The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories

Jeeves #0.5

by P.G. Wodehouse

This collection of short stories is a good example of early Wodehouse. It is here that Jeeves makes his first appearance with these unremarkable words: "Mrs. Gregson to see you, sir." Years later, when Jeeves became a household name, Wodehouse said he blushed to think of the off-hand way he had treated the man at their first encounter...In the story "Extricating Young Gussie," we find Bertie Wooster's redoubtable Aunt Agatha "who had an eye like a man-eating fish and had got amoral suasion down to a fine point." The other stories are also fine vintage Wodehouse: the romance between a lovely girl and a would-be playwright, the rivalry between the ugly policeman and Alf the romeo milkman, and the plight of Henry in the title piece, The Man with Two Left Feet, who fell in love with a dance hostess.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Short Stories, Classics, Comedy, Audiobook, Historical Fiction

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1917

About the author

Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE, was a comic writer who enjoyed enormous popular success during a career of more than seventy years and continues to be widely read over 40 years after his death. Despite the political and social upheavals that occurred during his life, much of which was spent in France and the United States, Wodehouse's main canvas remained that of prewar English upper-class society, reflecting his birth, education, and youthful writing career.

An acknowledged master of English prose, Wodehouse has been admired both by contemporaries such as Hilaire Belloc, Evelyn Waugh and Rudyard Kipling and by more recent writers such as Douglas Adams, Salman Rushdie and Terry Pratchett. Sean O'Casey famously called him "English literature's performing flea", a description that Wodehouse used as the title of a collection of his letters to a friend, Bill Townend.

Best known today for the Jeeves and Blandings Castle novels and short stories, Wodehouse was also a talented playwright and lyricist who was part author and writer of fifteen plays and of 250 lyrics for some thirty musical comedies. He worked with Cole Porter on the musical Anything Goes (1934) and frequently collaborated with Jerome Kern and Guy Bolton. He wrote the lyrics for the hit song Bill in Kern's Show Boat (1927), wrote the lyrics for the Gershwin/Romberg musical Rosalie (1928), and collaborated with Rudolf Friml on a musical version of The Three Musketeers (1928).

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm on jury duty. A particularly nasty case. I needed something light, humorous and non-taxing to take my mind off of it this weekend. Enter P.G. Wodehouse!

Wodehouse is my old fallback when I need a pick-me-up. His comical characters, daffy slapstick and witty turns of phrase threaten to induce knee slaps and a general feeling of being tickled in the best possible way.

The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories is a very precise title. There's the titular (tee-hee..."tit") short story, which wraps up this collection, along with quite a few other shorts. Perhaps my favorite, and definitely the most inventive stories herein, are the ones from the point of view of a dog. Those were not only humorous, but well-crafted as well.

Other stories revolve around relationship misunderstandings (a Wodehouse template), the inability to dance and forlorn love. I was surprised and a bit let down by the number of non-humorous, purely dramatic (often melodramatic) pieces here. I know that sort of will-(s)he-won't-(s)he love story was en vogue around the time this was published, but I didn't realize until this book that Wodehouse wrote such straightforward romances. They weren't bad, but meh and unexpected. But hey, at least there weren't any golf stories in this collection. I'm not a big fan of Wodehouse's foray on to the links in prose form.

My favorite of his books are the ones that include the Wooster and Jeeves characters, which appear in here once. The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories as a whole is an early work and the Wooster/Jeeves story happens to be the very first appearance of that dynamic duo. They and some of the other characters in the story, who also appear in later Wooster/Jeeves stories, are not quite fully incubated yet. I don't entirely recognize them. I actually found that interesting, to see where and who these beloved characters had once been.

Though it was not the best Wodehouse I've ever read, and I doubt I'll ever reread this, I'm not disappointed overall. It was good enough to clear the docket and get my trial temporarily dismissed.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the joys of writing short stories is getting to write something different. In this book the wonderful P.G. Wodehouse of 'Jeeves' fame, has only one Jeeves story in it. Some of the stories aren't even funny. Two of them are through the POV of a dog.
There is lots of romance 1920's style mostly set in New York, but some in London. Hapless heroes and wise heroines. This is a group of stories no Wodehouse fan should miss.

