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Jennings #14
Jennings, of Course
'You can't compete in famous outer space tournaments wearing heavy great clodhoppers like diver's boots. You've got to be on your toes, darting about like a streak of lightning'. Who would have thought that a Ping-Pong Championship of Outer Space could have caused so much trouble? Determined to play the monumental tournament, Jennings and Darbishire end up getting themselves in more of a mess than they could have imagined. Then, when Mr Wilkins' attempts to clear out the school lost property cupboard go strangely awry, he does not have to look far to guess who the culprit is; Jennings, of course! 'Good wheeze!'
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
1 person is currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Buckeridge
110 books45 followersAnthony Malcolm Buckeridge was born in London but following the death of his banker father in the First World War he moved with his mother to Ross-on-Wye to live with his grandparents.
At the end of the war they returned to London where he developed a taste for theatre and writing. A scholarship from the Bank Clerks' Orphanage fund permitted his mother to send him to Seaford College boarding school in Sussex. His experiences as a schoolboy there were instrumental in his later work, particularly in his famous Jennings series of novels.
Following the death of his grandfather, the family moved to Welwyn Garden City where his mother worked in promoting the new suburban utopia to Londoners. In 1930 Buckeridge began work at his late father's bank but soon tired of it. Instead he took to acting including an uncredited part in Anthony Asquith's 1931 film 'Tell England'.
After marrying his first wife, Sylvia Brown, he enrolled at University College London where he involved himself in Socialist and anti-war groups and he was later to become an active member of CND. Unfortunately at university he did not take a degree after failing Latin.
By then the couple had two children and, with a young family to support, he found himself teaching in Suffolk and Northamptonshire, which again provided further experiences for his later work. During the Second World War, he was called up as a fireman and wrote several plays for the stage before returning to teaching in Ramsgate.
He used to tell his pupils stories about the fictional character Jennings, who was based on an old school chum of his, Diarmid Jennings. Diarmid was a prep schoolboy boarding at Linbury Court Preparatory School, where the headmaster was Mr Pemberton-Oakes.
After World War II, he wrote a series of radio plays for the BBC's Children's Hour chronicling the exploits of Jennings and his rather more staid friend, Darbishire. 'Jennings Learns the Ropes', the first of his radio plays, was broadcast on 16 October 1948. And then in 1950, the first of 26 Jennings novels, 'Jennings Goes to School' was published.
'Jennings Follows a Clue' appeared in 1951 and then Jennings novels were published regularly through to 1977 before he reappeared in the 1990s with three books that ended with 'That's Jennings' in 1994. The books were as well known and as popular as Frank Richards' Billy Bunter books in their day and were translated into a number of other languages.
The stories of middle class English schoolboys were especially popular in Norway where several were filmed. The Norwegian books and films were rewritten completely for a Norwegian setting with Norwegian names and Jennings is called "Stompa". And in France Jennings was, rather oddly, known as Bennett!
He also wrote five novels featuring a north London Grammar School boy, Rex Milligan, one other novel, 'A Funny Thing Happened: The First [and only] Adventure of the Blighs' (1953), wrote a collection of short stories, 'Stories for Boys' (1957), his autobiography, 'While I Remember' (1999) and edited an anthology, 'In and Out of School' (1958).
In 1962 he met his second wife, Eileen Selby. They settled near Lewes where he continued to write and from where he also appeared in small (non-singing) roles at Glyndebourne.
He was awarded the OBE in 2003.
He died on 28 June 2004 after a spell of ill health with his second wife Eileen and three children, two from his first marriage, surviving him.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
At the end of the war they returned to London where he developed a taste for theatre and writing. A scholarship from the Bank Clerks' Orphanage fund permitted his mother to send him to Seaford College boarding school in Sussex. His experiences as a schoolboy there were instrumental in his later work, particularly in his famous Jennings series of novels.
Following the death of his grandfather, the family moved to Welwyn Garden City where his mother worked in promoting the new suburban utopia to Londoners. In 1930 Buckeridge began work at his late father's bank but soon tired of it. Instead he took to acting including an uncredited part in Anthony Asquith's 1931 film 'Tell England'.
After marrying his first wife, Sylvia Brown, he enrolled at University College London where he involved himself in Socialist and anti-war groups and he was later to become an active member of CND. Unfortunately at university he did not take a degree after failing Latin.
By then the couple had two children and, with a young family to support, he found himself teaching in Suffolk and Northamptonshire, which again provided further experiences for his later work. During the Second World War, he was called up as a fireman and wrote several plays for the stage before returning to teaching in Ramsgate.
He used to tell his pupils stories about the fictional character Jennings, who was based on an old school chum of his, Diarmid Jennings. Diarmid was a prep schoolboy boarding at Linbury Court Preparatory School, where the headmaster was Mr Pemberton-Oakes.
After World War II, he wrote a series of radio plays for the BBC's Children's Hour chronicling the exploits of Jennings and his rather more staid friend, Darbishire. 'Jennings Learns the Ropes', the first of his radio plays, was broadcast on 16 October 1948. And then in 1950, the first of 26 Jennings novels, 'Jennings Goes to School' was published.
'Jennings Follows a Clue' appeared in 1951 and then Jennings novels were published regularly through to 1977 before he reappeared in the 1990s with three books that ended with 'That's Jennings' in 1994. The books were as well known and as popular as Frank Richards' Billy Bunter books in their day and were translated into a number of other languages.
The stories of middle class English schoolboys were especially popular in Norway where several were filmed. The Norwegian books and films were rewritten completely for a Norwegian setting with Norwegian names and Jennings is called "Stompa". And in France Jennings was, rather oddly, known as Bennett!
He also wrote five novels featuring a north London Grammar School boy, Rex Milligan, one other novel, 'A Funny Thing Happened: The First [and only] Adventure of the Blighs' (1953), wrote a collection of short stories, 'Stories for Boys' (1957), his autobiography, 'While I Remember' (1999) and edited an anthology, 'In and Out of School' (1958).
In 1962 he met his second wife, Eileen Selby. They settled near Lewes where he continued to write and from where he also appeared in small (non-singing) roles at Glyndebourne.
He was awarded the OBE in 2003.
He died on 28 June 2004 after a spell of ill health with his second wife Eileen and three children, two from his first marriage, surviving him.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 24, 2016
Jennings dkk. VS salah satu makhluk paling buas dan berbahaya di muka bumi: ibu-ibu arisan yang datang ke bazaar diskon.
June 11, 2024
Mengisahkan tentang kehidupan Jennings bersama sahabatnya, Darbishire, di sekolah asrama mereka, Linbury Court School 🏫. Inti cerita dari buku ini adalah ketika terdapat segerombolan ibu-ibu yang tiba-tiba membanjiri Linbury Court School. Mereka merasa diundang dalam pasar loak yang digelar di sekolah tersebut dan berniat untuk memburu barang-barang bagus disana. Tentunya, ini semua merupakan akal Jennings.
Buku ini dilengkapi dengan unsur komedi yang berjalan sebagaimana mestinya, tidak terkesan dipaksakan. Ada bagian yang membuatku tertawa sedikit, hingga bagian yang berhasil membuatku tertawa terpingkal-pingkal 😂. Bagiku, penulis berhasil menggambarkan watak Jennings dan Darbishire dengan sangat baik, mengingat mereka adalah murid-murid kelas tiga. Pada usia tersebut, anak-anak seperti Jennings dan Darbishire seringkali membuat kenakalan, keusilan, ataupun kecerobohan yang berujung membawa masalah bagi orang-orang sekitar.
Walaupun buku ini tergolong dalam buku anak, saya rasa buku ini tetap cocok untuk dibaca bagi semua kalangan. Buku ini dapat dijadikan sebagai selingan ringan yang mungkin dapat membawamu bernostalgia dalam masa kecilmu ✨.
Buku ini dilengkapi dengan unsur komedi yang berjalan sebagaimana mestinya, tidak terkesan dipaksakan. Ada bagian yang membuatku tertawa sedikit, hingga bagian yang berhasil membuatku tertawa terpingkal-pingkal 😂. Bagiku, penulis berhasil menggambarkan watak Jennings dan Darbishire dengan sangat baik, mengingat mereka adalah murid-murid kelas tiga. Pada usia tersebut, anak-anak seperti Jennings dan Darbishire seringkali membuat kenakalan, keusilan, ataupun kecerobohan yang berujung membawa masalah bagi orang-orang sekitar.
