nicely Wodehous-ian line. His work has always been a good prescription for me as well.
Hahaha yes, and yes! I love Wodehouse so. I think Lynne Truss said it best (if I recall correctly) - “reading Wodehouse will always lift one’s spirits, no matter how high they were to begin with.”
Also, my very favorite are the Psmith books - and Uncle Fred - and all the Blandings books… gaaaah it’s all of them. And I do feel your pain when I am giggling over a passage, try to share it with whoever I am with, and receive a blank stare. Have they no soul???
I think that may be because a lot of the BBC stuff is commercially for sale on Audible, and previously as audiobooks, both cassette and CD. It is clearly a good moneyspinner for the commercial arm.
I’m also unsure what the arrangement is for BBC Sounds when it comes to adaptations of in copyright works. I am aware that they have been unable or release to rebroadcast their adaptation of Lord of The Rings for instance, so it is more complex than owning the audio.
Do agree that he has become unfashionable, or a live wire that no one wants to touch.
Brilliant, utterly. I am committed to delving deeper into PGW’s work now, and ashamed not to have done so sooner (which is largely how I feel about too many other writers I “studied” at university, eleventy hundred years ago). Keep sharing and writing - you have a talent and it’s enriched my afternoon 💫
"He looked like a sheep with a secret sorrow."
When I met my wife, I noted she had a large collection of Wodehouse and Douglas Adams books. I took this as a good sign.
I think Wodehouse is right - one doesn’t necessarily need to enjoy the same authors, and mostly we do not - but you cannot even discuss or debate fiction with a non-reader.
Apropos to your most recent post about literary pessimism, I think this is linked to it.
There was a tipping point where people stopped talking about what they are reading and instead try to find common ground through what TV shows they have watched recently.
Having found something in common - the conversation can then move onto passionate agreement about how good it is, passionate agreement about how poor it is, or passionate disagreement.
(I am now wondering how much political argument is simply because it is a guaranteed shared subject of conversation)
The grass shoots on the Internet are an expression of a desire to talk about books. For all the doom, lots of people read but do not talk to each other about reading.
You might enjoy a short paper by Eliza Easton on Wodehouse and Christie - how they are not found on the curriculum, and looking at the lack of serious study they have received.
“It was one of the dullest speeches I ever heard. The Agee woman told us for three quarters of an hour how she came to write her beastly book, when a simple apology was all that was required.”
Haha excellent
You left out “The Code of Woosters “, where we were introduced to Roderick Spode. “I know all about Eulalie”. Classic Pelham Guy Wodehouse. Hilarious and irreverent take on British aristocracy. Takes me back to form one.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
I’m a big fan of PG Wodehouse.
I grew up reading Wodehouse bc my father owned several volumes and this took me back to some of the best days of my childhood. Thank you!
This was wonderful, thank you!
Fabulous summation, old thing. I couldn't have said it better. No, really. I couldn't have. My favorite is the short, 'Crime wave at Blandings'. Much giggling abounds upon every re-reading. Love Wodehouse!
Haha thanks Annette. I read The Man Upstairs recently, which was excellent.
I have that one, too. Haven't gotten to it yet. He was so clever with his way of turning a phrase. So I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
Yet somehow, out off all the Wodehouse I've read over the years my, favorites are still the Blandings Castle stories. I know Jeeves and Wooster tales have been the more popular over the decades, but the deceptively bucolic atmosphere of a gentleman country pig farmer surrounded by relatives who wish a more posh lifestyle has always set me to giggling. Sadly, the Blandings tales don't seem to be available on kindle. I've just had to resort to tracking down actual physical books. Not always easy. Fortunately, they tend to hide out on library shelves to be found by someone like me whose eye is captured by titles such as, The Perloined Paperweight. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it. So goofy!
I look forward to further editorials on literary genius from your 'pen'.
Annette
"... a train that smelled like an old shoe that had been forgotten in a damp part of the house ..." is a nicely Wodehous-ian line. His work has always been a good prescription for me as well.
Hahaha yes, and yes! I love Wodehouse so. I think Lynne Truss said it best (if I recall correctly) - “reading Wodehouse will always lift one’s spirits, no matter how high they were to begin with.”
Also, my very favorite are the Psmith books - and Uncle Fred - and all the Blandings books… gaaaah it’s all of them. And I do feel your pain when I am giggling over a passage, try to share it with whoever I am with, and receive a blank stare. Have they no soul???
To me the best place to start is _Indiscretions of Archie_. Published 104 years ago...
I laughed out loud reading this and now everyone in the office knows I'm not working.
Thank you for writing this piece! I rarely find anything new related to him these days- plays or shows. BBC too has removed lot of related content!
I think that may be because a lot of the BBC stuff is commercially for sale on Audible, and previously as audiobooks, both cassette and CD. It is clearly a good moneyspinner for the commercial arm.
I’m also unsure what the arrangement is for BBC Sounds when it comes to adaptations of in copyright works. I am aware that they have been unable or release to rebroadcast their adaptation of Lord of The Rings for instance, so it is more complex than owning the audio.
Do agree that he has become unfashionable, or a live wire that no one wants to touch.
Agree - the woke might focus more on themes of social oppression and inequality rather than just enjoying the books!
How this cheered me on a dull journey. Thank you
Brilliant, utterly. I am committed to delving deeper into PGW’s work now, and ashamed not to have done so sooner (which is largely how I feel about too many other writers I “studied” at university, eleventy hundred years ago). Keep sharing and writing - you have a talent and it’s enriched my afternoon 💫