[Rana Heshmati · Rating 4 out of 5]

مجموعه سیزده داستانه، که درونمایه طنز دارن و به طور کلی میشه گفته همه‌شون حول محور «رابطه» می‌چرخه. ولی نه لزوما رابطه عاشقانه. دوتا از داستان‌ها از زبون دو سگ بامزه بود. و به طور کلی میشه گفت جالب بود.
من نسخه صوتی رو، در مسیرهایی که حدود یک ساعت طول می‌کشیدن گوش می‌دادم، تا بتونم یه داستان رو همه ش رو گوش بدم؛ و اوقات خوشی داشتم. نمی‌شه گفت خیلی عمیق و فوق‌العاده بودنا. انتظار خاصی نداشته باشید. ولی خب خوش می‌گذره دیگه :))

و برای خودم جالبیش این بود که اینقد هیچی از کتابه نمی‌دونستم، که حتی نمی‌دونستم داستان کوتاهه. و من داستان کوتاه دوست ندااارم. ولی خب گفتم با همچی چیزی خودم رو مواجهه کنم. یهو خوندن/گوش دادن کتابی که هیچ نمی‌دونم درموردش و نه ورقش زدم، نه پشتش رو خوندم، نه دوستی معرفی کرده، نه حتی نشر مورد علاقه یا مترجم شناس. صرفا اسم جالبی داره. :)

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly a very enjoyable selection. As with most short story collections there are some that are funnier than others, and some that stick out and make you laugh. Stand outs for me were 'The Mixer' (written from the perspective of a dog), 'Wilton's Holiday' (when a lie catches up with our protagonist), and 'Extricating Young Gussie' (purely because it's Jeeves and Wooster). A fun bag of tricks.

[sAmAnE · Rating 4 out of 5]

.
آنقدر از آمدنش خوشحال شدم که یک آن همه چیز از یادم رفت و از شادی فریاد کشیدم، اما در لحظه به خاطرم آمد که او چقدر خجالتی است.پس جلوی خودم را گرفتم.بی سر و صدا دویدم طرفش، بهم گفت بنشینم.از اینکه او از دیدن من آنقدر ها هم خوشحال نشده بود پکر شدم.نشستم.
خیلی تاریک بود اما او یک فانوس همراه خودش داشت و میتوانستم ببینم که توی اتاق راه می رفت.چیزهایی را بر میداشت و توی کیسه ای می گذاشت که با خود آورده بود.هر از گاه می ایستاد و گوش می کرد و دوباره دور اتاق می چرخید.خیلی فرز اما کاملا آرام بود. معلوم بود مایل نیست فِرد یا پدرش او را ببینند.
#مردی_که_دو_پای_چپ_داشت
#پی_جی_وودهاوس
#ترجمه #نیلوفر_خوش_زبان 📝کتاب مجموعه ای از داستان های طنز است، فعلا از داستان ملاقات با مرد خجالتی و ورود به اجتماع خیلی خوشم اومد که از زبان دو سگ نوشته شده و خیلی جالب بودند ☺️👍📚کتاب دارای چهارده داستان است.وودهاوس در نوشتن بسیار سختگیر بوده و قبل از نوشتنِ هر کتاب نزدیک به چهارصد صفحه در مورد طرح داستان یادداشت برداری می کرده که حدود دو سال طول می کشیده و در این مدت هم زمان روی رمان های دیگه کار میکرده، او در جوانی روزی دوسه هزار کلمه می نوشته ولی با بالا رفتن سنش این مقدار کمتر شده و نگاهش به دنیا اینجور بوده که" اگر زندگی را ساده بگیرید، همه چیز را خنده دار خواهید یافت."او در نود و سه سالگی در نیویورک در گذشت

[F.R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really early Wodehouse here, this collection might even count as juvenilia. No Wodehouse is pointless to read, but here we’re looking at the development of The Master - the faltering, sometimes strange steps of The Master - rather than The Master himself. As usual I’ve reviewed each tale as I've come to it:

Bill the Bloodhound
The lead character’s name is actually Henry, but I remember from Robert McCrum’s Wodehouse biography that Bill was the name of Wodehouse’s best friend and his go to when bestowing a moniker on stolid, uncomplicated men in his fiction.
Nowhere near as funny as later Wodehouse, instead we have what must be the sweetest story ever written centring on a private detective and a chorus girl

Extricating Young Gussie
Hooray! It’s the debut of Jeeves and Wooster!
Well, I say it’s the debut of Jeeves and Wooster, but really it’s only Bertie (surname unknown). Jeeves does appear, yet it’s so perfunctory that it’s impossible to get a sense of the man or the genius lying within. Instead we have Bertie dealing with the romantic concerns of his cousin Gussie and reaching out for the support of the (to the best of my recollection) never seen again, Aunt Julia. (We also have Bertie’s first visit to New York. He’s an instant fan.) Both of these opening stories lack the polish of later Wodehouse, but it’s incredible to see that the impeccable prose style of Bertie Wooster is already there, even if Jeeves isn’t.

Wilton’s Holiday
The light soufflé of Wodehouse’s prose really has no of how to deal with tragedy. I’m not taking about the tragedy of finding oneself engaged to Madeleine Bassett, but instead proper and actual tragic death. Wodehouse tries gamely to deal with the aftermath of a sudden demise here, before realising that he doesn’t have the tools and thus makes the tragedy not quite what it seemed at first – which has the effect of making the whole story distinctly weird. And weirdness is another thing the light soufflé of Wodehouse’s prose isn’t equipped to deal with.
An unsuccessful tale then, and surely one of the most peculiar our fledgling Master after published.

The Mixer
That’s more like it!
Funny, erudite and deliciously smart – and yet really not at all like Wodehouse. I suppose though that if P.G. was ever going to write a story from the point of view of a dog, making that dog sound like your typically bemused and naïve English gent was always his best option – and so it proves.
An outstandingly entertaining and surprising tale. If only there was a way he could have made it longer without killing the novelty.

Crowned Heads
Another thing P.G. Wodehouse seemingly couldn’t do: write romantic dialogue for dashing young American types. Our hero here is so direct, abrupt and lacking in human feeling, that you could take the passages where he seduces the heroine out and use them in a serial killer novel. (It didn’t help that his name, Ted Brady, reminded me of Ted Bundy.)
Once again an odd story then. Even the best authors are fallible.

At Geisenheimer’s
Another rarity in the Wodehouse canon: a female narrated story. Actually our narrator here is so hard-boiled and cynical she could slide in her dancing shoes into any noir novel. This then really doesn’t read like Wodehouse. It’s a sweet tale though, with a twist which might be a tad obvious but makes perfect sense.

The Making of Macs
Reminiscent of Damon Runyon in his prime, although a Runyon who hung out in Leicester Square rather than Time Square and was probably a connoisseur of fish & chips. Wholly told by a nightclub waiter, it captures the voice and has a good rhythm, but it’s once again sweet rather than funny.

One Touch of Nature
Did they really play exhibition baseball matches at Stamford Bridge? Our tale opens with the narrator dizzily walking away from Chelsea F.C.’s ground and I thought for a moment that P.G. had embraced proper English football (the fact I read this tale the same day as the FA Cup Final, probably meant I got a bit carried away), but no, as always he has his eye on the American market. Still, this story of sport conquering al is one of the best in the collection.

Black for Luck
In one of the Mulliner volumes, there are two fantastic stories concerning a cat. This is nowhere near as good. It’s a boy meets girl aided by black cat tale, but there’s a moment of strange (and completely unnecessary) violence in the narrative which leaves a sour taste even at the happy ending.

The Romance of an Ugly Policeman
More than once in this volume we’ve seen the young, fledgling Wodehouse try things he’s not known for, and – if we’re honest – failing. Here though he gambles and wins. Sundered hearts and star-crossed lovers amongst the working men and women of down at heel Battersea is not the kind of thing P.G. generally goes for. You don’t expect him to take on the romantic triangle of a slightly depressed policeman, a maid with light fingers and a good time milkman – it’s just all too common and proletariat. And yet the tale works like a charm: romantic, sweet and genuinely uplifting.

A Sea of Troubles
A would be suicide suddenly finds a new reason to live. Unlike its central character, this tale is slender to the point of under-nourished, but laughs-wise this is one of the funniest on display.

The Man with Two Left Feet
With the exception of the Wooster story, this is the most Wodehousian tale in the volume. A bookish man takes dance lessons in secret to impress his younger wife, but of course complications arise. It’s in short the kind of yarn you can imagine Gussie Fink-Nottle relating to a goggle-eyed Bertie. In a collection that’s without doubt a mixed bag, although an interesting bag, very much your talking point kind of bag – it’s good to finish with the inimitable P.G. Wodehouse given us a story worthy of his name.

[Sterlingcindysu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book of short stories that are light-hearted. The reason why it's classified as Jeeves 0.5 is because he is mentioned once in a story. I received it free from Amazon, so check now and then.

My favorite one was from a dog's point of view! Anything for liver!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very early short stories, including the first brief appearance of Jeeves. My favorite story was At Geisenheimer's, which I cannot recommend highly enough.

[Milad · Rating 3 out of 5]

"دخترها هیجان بازی را مضاعف می کنند."

مجموعه ای از ۱۳ داستان کوتاه که الان که دارم می نویسم، خیلیاشون خوب یادم نیست. داستان ها ساده با موضوعات مختلف و عمدتا با محتواهای طنز و عاشقانه بودند. در این بین "ملاقات با مرد خجالتی" برای من خیلی بامزه بود.

بیل سگ شکاری
کارآگاه داستان به خانمی پیشنهاد ازدواج می ده، اما آلیس که در اجزای نمایش همکاری می کنه، پیشنهادش رو به خاطر این که دوست داره همسر آینده اش هم حرفه خودش باشه، رد می کنه. این موضوع می شه شروعی برای هنری برای پیدا کردن شغل روی صحنه.

آزاد کردن گاسی جوان
این داستان مخالفت ازدواج افراد بزرگتر از دو خانواده رو در حالی به تصوری می کشید که افراد کوچکتر شیفته هم شده بودند. عمه آگاتا از سمت گاسی، برتی رو مامور می کنه تا نذاره رابطه گاسی با ری به ازدواج پیش بره. این مخالفت به خاطر اختلاف طبقاتی و پرستیژ شغلی شکل گرفته. از طرفی پدر ری هم بهش مخالفت خودش رو با ازدواج با کسی خارج از هنرپیشگی ابراز کرده.

"نکته بامزه ای که درباره جستجوی چیزها وجود دارد، این است که وقتی در یک انبار کاه دنبال یک سوزن می گردید، هیچ وقت پیدایش نمی کنید. اما اگر پیدا شدن یا نشدن سوزن برایتان پشیزی نیارزد، همین که به یک پشته کاه تکیه دهید، سوزن مذکور جلوی چشمتان پدیدار می شود."

تعطیلات ویلتون
جک ویلتون برای جلوگیری از مزاحمت افراد جدیدی که قراره در یک منطقه باهاشون زندگی کنه، داستانی ساختگی از دست دادن نامزد خودش رو سر هم می کنه. در این بین اما عاشق دختری می شه و مسائل پیچیده تری به وجود میاد.

"عجیب است! مردها هر وقت عاشق می شوند، اعتماد به نفس خود را از دست می دهند."

ملاقات با مرد خجالتی و ورود به اجتماع
راوی این دو داستان سگی به نام میکسر هست. و اتفاقات رو از دید اون به زیبایی و گاهی خیلی ساده توصیف می کنه. صدای رضا عمرانی تو این داستان ها تحسین برانگیز بود.

پادشاهان
این داستان ماجرای عاشق شدن دو فرد و مخالفت پدربزرگ دختر رو توصیف می کرد. پدربزرگ خیال می کرد که پادشاه هست و نوه اش نباید با یک فرد غیر اشرافی عروسی کنه.

در گایزنهامر
این داستان ساده رو خیلی دوست داشتم. راوی داستان در کلابی به نام گایزنهامر رقصنده حرفه ای هست و با فردی به نام چارلی آشنا می شه که به همراه همسرش، ماری، به نیویورک اومدن. چارلی علاقه زیادی به خوش گذروندن و رقصیدن نشون می ده اما ماری رو مشارکت نمی ده.

مک چگونه مک شد؟
این داستان رو دوست نداشتم. هدف اصلی داستان ابتدا به نظر می رسید که راجع به موفقیت یک رستوران باشه و افرادی که در رونق کسب و کار دخیل بودند. اما به تدریج در روند توضیح علل موفقیت رستوران، روابط عاشقانه و صمیمانه دیگه ای توضیح داده می شد.

خصیصه ذاتی
دوری از بیس بال و عشق به دیدنش نهایتا باعث شده آقای بیردزی در مسابقه هیجان انگیزی بین دو تیم به عنوان تماشاگر شرکت کنه و با دو فرد علاقه مند به بیس بال آشنا بشه. این آشنایی منجر به این می شه که این سه نفر بعد از مسابقه روی این قضیه فکر کنند که زمانی رو باهم دیگه بگذرونند.

سیاه، رنگ شانس
ماجرای آشنا شدن دو فرد با وجود یگ گربه سیاه در میونشون که هر کدوم معتقدند گربه برای شغلشون قراره شانس بیاره. گرچه داستان شروع جالبی داره، در کل خیلی خوشم نیومد.

عاشقانه یک پلیس زشت
شروع این قصه عاشقانه مربوط به پلیسیه که شیفته دختری در یک منطقه هست. اما دختر، شیرفروش محله رو دوست داره.

"می شناختش. از آن لعنتی های خوشتیپ بود. از آن ها که موهای مجعد روغن زده دارند. از آن افسونگرهای حال به هم زن که دور دنیا می گردند و کار را برای مردان زشت و خوش قلب سخت می کنند."

دریای فتنه و آشوب
موضوع راجع به آقای میانسال ثروتمندی بود که به خاطر درد مزمن تصمیم می گیره به زندگیش پایان بده. قسمت هایی از این داستان طنز قشنگی داشت.

مردی که دو پای چپ داشت
و شاید بهترین این داستان ها مربوط می شد به آقایی که برای خوشحال کردن همسرش که رقص رو خیلی دوست داره، به صورت مخفیانه رقصیدن یاد بگیره تا بتونه غافلگیرش کنه.

[Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m sorry to say that this collection of short stories was a bit of a disappointment after my enthusiastic encounter with the Jeeves & Wooster stories. These stories were extremely varied; some of them were fun and entertaining, but some were a bit bland and left little impression on me. They were well written but seemed like tentative attempts on Wodehouse’s part to find out in which direction he was going to take his writing. The collection is described as the first in which we meet Bertie Wooster and the formidable Jeeves, but Jeeves only has one line, and Bertie’s role as well is marginal. That’s a choice of course, but I have to admit that the Jeeves & Wooster stories are the ones that resonate with me the most.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this is a perfect little book. As I wondered what to rate it, I thought, 'well, they're nice stories, they make me feel good, they are perfectly written.....' It has to be 5-stars. I've read a few of Wodehouse's books, particularly enjoy the whimsy of his Jeeves and Wooster stories. This collection contains one story involving Bertie Wooster, in which Bertie is sent to New York to extricate his cousin from an impending marriage with a 'dance-hall' girl. For once Jeeves play almost no role and we see Bertie at his very best. It left me feeling very happy. The stories, for the most part, deal with relationships and you tend to leave the stories with a positive view on life. I particularly enjoyed The Mixer, two stories told from the perspective of 'the dog', in which the dog moves through life happily affecting the people around him and, for all his mishaps, landing on all four feet. Just a joy to read and I highly recommend. (I even liked the cover of this Penguin edition, with illustration by Ionicus.)

[Mobina · Rating 3 out of 5]

میتونین فقط اون سه تا داستانی که کنارشون علامت زدم رو بخونین. اونا عالی بودن نسبت به بقیه

داستان ۱ ۳ ستاره
داستان ۲ ۲ ستاره
داستان ۳ ۲ ستاره
*داستان ۴ ۵ ستاره
*داستان ۵ ۵ ستاره
داستان ۶ ۳ ستاره
داستان ۷ ۴ ستاره
داستان ۸ ۳ ستاره
داستان ۹ ۲ ستاره
داستان ۱۰ ۴ ستاره
داستان ۱۱ ۱ ستاره
داستان ۱۲ ۴ ستاره
*داستان ۱۳ ۵ ستاره

لینک نسخه صوتی فیدیبو: https://www.fidibo.com/book/85529

[Shauna · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is little in these early stories to suggest the brilliance to come in the later Wodehouse works. They are very whimsical and I confess to skimming through a couple of them. Not recommended except for diehard fans.

[Hákon Gunnarsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this Wodehouse collection may be my least favorite so far. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad. I haven’t read a bad story by Wodehouse yet. He always makes me smile, but there are very few stories here that show Wodehouse at his best.

There are a couple of stories I like more than the rest. “Extricating Young Gussie” is a Wooster and Jeeves story which is pretty good. “Bill the Bloodhound” centers around one interesting private investigator, and like happens so often in Wodehouse stories, his problematic love. Then there are “The Mixer: He Meets a Shy Gentleman” and “The Mixer: He Moves in Society” both which are told from a dog’s point of view. I liked these two the best in the entire collection. They are quite funny.

The thing is, even with books like this one that I feel are lesser efforts by Wodehouse, I still enjoy them. There is a reason why I keep coming back to him. Re reading this book may not be in the cards in the near future, but re reading Wodehouse will always be.

[Nancy Oakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book because it's got the first mention of Jeeves and Wooster in it -- short story called "Extricating Young Gussie." It's typical Bertie gets screwed over while on a mission for Aunt Agatha, and it's entertaining for sure. However, the other stories are also quite good, my favorite being "One Touch of Nature," where a huge fan of baseball goes to some interesting lengths to protect the ultimate baseball fan. Another one that's excellent is "At Geisenheimer's," which brought out the biggest belly laugh at the end. Oh hell, they're all good!

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories ranged from mediocre to good. My favorite was probably The Mixer, which was about a dog, told from the dog's point of view.

[Katie Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's so wild to think I just read THE FIRST JEEVES STORY E V E R. "Extricating Young Gussie."

Weird story, tbh, not at all like what you expect from being familiar with the Jeeves and Wooster 'canon.' Jeeves doesn't swoop in to solve the conflict with his brilliance--he barely even has five lines!! Still and all, it's great to be able to say that I have now Experienced the Story that Started It All, for myself.

[Haven B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wodehouse short stories in their prime!
This little collection includes:
BILL THE BLOODHOUND
EXTRICATING YOUNG GUSSIE
WILTON'S HOLIDAY
THE MIXER
CROWNED HEADS
AT GEISENHEIMER'S
THE MAKING OF MAC'S
ONE TOUCH OF NATURE
BLACK FOR LUCK
THE ROMANCE OF AN UGLY POLICEMAN
A SEA OF TROUBLES
THE MAN WITH TWO LEFT FEET

These were all very Wodehouse typical stories, with lots of wit and that charming humor of the British writers. Some little things reveal the interconnectedness of the stories, all happening in the same Wodehouse world, the world inhabited by Jeeves. Wooster made an appearance as a MC in one story, with Jeeves making a short, one-line appearance.

My favorites were the titular "The Man With Two Left Feet" (sweet, funny, and a happy ending), "Wiltons Holiday" (hilarious summer love story), and finally, "One Touch of Nature" (obsessed football fan helps an escaped convict flee).

5 out a 5.

[Libbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will use this "review" for all the P. G. Wodehouse I have read. I read them all so long ago and enjoyed them so much that I have given them all 5 stars. As I re-read them I will adjust the stars accordingly, if necessary, and add a proper review.
When I first discovered P. G. Wodehouse I devoured every book I could find in the local library, throughout the eighties and early nineties. Alas, this means that I have read most of them and stumbling across one I have not read is a rare thing. I'm sure that through this great site I will joyfully find at least a few I have not read, and be able to track them down.
My records only began in 1982, so I do not have a note of any I read before then. I’m sure I will enjoy re-reading them.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of twelve cutesy, corny, farcical, light, entertaining short stories. This collection is an example of early Wodehouse, focusing on plot more so than clever witty dialogue.

I have read a number of Wodehouse novels and have enjoyed them for the clever prose, humorous dialogue and funny situations. Readers new to P.G. Wodehouse should begin with books such as ‘My Man Jeeves’, ‘Leave it to Psmith’, and ‘Something Fresh’.

P.G. Wodehouse fans should find this book an okay read.

This book was first published in the UK in 1917 and in the USA in 1933.

[Daniel Saadati · Rating 5 out of 5]

من معمولا زیاد اهل داستان کوتاه نیستم و اگر هم بخونم، اونقدری ازش لذت نمی‌برم. اما این کتابو داستان هاس واقعا دوست داشتنی و جذاب بودند و من رو ترغیب کردند که به دنبال کتاب های دیگه ی این نویسنده برم 🪽💛

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some authors are wonderfully reliable. You can turn to Jane Austen for genteel romance. You can trust Edgar Allen Poe to say something macabre. Roald Dahl's stories for grownups will have a twist in them.

I turn to P.G. Wodehouse for humor, clever language, and the knowledge that everything will turn out well in the end, even if I don't know how he'll get there.

The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories did not disappoint in this regard. Clever, clever language (the man could put together a sentence!), silliness -- often based on awkwardness, and everything always comes out right. Very enjoyable.

The stories are medium-length (20-25 pp), which makes them good for a medium-length subway ride, or winding down at the end of the day.

The only things I found difficult were a couple of unexpectedly racist phrasings, which I think more reflect the time they were published (1917) than the author. I imagine just about every white person of the time said something like that occasionally, but in the early 21st century it's like having a really fun conversation with someone, and having them suddenly spit at your feet. (Surprise; concern; disgust; anger; hesitation; realization that they've continued yammering away without noticing.)

Other than that, reading the collection was a wonderful experience. His stories from a dog's point of view were particularly entertaining, and it was lovely to hear from Bertie Wooster (of Bertie & Jeeves) again. The title story is heart-warming for anybody who spends "too much time" reading books (as if there were such a thing).

Recommended for people who enjoy a well-written sentence, who enjoy the theatre (a theme in various stories), and who like happy endings.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wodehouse is endlessly charming in this collection of short stories. The breezy tone coupled with now-historical details makes humor writing seem somehow edifying. Look, you're being cultured!

There do seem to be a few repetitive themes here. I'm not sure if it's an indication of Wodehouse's fixations or that the editor deliberately grouped the stories together. We repeatedly examine the attraction of life onstage and the exhaustion of women whose job it is to dance with men in dance halls. One small problem is that, in addition to these recurring themes, Wodehouse seems to have a dearth of names to work with. There are multiple Bills and Henrys and Kates, plus one location that reappears, to the extent that I'm really not certain if there were intended to be recurring characters or not. Many of the stories blend together disorientingly after reading, which is a bit unfortunate.

But there's a warmth to his humor that keeps you reading, even if you can't quite remember what you've read. Some of his characters are idiots, or snobs, or even a criminal or two. But Wodehouse pokes fun so lovingly that you can't help but like the characters, even when they're being complete morons. The author is deeply cynical, but it hasn't made him bitter or hard. His creatures are falliable, even pathetic, but they win through to happy endings in the end, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

[Noah Goats · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some writers write a great first book and then never write anything good again. Wodehouse isn't one of those. He wrote mediocre books and stories for years before he hit his stride and started producing classics like The Code of the Woosters. The stories in this collection were written in the early days before he had honed his art and sharpened his wit, and they just aren't very good.

Some of these stories are mildly amusing, and there is a pleasing sweetness to most of them, but they just aren't that compelling. This collection is notable mostly for containing the very first Jeeves and Wooster story, but even that is disappointing. You can see the first glimmering of Bertie's future greatness in it, but Jeeves doesn't do anything in the story at all. The whole thing felt underdeveloped.

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of thirteen stories. Some are silly, some are bitter-sweet, but all have a good ending. Anyone in need of a light book, this could be it. Even when they start as sad stories, each ends with a wonderful note. A hopeful note.

Some stories I really liked and some I loved.

BILL THE BLOODHOUND - a funny story about a detective (sort of) finding his true calling.

"There might be detectives whose work was above this reproach, but he was a confirmed creeper, and he knew it. It wasn't his fault. The boss told him to creep, and he crept."

EXTRICATING YOUNG GUSSIE - Bertie Wooster was sent by his horrible aunt Agatha to New York to prevent his cousin to marry a vaudeville artist.

"She bosses her husband, Spencer Gregson, a battered little chappie on the Stock Exchange. She bosses my cousin, Gussie Mannering-Phipps. She bosses her sister-in-law, Gussie's mother. And, worst of all, she bosses me. She has an eye like a man-eating fish, and she has got moral suasion down to a fine point."

The funniest description of aunt Agatha:

"I have never met anyone who can give a better imitation of the Ancient Mariner."

WILTON'S HOLIDAY - a wonderful love story: a man lied he lost his girlfriend to save himself from friendly people who seem to think he is there only to listen, but after he proposed to a girl he liked, she refused him because of that non existent dead girl. I loved it.

THE MIXER are two stories about luck and misunderstandings told by a dog.

CROWNED HEADS - Katie lives with her grandfather whose latest delusion is thinking that he is the King of England. Then she meets a young man who is famous and wants to marry her. But her grandfather doesn't want her to marry a commoner.

AT GEISENHEIMER'S - a professional dancer's story how she taught a man from country how he should value his wife and found herself along the way. The story has a great ending.

THE MAKING OF MAC'S - a beautiful story of a very successful restaurant.

ONE TOUCH OF NATURE - What's a baseball game worth to a fan who hasn't seen one for five years?

BLACK FOR LUCK - A black cat has decided to make a building his domain. He is moving from one artist to another bringing his own brand of luck.

THE ROMANCE OF AN UGLY POLICEMAN - a scarred beat policeman with a broken nose's love story. I didn't like the unfair ending of this story.

A SEA OF TROUBLES - After trying a number of things which will stop the stomach pain, Mr Meggs decided to kill himself. "Mr Meggs's point, the main plank, as it were, in his suicidal platform, was that with him it was beside the question whether or not it was nobler to suffer in the mind. The mind hardly entered into it at all."

THE MAN WITH TWO LEFT FEET is a story of a man who couldn't dance so he decided to ask someone to teach him because he wanted to surprise his wife. A wonderful story.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wodehouse described his writing as musical theater without the music, and that's what this set of short stories is. It's delightful, delicious, and charming, but also silly, whimsical, and light. But I haven't laughed so much at an adult book in a long time. And what a vocabulary! So fun to see his wizardry with words. It was refreshing to read such clean, profanity/sex/violence free stories. Maybe that's why I like the classics so much. I need to read more by this guy!

[Gemma Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was never satisfied with the definition of irony in my high school literature classes. "The opposite of what you would expect to happen." In the late 20th century, irony IS what you expect. How refreshing then, to read Wodehouse; a very good writer who predates the Irony Age. The end result - well written stories with happy endings. Hallelujah.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories were better than others. I especially loved the ones from the point of view of the dog. That must be exactly what's going on in every dog's mind.

[Anahita Solot · Rating 4 out of 5]

از تک تک داستان‌ها لذت بردم. به به.
خیلی جذاب بودند و توی این دوره دقیقا همان چیزی بود که بهش نیاز داشتم.

[Сибин Майналовски · Rating 5 out of 5]

Един леко по-различен Удхаус, много напомнящ за О. Хенри...