kiaer.ts Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Can someone who is a fan of Wodehouse suggest what they think would be the most accessible or best of the Jeeves and Wooster novels? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9thdoctor Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 I suggest starting with The Inimitable Jeeves. It’s a short story collection, but the stories fit together, there’s continuity, so it’s pretty much a novel. If you’ve seen the TV show you’ll find that most of the stories were adapted (maybe 80%), but “The Great Sermon Handicap” wasn’t, and it’s one of the best. I’m a huge fan, and I say plan on reading them all, but if you must have a single full novel recommendation to start with I say Right Ho, Jeeves, particularly for the drunken prize scene. Good, but better in the book. Wodehouse’s stories are often like operetta plots, but with his language replacing the music. Rand’s favourite, The Gypsy Princess by Kálmán, is pretty similar to a Wodehouse plot.BTW don’t start with Extricating Young Gussie, that was literally the first short story written but it’s not quite in the mold (Jeeves plays virtually no role in it). Not that it’s bad, just not representative.If you’re into audiobooks, Wodehouse is well represented. Seek out Jonathan Cecil’s versions (Audible has them). Jeremy Sinden’s also great, though I haven’t heard him do any of the Jeeves books.http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8460&view=findpost&p=95359 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiaer.ts Posted September 28, 2010 Author Share Posted September 28, 2010 Thanks, Dennis. That was very helpful. The library at the school where I am taking night classes has Inimitable and several of the audio recordings. I will pick something up tomorrow night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Barlow Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 (edited) I would recommend The World of Jeeves, a collection of 34 short stories of Jeeves and Wooster. It starts out with the story Jeeves Takes Charge, where Bertie first meets Jeeves, and it goes right on from there. It also contains the story mentioned above, The Great Sermon Handicap, but I havent gotten to that one yet. .I bought this volume when I noticed that a local Bangkok bookstore had many Wodehouse books, and Id like to read the entire Jeeves canon eventually. I first ran into Wodehouse books in my high school library in the 1960s, and I became an addict. I only got to see a couple of the TV episodes with Fry and Laurie, but they were great. .-Ross Barlow. . Edited November 22, 2010 by Ross Barlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiaer.ts Posted November 22, 2010 Author Share Posted November 22, 2010 I think this is another case where, as with Douglas Adams, I prefer to watch, rather than to read the comedy. I did take several titles out of the library, but found them difficult to get into. But then I found the series broadcast by PBS with Fry and Laurie, and have watched the first four episodes and greatly enjoyed three of them so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9thdoctor Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 I found the series broadcast by PBS with Fry and LaurieI watched the whole series at least twice before ever picking up one of Wodehouse’s books, so my experience is that it's a great introduction. You'll notice the casting change over the course of it, it's not until the third season that they got a Madeline Bassett who was really ideal. There’s also a series from the 70’s called Wodehouse Playhouse that’s worthwhile, the main problem with it is that it has a laugh track. There’s no overlap with the Jeeves stories, they mostly come from the Mulliner series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiaer.ts Posted November 23, 2010 Author Share Posted November 23, 2010 I found the series broadcast by PBS with Fry and LaurieI watched the whole series at least twice before ever picking up one of Wodehouse's books, so my experience is that it's a great introduction. You'll notice the casting change over the course of it, it's not until the third season that they got a Madeline Bassett who was really ideal. There's also a series from the 70's called Wodehouse Playhouse that's worthwhile, the main problem with it is that it has a laugh track. There's no overlap with the Jeeves stories, they mostly come from the Mulliner series.They have it on netflix and have added to my queue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Coates Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 I'm a third of the way through "Carry On, Jeeves," my first: I would say laugh out loud, shit in your pants funny, but I'm not sure Jeeves would approve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9thdoctor Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 I'm a third of the way through "Carry On, Jeeves," my first: Then you’re about due to read Wodehouse’s ingenious adaptation of Proverbs 6-6.I would say laugh out loud, shit in your pants funny, but I'm not sure Jeeves would approve. Indeed, he may be forced, with great reluctance, to give his notice. Purple socks he can abide, however briefly, but never dare to bring home a banjolele. For the show they switched it to a trombone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9thdoctor Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 http://www.televisua...l_nid-1147.htmlWahoooooo!!!!! Can't wait to see who they cast as the Empress!!!!!http://en.wikipedia....ss_of_Blandingshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SNLmLmwBJ8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9thdoctor Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroljane Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 If they can't find the perfect porcine princess, maybe they can persuade the divine Jennifer to double up on her roles.Can't wait to see her as Aunt anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anamous Cares Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I use to watch wooster & jeeves all the time now it is house for me god I love Hugh Laurie he is the best . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9thdoctor Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Here's a nice recent documentary:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jtZMAFA2Zo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9thdoctor Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Wahoooooo!!!!! Can't wait to see who they cast as the Empress!!!!!Oh dear. Can you imagine doing Porgy and Bess with an all white cast? Well look what they cast as the Empress: Now maybe I'm going to be too much of a purist for this. Ugh. The 9th Earl is not vague looking enough. Not even close. And too well dressed. Lady Constance seems good, maybe too young looking. Freddie (I assume the guy with the funny hair is him) looks about right too. No freaking way in hell would Beach the Butler ever do some Ragtime dance while playing piano. Not only does he not play piano, but he 'suffers from his feet'! Haven't these people read the books! AAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9thdoctor Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Can you imagine doing Porgy and Bess with an all white cast? Well look what they cast as the Empress:Aww, the Empress has handed in her dinner pail! I suspect this is the first manifestation of a curse that will plague all future light-complected porco-thespians who attempt to portray "that magnificent animal". It's going to be like signing on to be the drummer for Spinal Tap, you'll see. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21571581 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroljane Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 No...no..oink it isn't so! Not the Empress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroljane Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Fun Wodehouse fact: His beloved school Dunwich was founded in 1619 by an actor. who provided for the education of "12 poor scholars, by God's Gift." Other gifted alumni worthy to stand beside Pelham Grenville include Sir Ernest Shackleton and Raymond Chandler.It's too Dorothy Dunnett for words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9thdoctor Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Fun Wodehouse fact: His beloved school DunwichAhem, it's Dulwich. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dulwich_College And as for the stars being God's daisy chain, they're nothing of the sort! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroljane Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Of course it is Dulwich. God is better at prognosticating Drones than anybody. He loves me, he loves me not..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9thdoctor Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 I just finished up the new 'homage' novel by Sebastian Faulks. It's pretty good. My experience with it followed a predictable course: first chapter I'm surprised how on-key the writing is, second chapter I'm hearing off-notes but not too bad and not accumulating into a negative impression, and by the end I'd decided it was good enough to recommend. After you've read all the originals. Here's a really cleverly written review by Christopher Buckley: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/books/review/jeeves-and-the-wedding-bells-by-sebastian-faulks.html?_r=0 What, ho? A new Jeeves and Wooster novel? Steady on. Your faithful reviewer may not be the brightest bulb in the old marquee, but dash it, isn't this anno dom 2013, and didn't "the Master" yclept Pelham Grenville Wodehouse ("Plum" to his chums) shove off across the old Rio Styx back in 1975? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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