Berry and Co

Berry #3

by Dornford Yates

This collection of short stories featuring 'Berry' Pleydell and his chaotic entourage established Dornford Yates' reputation as one of the best comic writers in a generation, and made him hugely popular. The German caricatures in the book carried such a sting that when France was invaded in 1939 Yates, who was living near the Pyrenees, was put on the wanted list and had to flee.

Genres: Classics, British Literature, Fiction, Humor, Short Stories, Comedy

Paperback

First published December 1, 1938

About the author

Dornford Yates (real name Cecil William Mercer) was a popular British novelist.

Reviews

[Terry Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, no one sane would recommend a series of books about rich and indolent Brits rollicking around Europe in the Gilded Age--right before it all ended in the trenches of World War One.

But I would.

They are fascinating, insanely funny and totally engaging. And all this despite the fact that NOTHING EVER HAPPENS.

Anyone can write a good book about exciting adventures, it takes a genius to write great stuff about where to serve tea or how to design a garden.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Berry books seem to really be hitting their stride now, although still narrated by Boy Pleydell. They no longer follow the "a new girl a chapter" format of the earlier books, Boy is very much now settling down with Adèle and this really opens the stories up, they are still about very little though and that's the fun of them, the major addition in this volume and it is a very welcome one is of Nobby the Sealyham.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old-fashioned and immensely entertaining mystery stories set in 1920s England, these are the sort where you end up laughing out loud only to fail in explaining exactly why the passage in question is so funny. Each story builds further on the ones before, increasing expectation and your enjoyment.

I also recommend Adele and Co. (novel) and Jonah and Co. (more short stories).

[Julian Kirkman-Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have all dornford's books in my collection. They are great ripping yarns and the berry books are very witty. Like many authors, his later works became a bit romantic and soppy - probably an age thing.

[Kier · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny adventure/crime story set in 1920's europe, lots of good characters.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing i want to say is that this book was first published in 1921, not 1938. My copy, a hardback published by Ward, Lock & Co., was probably published in 1923 because the owner wrote their own name inside, and a date of 27/9/23.
I would definitely recommend this book as a light-hearted read, with some humorous conversations and antics. There's also a Sealyham terrier called Nobby. Look up old photos of the breed if you want to see what he looked like..

[Mike]

I felt a bit lost going into this - there's not much indication of who the characters are - but this is fully accounted for by the fact that it's the third in a series.

Well-off people having very minor adventures, during which the narrator flirts elaborately with a series of young women. Not funny enough to keep my interest.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The short stories in this 3rd volume of the Berry series were much improved over those in the first book (The Brother of Daphne). The plots were more varied and the dialogue, though still scattered with the witticisms that were such a feature of the first book, was more reasonable.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dornford Yates is a bit of a guilty pleasure - comfort reading for sure. An aptitude for ignoring appalling ideology required.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

That Berry is a real hoot! He certainly has a great turn of phrase. Looking forward to reading about more of his adventures with the Pleydell clan.

[Lilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the first few stories a little dull, but things picked up with the introduction of Nobby the dog. 3 and 1/2 stars.

[Kay Robart · Rating 2 out of 5]

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022...