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A Bounty of Blandings: Summer Lightning / Heavy Weather / Blandings Castle
P. G. Wodehouse’s uproarious portrait of an aristocratic family whose lives revolve around an enormous Berkshire sow. Welcome to Shropshire, England-in this dreamy countryside lies Blandings Castle, seat of the ninth Earl of Emsworth. He and his family live an idyllic life of peace and solitude, punctuated by afternoon tea, long strolls in the garden, and summer showers. Or would if they weren't in a Wodehouse story.
The apple of Lord Emsworth's eye is the Empress of Blandings, a splendid Berkshire sow who has twice won honors in the Fat Pig class at the local agricultural show. Besides keeping his pig in shape, Emsworth must deal with his sister's snobby demeanor, his brother's crazy memoirs, and a rival pig whose bulk might dash the Empress's hopes of another medal. Throw in a few young lovers and you have yourself a perfect brew of hilarious adventures. Included in this omnibus are Summer Lightning, Heavy Weather , and Blandings Castle . Evelyn Waugh once said, "The gardens of Blandings Castle are that original garden from which we are all exiled. All those who know them long to return."
The apple of Lord Emsworth's eye is the Empress of Blandings, a splendid Berkshire sow who has twice won honors in the Fat Pig class at the local agricultural show. Besides keeping his pig in shape, Emsworth must deal with his sister's snobby demeanor, his brother's crazy memoirs, and a rival pig whose bulk might dash the Empress's hopes of another medal. Throw in a few young lovers and you have yourself a perfect brew of hilarious adventures. Included in this omnibus are Summer Lightning, Heavy Weather , and Blandings Castle . Evelyn Waugh once said, "The gardens of Blandings Castle are that original garden from which we are all exiled. All those who know them long to return."
656 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2011
11 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
P.G. Wodehouse
1,680 books6,929 followersSir 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).
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).
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 24, 2013
From the introduction to "Summer Lightning":
"A certain critic-- for such men, I regret to say, do exist-- made the nasty remark about my last novel that it contained 'all the same old Wodehouse characters under different names.' He has probobly by now been eaten by bears, like the children who made mock of the prophet Elisha; but if he still survives he will not be able to make a similar charge against 'Summer Lightning.' With my superior intelligence, I have outgeneralled the man this time by putting in all the old Wodehouse characters under the same names. Pretty silly it will make him feel, I rather fancy."
Wodehouse's brillance and dexterity with language is comperable to that of Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Milton. The main difference is that there are no tedious bits in anything by Wodehouse.
"A certain critic-- for such men, I regret to say, do exist-- made the nasty remark about my last novel that it contained 'all the same old Wodehouse characters under different names.' He has probobly by now been eaten by bears, like the children who made mock of the prophet Elisha; but if he still survives he will not be able to make a similar charge against 'Summer Lightning.' With my superior intelligence, I have outgeneralled the man this time by putting in all the old Wodehouse characters under the same names. Pretty silly it will make him feel, I rather fancy."
Wodehouse's brillance and dexterity with language is comperable to that of Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Milton. The main difference is that there are no tedious bits in anything by Wodehouse.
July 8, 2023
An absolute delight. One reviewer nailed it when he said Plum's writings were "some of the most elegantly turned phrases in the English language." This compilation spans several decades &, in my opinion, is best read with interludes between stories; that way they don't become formulaic.
April 27, 2020
Oh, what fun! I had no idea what I was missing all my life in never having experienced Wodehouse. I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that I discovered him through the less-than-literarily stellar avenue of Prime Video. There is a series on there called Blandings that I absolutely fell in love with. I'm going to further lower myself in the eyes of the literary elite by admitting that I honestly don't know whether I enjoyed the series or the book better. Each was a total delight!
Though, upon reflection, I have to say the book comes out on top. I'm sure I enjoyed the book better because I already loved the characters, but it is a masterpiece all on its own. Wodehouse is a true artist with words. The way he puts together each phrase, each sentence maximizes the wit and humor perfectly! I felt often like I was seeing a sculpture of words, carefully carved to bring out all the wonderful humor that can be found in ordinary life. I repeatedly had to pause on a particular phrase, just to appreciate it's sheer comedic genius. And, oh Lord Emsworth! How I wish I had an Uncle Clarence whom I could go visit in the British countryside!
After that glowing report, I have to add a slight criticism. (Shock!) The plot was nothing particularly special. Interesting enough, but not why Wodehouse deserves to be read and appreciated.
Though, upon reflection, I have to say the book comes out on top. I'm sure I enjoyed the book better because I already loved the characters, but it is a masterpiece all on its own. Wodehouse is a true artist with words. The way he puts together each phrase, each sentence maximizes the wit and humor perfectly! I felt often like I was seeing a sculpture of words, carefully carved to bring out all the wonderful humor that can be found in ordinary life. I repeatedly had to pause on a particular phrase, just to appreciate it's sheer comedic genius. And, oh Lord Emsworth! How I wish I had an Uncle Clarence whom I could go visit in the British countryside!
After that glowing report, I have to add a slight criticism. (Shock!) The plot was nothing particularly special. Interesting enough, but not why Wodehouse deserves to be read and appreciated.
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March 24, 2022The Blandings novels excellently distill Wodehouse's comic wit, a delightful combination of upperclass buffoonery and Plautine stagecraft. The pageant of characters is absurd: a distracted lord of the manor who is singularly obsessed with the safety of his pig, a younger brother nostalgically reminiscing about his juvenile escapades in former days, a haughty aunt who looks down on chorus girls, and several youngsters in the throes of insecure love. Reading Heavy Weather, one can also appreciate Wodehouse's indebtedness to trashy detective novels (several characters compare their situations to crime-story potboilers). As one character repeatedly says "there's wheels within wheels", Wodehouse's skill is to bury misunderstanding under misunderstanding--characters helping characters to steal a book or a pig, uncomprehendingly acting against their own interests, unknowingly working with their enemies, slowly undoing their own success. There is a comedy of errors inside another comedy of errors. It's great readings, but it does quickly become formulaic.
January 31, 2018
The sporting antics of the early 1900's Shropshire cast endlessly delight. Classic characters abound: the vague Clarence, the overbearing Connie, the robust Galahad, and many others almost write the stories themselves. Wodehouse simply throws them into an otherwise idyllic world, creates some catalyst for a plot, and watches what happens.
I can hardly think of more pleasant reading, out-loud, before bedtime after a busy day. I was certainly sad to take my leave of my friends at Blandings after the final chapter, and I'm envious of those arriving for their first visit.
I can hardly think of more pleasant reading, out-loud, before bedtime after a busy day. I was certainly sad to take my leave of my friends at Blandings after the final chapter, and I'm envious of those arriving for their first visit.
August 11, 2017
A Bounty of Wodehouse is always a good thing! :-)
November 6, 2019
Good, but I prefer Jeeves and Bertie.
February 22, 2021
If you like dry British humor, this book is for you. Such a fun escape!
July 14, 2025
Loved it and couldn’t keep from reading it in my mind with a British accent😁
August 4, 2025
Love the Wodehouse wit and caricature. Lord Emsworth, especially, is such a fun poke at the aristocratic “leisurely brain,” nearly on par with that of Bertie Wooster. And though all the Blandings women are written in a similar way, with the same tropes, to the degree that they are hard to distinguish from one another, the wit and fun of these stories kept me engaged. Would I have enjoyed them as much without listening to Stephen Fry perform them? Not sure. But the turn of phrase and laugh-out-loud moments are golden.
August 30, 2016
An incredible writer: the sentences are as good as anything in English, he is genuinely hilarious, and I can say without exaggeration that his plots approach the Shakespearean in their satisfying neatness. This is just pure natural talent. These stories are frothy and nearly free of suspense (everything will work out; everything ALWAYS works out), and you read just to enjoy the voice and to laugh. (6.5 LOLs on subways, a record).
My complaint about this collection, and it is a minor one, is that the two novels (Summer Lighting and Heavy Weather) get a bit away from Lord Emsworth and his obsession with his pig and his hatred of his second son, which are my favorite aspects of the series (Blandings Castle is a 5-star collection of short stories that I will teach in the future). In its place come fairly predictable marriage plots with younger characters. They would be enough for anyone else, but Emsworth and his siblings are still the highlight and the books only fully take off when they are on screen. The two novels are thus 4-star books; it's a bit like watching a movie with Daniel-Day Lewis and Meryl Streep spitting fire in supporting roles while some Zac Efron-equivalent hogs way too much time.
But boy is Wodehouse great and under-read. The wellspring of modern humor. I can't wait to read more.
My complaint about this collection, and it is a minor one, is that the two novels (Summer Lighting and Heavy Weather) get a bit away from Lord Emsworth and his obsession with his pig and his hatred of his second son, which are my favorite aspects of the series (Blandings Castle is a 5-star collection of short stories that I will teach in the future). In its place come fairly predictable marriage plots with younger characters. They would be enough for anyone else, but Emsworth and his siblings are still the highlight and the books only fully take off when they are on screen. The two novels are thus 4-star books; it's a bit like watching a movie with Daniel-Day Lewis and Meryl Streep spitting fire in supporting roles while some Zac Efron-equivalent hogs way too much time.
But boy is Wodehouse great and under-read. The wellspring of modern humor. I can't wait to read more.
August 28, 2016
This anthology demonstrates why Wodehouse is one my favorite authors: well-timed phrasing, perfect metaphor, engaging characters. . .it's all there!
March 8, 2012
Such comedy. Such farce. Such wit. Such elegant prose. I only wish I had half Wodehouse's command of the English language.
June 28, 2012
A nice collection, classic Wodehouse. The first novel of the collection, Summer Lightning, in particular, is superlative.
March 7, 2014
Have to love Wodehouse. Sometimes his stories seem repetitive, but I find myself laughing no matter what. Good for what ails you!
August 24, 2013
Wodehouse is the best when it comes to humor - an absolute delight !
March 4, 2014
Such a light and adept touch with prose...
October 8, 2014
Great humor. Wodehouse has a wonderful way with words. Can't help but grin all the way through his stories.
February 22, 2015
Totally delightful. Don't know why I haven't read more of P.G. Wodehouse. If you love British comedies, this is the book for you!
December 1, 2015
Great fun read and such great characters and characterisation.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews