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Like Alcoholics Anonymous, a bachelor can turn to fellow members whenever the urge to romance surfaces. Lawyer Emphraim Trout urges Hollywood tycoon Ivor Llewellyn to hire pugilist/ playwright Joe Pickering to protect the five-times divorced tycoon in London, but amorous mishaps ensnare the trio who attempt to outwit their frail hearts. (Author age 92)
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 1973
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567 people want to read
About the author
P.G. Wodehouse
1,709 books6,963 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 - 30 of 143 reviews
October 13, 2025
An American movie mogul, famously married and divorced multiple times, travels to London and establishes a club called Bachelors Anonymous — a playful spin on Alcoholics Anonymous. The idea? Whenever one of the members feels tempted to marry, the others will promptly talk him out of it.
But, as in all Wodehouse tales, chaos has its own sense of humor. A tangle of misunderstandings, romantic mix-ups, and impeccable British charm soon leads to more than one unexpected wedding.
✨ A quick, clever escape into the world of laughter, love, and the eternal futility of trying to outsmart Cupid. — Phoenix Perpetuale
But, as in all Wodehouse tales, chaos has its own sense of humor. A tangle of misunderstandings, romantic mix-ups, and impeccable British charm soon leads to more than one unexpected wedding.
✨ A quick, clever escape into the world of laughter, love, and the eternal futility of trying to outsmart Cupid. — Phoenix Perpetuale
April 15, 2014
I should probably start this review by admitting that I would happily read a shopping list written by P.G. Wodehouse - and I'm pretty sure that I'd smile all the way through it.
I am a complete fan boy when it comes to the writings of "Plum" Wodehouse and have read all the Jeeves and Worcester books as well as a considerable amount of his other output - so I was pleasantly surprised to come across a number of more obscure P.G. books on a recent visit to an Oxfam Bookshop (always a source of interesting finds). "Bachelors Anonymous" was one of these books and is actually his penultimate publishing, coming out in 1973; just two years before he died.
It is, of course, a delight. As ever, the plot is slight,being vaguely about a group calling themselves Bachelors Anonymous who take an AA approach to preventing their members from getting married. Should one of their members, or anyone who needs their help, feel the urge to propose to a woman BA will happily despatch a samaritan to talk them out of it. And, as with all P.G stories, there is a couple where the course of true love fails to run smoothly etc etc. Wodehouse's plots rarely deviate from this simple pattern but the fact remains that no other writer has ever been able to craft so much from so little. His use of language is simply superb and his sense of comic timing is second to none. As usual, there are few laugh out loud moments (though there are some, depending on your sense of humour) but I always spend the full duration of my time reading his books with a big smile on my face; they are, quite simply, a joy and I've yet to find the exception to this rule.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an undemanding, spirit elevating read - but then, I would recommend P.G. Wodehouse's entire output to anyone and everyone at the drop of a hat.
The man was a genius.
I am a complete fan boy when it comes to the writings of "Plum" Wodehouse and have read all the Jeeves and Worcester books as well as a considerable amount of his other output - so I was pleasantly surprised to come across a number of more obscure P.G. books on a recent visit to an Oxfam Bookshop (always a source of interesting finds). "Bachelors Anonymous" was one of these books and is actually his penultimate publishing, coming out in 1973; just two years before he died.
It is, of course, a delight. As ever, the plot is slight,being vaguely about a group calling themselves Bachelors Anonymous who take an AA approach to preventing their members from getting married. Should one of their members, or anyone who needs their help, feel the urge to propose to a woman BA will happily despatch a samaritan to talk them out of it. And, as with all P.G stories, there is a couple where the course of true love fails to run smoothly etc etc. Wodehouse's plots rarely deviate from this simple pattern but the fact remains that no other writer has ever been able to craft so much from so little. His use of language is simply superb and his sense of comic timing is second to none. As usual, there are few laugh out loud moments (though there are some, depending on your sense of humour) but I always spend the full duration of my time reading his books with a big smile on my face; they are, quite simply, a joy and I've yet to find the exception to this rule.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an undemanding, spirit elevating read - but then, I would recommend P.G. Wodehouse's entire output to anyone and everyone at the drop of a hat.
The man was a genius.
January 17, 2018
It didn't make me laugh quite as much as say, a Blandings novel or P Smith, but it still was terribly amusing and WODEHOUSE.
So, of course, I enjoyed it.
So, of course, I enjoyed it.
September 1, 2015
Ivor Llewelyn is a movie producer, apparently he’s Welsh but clearly he’s been Hollywood-based for a fair old while as he now speaks and acts like your stereotypical movie studio head. Following his fifth divorce, he is approached by his lawyer, a Ephraim Trout, who reveals he is a member of a club called Bachelors Anonymous – a group of like-minded men who have sworn off marriage and are keen to get other men to join their group. Now in the hands of another author, the notion of like-minded men who refuse to have anything to do with women and use somewhat underhand means to get other men to join their number would probably be given a much different, more sinister, spin. Here though it’s just another example of Wodehouse’s boys in grown men suits, who’ll swear off the love right until the point it hits them right between the eyes and leaves their hearts not just singing, but charging enthusiastically through the scores of entire Broadway shows. Burnt by this latest divorce, Llewelyn takes Trout’s wife and on a business trip to London hires failing playwright Joe Pickering to help stop him getting betrothed again (most specifically, to stop him getting betrothed to an imperious West-End actress, Vera Dalrymple). Pickering is happy to help, although he finds himself in a much different boat when it comes to love, having recently fallen head over heels with reporter, Sally Fitch (who has recently been left some money, and is also being pursued by her wastrel, aristocratic ex, who is actually – and coincidentally – engaged to Sally’s new flatmate). So Llewelyn and Pickering are an unusual but amicable pairing, one turned away from love and the other smiling at it fondly. But then Mr Trout arrives in London, and Ephraim Trout is about to do a sudden volte-face which will change all his views and his entire personality.