Walaupun buku ini tergolong dalam buku anak, saya rasa buku ini tetap cocok untuk dibaca bagi semua kalangan. Buku ini dapat dijadikan sebagai selingan ringan yang mungkin dapat membawamu bernostalgia dalam masa kecilmu ✨.
January 4, 2018
In some ways five stars feels a little over the top, and I'm not sure if I've ever rated it so highly before, but really, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with it which can justify marking it down. Not a lot happens, admittedly, but it feels sufficient. It's typical Jennings. It's not the first Jennings book that I would rush to read, but perhaps that is largely psychological because of the cover designs. Previously I have always read it in a very uninspiring paperback edition. The original dust jacket isn't any more inspiring, but it's nice to finally read it in a hardback format with large print which is so much pleasanter to read, and much more in keeping with the era in which the book is set. The book was consistently good and amusing and if I was ten years old again I would probably find it hilarious. Having read it numerous times it has lost some of its edge, but it's still enjoyable.
August 14, 2020
These books never age. I'm reading them for the first time and have to put the books down periodically because I embarrass myself laughing out loud.
They remind me very much of PG Wodehouse in the style and language but because they tell the tale of two school boys in a prep school they don't have similar storylines but they do share the knack of taking a very simple premise and dragging it out logically until we are into the realms of farce with no idea that we've been led into the intrigue and chaos of Jennings and his friends.
They remind me very much of PG Wodehouse in the style and language but because they tell the tale of two school boys in a prep school they don't have similar storylines but they do share the knack of taking a very simple premise and dragging it out logically until we are into the realms of farce with no idea that we've been led into the intrigue and chaos of Jennings and his friends.
May 4, 2022
Another very funny bank holiday read in the company of Jennings.
November 5, 2024
Seperti biasa Jennings kembali iseeeeng dan loetjoe
December 24, 2025
Selalu bikin ngakak meski sudah re-read berkali-kali.
June 28, 2009
Nah, inilah salah satu buku novel yang menemani saya tumbuh remaja, selain "Lima Sekawan", "Kisah Cewek paling Badung di Sekolah", dan "Trio Detektif" :-)
Namun dari semuanya itu, saya paling suka dengan serial "Kisah Si Jennings". Dulu saya meminjamnya dari perpustakaan sekolah, bercerita tentang kehidupan sehari-hari anak bernama Jennings yang tinggal di asrama sekolahnya. Dengan sangat natural, Anthony Buckeridge menceritakan kenakalan, keusilan, kepolosan, dan kecerdasan khas anak-anak sekolah. Yang paling saya ingat adalah saat di mana Jennings dan kawan-kawannya menemukan seekor landak yang sedang berhibernasi di tempat yg keliru, lalu mereka semua berinisiatif membawanya pulang ke asrama dan tiap hari mereka selalu penasaran menjenguk si landak yang tetap terlelap. So simple, but love it so much!
Buku ini sama sekali tidak populer di Indonesia, bahkan sekadar mencari buku bekasnya di toko-toko pun sangat susah sekali.
Sekilas seperti: menjalani reinkarnasi menjadi anak kecil yang harus tinggal di asrama sekolah yang seru!
Namun dari semuanya itu, saya paling suka dengan serial "Kisah Si Jennings". Dulu saya meminjamnya dari perpustakaan sekolah, bercerita tentang kehidupan sehari-hari anak bernama Jennings yang tinggal di asrama sekolahnya. Dengan sangat natural, Anthony Buckeridge menceritakan kenakalan, keusilan, kepolosan, dan kecerdasan khas anak-anak sekolah. Yang paling saya ingat adalah saat di mana Jennings dan kawan-kawannya menemukan seekor landak yang sedang berhibernasi di tempat yg keliru, lalu mereka semua berinisiatif membawanya pulang ke asrama dan tiap hari mereka selalu penasaran menjenguk si landak yang tetap terlelap. So simple, but love it so much!
Buku ini sama sekali tidak populer di Indonesia, bahkan sekadar mencari buku bekasnya di toko-toko pun sangat susah sekali.
Sekilas seperti: menjalani reinkarnasi menjadi anak kecil yang harus tinggal di asrama sekolah yang seru!
April 24, 2020
Jennings is just super spiffing stuff! And in this dawn of the space age story, Buckerdige gets into the mind of the prep school hero perfectly, as Jennings and Darbishire struggle to play ping pong in outer space (kind of!)
I loved Jennings as a child, and I am not so old that the language of the books was very dated when I read them! So don't let that put you off. Indeed I think the dated prep school slang of Jennings really adds to the charm of these books which refelct on a slice of life that we all might like to have back.
The books are often hilarious. I devoured this series first time around, borrowing books from friends who loved them too. Recently I have been buying up and completing my collection, and re-reading them from the start.
Highly recommended. Personally I preferred these to Just William and other such stories.
I loved Jennings as a child, and I am not so old that the language of the books was very dated when I read them! So don't let that put you off. Indeed I think the dated prep school slang of Jennings really adds to the charm of these books which refelct on a slice of life that we all might like to have back.
The books are often hilarious. I devoured this series first time around, borrowing books from friends who loved them too. Recently I have been buying up and completing my collection, and re-reading them from the start.
Highly recommended. Personally I preferred these to Just William and other such stories.
July 10, 2011
Pinjam dari Iyut, terima lewat Mute.
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Acara jalan-jalan sore saat hujan, jadi bencana kalau Jennings tidak cepat-cepat mencuci pakaiannya yang kotor. Jadi ada operasi cuci pakaian*senyum-senyum*
Belum lagi rencana Jennings untuk menampilkan ventriloquist, ituh pertunjukan bicara lewat perut. Dan digantinya dengan acara sulap gagal yang berakhir sangat mengesankan. *senyum lebar*
Tapi yang paling parah adalah acara jumble sale, bazar barang-barang bekas. Karena ibu-ibu dari desa sampai menyerbu acara jumble sale yang diadakan di sekolah. Lho? *ngakak*
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Acara jalan-jalan sore saat hujan, jadi bencana kalau Jennings tidak cepat-cepat mencuci pakaiannya yang kotor. Jadi ada operasi cuci pakaian*senyum-senyum*
Belum lagi rencana Jennings untuk menampilkan ventriloquist, ituh pertunjukan bicara lewat perut. Dan digantinya dengan acara sulap gagal yang berakhir sangat mengesankan. *senyum lebar*
Tapi yang paling parah adalah acara jumble sale, bazar barang-barang bekas. Karena ibu-ibu dari desa sampai menyerbu acara jumble sale yang diadakan di sekolah. Lho? *ngakak*
April 27, 2025
In this instalment (alongside the customary plot contrivances and lazy characterisation of later books), Miss Thorpe and the other Linbury women manage to provide some of the lowest points in the entire series. However, it's not a total washout, as there are some decent boarding school exploits to balance it out a bit.
Highlight: Mr Wilkins describes to Mr Carter a conversation he has had with Jennings, unaware that the boy is practising his ventriloquism.
Lowlight: Buckeridge waxes sarcastic about village jumble sales, a topic on which he clearly has no knowledge whatsoever.
Highlight: Mr Wilkins describes to Mr Carter a conversation he has had with Jennings, unaware that the boy is practising his ventriloquism.
Lowlight: Buckeridge waxes sarcastic about village jumble sales, a topic on which he clearly has no knowledge whatsoever.
April 16, 2015
This is definitely one of the weaker Jennings books, with far too much emphasis on the exploits of Miss Thorpe and the other women of Linbury. As funny as the sequence where they invade the school is trying to be, it's really not remotely there.
Highlight: Jennings and Darbishire's magic act at the end of term concert is interpreted as a hilarious skit about a would-be conjurer and his bumbling assistant attempting to perform a trick that persists in going wrong.
Highlight: Jennings and Darbishire's magic act at the end of term concert is interpreted as a hilarious skit about a would-be conjurer and his bumbling assistant attempting to perform a trick that persists in going wrong.
July 31, 2007
Jennings' at it again! Another so-funny book that will redefine the meaning of laughing from Mr. Buckeridge.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews