The Most Of P.G. Wodehouse

For those who were, like me, wondering what the exact stories are: The Drones Club - Fate, Tried in the Furnace, The Amazing Hat Mystery, Noblesse Oblige, Goodbye to All Cats, All's Well with Bingo, Uncle Fred Flits By; Mr. Mulliner - The Truth About George, A Slice of Life, Mulliner's Buck-U-Uppo, The Reverent Wooing of Archibald, The Ordeal of Osbert Mulliner, Monkey Business, The Smile That Wins, Strychnine in the Soup; Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge - Ukridge's Dog College, Ukridge's Accident Syndicate, A Bit of Luck for Mabel, Buttercup Day, Ukridge and the Old Sleeper; Lord Emsworth - "Pig-hoo-o-o-o-ey!" The Golf Stories - The coming of Gowf, The Awakening of Rollo Podmarsh, The Clicking of Cuthbert, High Stakes, The Heel of Achilles Jeeves - The Purity of the Turf, The Great Sermon Handicap, The Metropolitan Touch, Jeeves and the Song of Songs, Jeeves and the Impending Doom; Quick Service: The Complete Novel

I first received a copy of "The Most of P.G. Wodehouse" as a teenager. Possibly a birthday, but then again, Christmas? In any case I devoured it. It was the mana that purged that dark romantic period that afflicts so many teens. Bertie Wooster. Aunt Agatha. Jeeves, of course. But those are just the most known of the dozens of quirky characters. The "Golf Stories" are worth the price of the book, just by themselves. Even if golf is not your thing. That gift copy was a fortunate First Edition, since this was way back in my "back in the day" period, that is, the 60s. The stories brought so much joy that I lent that much-loved First Edition to a friend in dire need, who of course needs it more than I. Still. To this day. Thus I sprang for a fresh copy. Wodehouse is not sufficiently appreciated in America, it seems, as my fresh copy arrived from England. As perhaps has been said, "From any shore, English smells the same." The humor (or humour) lives on. I few years back I was fortunate to publish one of my little dramas. Sadly it is not currently available on Amazon. Happily, I can say without reservation that the characters and dialog owed much to a recent dose of P. G. Wodehouse. If you are not laughing by page 3, press on. If you reach page 33 without a few snorts or guffaws then at least you'll have clarity on that great question of philosophy, "How do I know if I'm alive?" If Wodehouse does not make you laugh, the answer is obvious. Rest in peace, eh?

A big book with lots of laughs in it. My husband reads it outside in the sun. We read it together before bedtime when a good laugh is a really nice way to fall asleep,.

Yes, I know Wodehouse is best known for his Jeeves & Wooster stories - and there are a few in this collection - but there are some other memorable chaps that occupy his world. While my favorite is Ukridge (Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge to you), the get-rich-quick schemer who's always borrowing money - and he has 5 or six stories in this collection - the others are well-represented here, as well. There's George Mulliner, the fisherman who sits in the Angler's Rest bar, recounting tales of his extended family that might strain the credulity of those who don't know that he has never lied in his life, or the exceptional nature of the Mulliner family. There's the Drones Club, broken down into Eggs, Beans and Crumpets, where the idle wealthy (most on allowances from rich parents or uncles) meet to throw rolls and sugar, play practical jokes, and share far-fetched stories of adventure. There's even one story about the Empress of Blandings, the loveable prize pig of Lord Emsworth... that has stopped eating. This 700+ page collection, put together by Wodehouse himself in 1960, is topped off by a full novel, Quick Service. So, whether you use this book as a diversion from your pathetic life, or as something to stand on to reach the high shelves, the book fits the bill. And unlike most books that have been used up when you've read them once, you can read these over and over and still chuckle - even be surprised. So no, you can't buy my copy, but despite my overflowing with the m. of human k., if you don't buy or pinch a copy, I shall forever look down my nose at you for your poor literary choices. Perhaps I'll even cut your allowance in half. Harrrumph! So, grab your pince-nez & start reading!

Oh, P.G. Wodehouse, how great thou art! I feel sorry for anyone who hasn't discovered the very particular pleasure of reading Wodehouse and his hilarious tales of an upper crust British world that never existed. He's as much a fantasy writer as George R.R. Martin, but so much more fun! Here's a sample: "As I sat in the bathtub, soaping a meditative foot and singing, if I remember correctly, 'Pale Hands I Loved Beside the Shalimar', it would be deceiving my public to say that I was feeling boomps-a-daisy." His greatest creation, Bertie Wooster, is forever smoking "a rather pleased cigarette" or "pronging a moody forkful" of eggs. Ahhhh. What a master! People say Wodehouse is trivial and silly. Yes. Thank you. Yes. And I'll have some more, please.

Wish I had read him sooner. Very enjoyable.

Plum is a joy. Too bad about his Nazi sympathizing, but where do we draw the line, judging an artist's art along with their political tendencies?? I just love his writing. I will read a line that's particularly good a couple of times, just to savor it. I wish I could talk as wittily as he writes!

I bought my husband this book for his birthday!

You can't really go wrong with Wodehouse and when you see how much of him there is here you can really get a good sense of how broad his style could be! I was familiar mostly with jeeves and aware of psmith but bought this to dive into all of it. It's great! Not a laugh a minute but a quiet smirk an hour and just a great use of timing and language.

The delivery took a looong time, which was indicated to me only after I sent a query. That's why one star less. Otherwise everything else was as expected. It is a paperback, unabridged version. A Pleasure to read..

Love PGW

fun

Trivially comical,just a bit too much nonsensical foolishness,that I can't seem to guffaw over.