I’m sure just reciting the plot gives you some idea of what a charming, delightful soufflé this is There are without a doubt better Wodehouse novels, but on its own terms, this is a slender and near perfect treat. A wonderful novel to curl up with on a wet Bank Holiday Monday afternoon. Published in 1973, this triumphantly ignores all concerns of the 1970s, but there can be few books of the period which are so beguiling and genuinely amusing.
I’m sure just reciting the plot gives you some idea of what a charming, delightful soufflé this is There are without a doubt better Wodehouse novels, but on its own terms, this is a slender and near perfect treat. A wonderful novel to curl up with on a wet Bank Holiday Monday afternoon. Published in 1973, this triumphantly ignores all concerns of the 1970s, but there can be few books of the period which are so beguiling and genuinely amusing.
January 20, 2025
Really, really funny.
February 27, 2024
Loved it. Liked the characters, enjoyed the story, smiled a lot.
You don't need more analysis than that.
You don't need more analysis than that.
July 5, 2010
Love quadrangle (or more) amuses in silly Wodehouse farce!
PGW's books rarely fail to amuse and entertain, and certainly "Bachelors" is no exception. Big-time Hollywood producer Ivor Llewellyn, a five-time divorcee (due to a compulsion to propose over dinner) is off to London where his California divorce lawyer, Ephraim Trout, fears he might fall to the wiles of yet another woman. Trout belongs to "B.A.", patterned after AA, which helps men prevent getting married off. He suggests Llewellyn look up a lawyer while in England to help fill the gap. Sure enough, Llewellyn hires Joe Pickering, a young attorney and fledgling playwright, who has just been smitten by a fledgling reporter, Sally Fitch. Meanwhile, Trout decides to come to London himself in case the "big gun" is needed, and, while interfering in the budding Fitch/Pickering romance, falls for a "comfortable" neighbor lady, Amelia Bingham. Llewellyn spends the whole time avoiding being trapped by Vera Dalrymple, star of Pickering's now closed first play. There's a few more players in this comical farce, but you get the drift... And will they all live happily ever after ?!?!
As with his Bertie and Jeeves books, Wodehouse's storyline is little more than an excuse to parade his silly characters and their antics, revealing all too common human foibles at which we can share a low-cost laugh or two. His short novels tend to fly by, with rarely a serious thought or puzzling intrigue to slow us down, just sheer frivolity for a couple of hours. Reading with a smile all the while - this is a good thing, right?
PGW's books rarely fail to amuse and entertain, and certainly "Bachelors" is no exception. Big-time Hollywood producer Ivor Llewellyn, a five-time divorcee (due to a compulsion to propose over dinner) is off to London where his California divorce lawyer, Ephraim Trout, fears he might fall to the wiles of yet another woman. Trout belongs to "B.A.", patterned after AA, which helps men prevent getting married off. He suggests Llewellyn look up a lawyer while in England to help fill the gap. Sure enough, Llewellyn hires Joe Pickering, a young attorney and fledgling playwright, who has just been smitten by a fledgling reporter, Sally Fitch. Meanwhile, Trout decides to come to London himself in case the "big gun" is needed, and, while interfering in the budding Fitch/Pickering romance, falls for a "comfortable" neighbor lady, Amelia Bingham. Llewellyn spends the whole time avoiding being trapped by Vera Dalrymple, star of Pickering's now closed first play. There's a few more players in this comical farce, but you get the drift... And will they all live happily ever after ?!?!
As with his Bertie and Jeeves books, Wodehouse's storyline is little more than an excuse to parade his silly characters and their antics, revealing all too common human foibles at which we can share a low-cost laugh or two. His short novels tend to fly by, with rarely a serious thought or puzzling intrigue to slow us down, just sheer frivolity for a couple of hours. Reading with a smile all the while - this is a good thing, right?
February 10, 2017
"P.G Wodehouse wrote the best English comic novels of the [20th] century," writes Sebastian Faulks on a cover blurb of this book. "Bachelors Anonymous" is a frothy farce, a literary grandson of Oscar Wilde, and I look forward to reading more by this author. If you need a one-sitting laugh-a-page, this one's for you!
June 1, 2021
Определено ми хареса. От началото на месеца я мъча, но уви - явно не ѝ беше времето. Но днес я изчетох и много се забавлявах. Харесвам стила на Удхаус и тази книга не прави изключение!
October 20, 2025
You know the feeling when you read a book and can almost see the movie version playing as you go? That's how this went for me. It's just screaming to be a screwball comedy.
January 24, 2024
I’m reading Wodehouse after almost a decade. He had me giggling like a 14 year old again :)))
July 3, 2016
Wodehouse sparkles, as always, in a frothy and intricately plotted story about love, bachelorhood, a failed play, and an heiress who must stay away from tobacco in order to retain her inheritance.
Five times married (and five times divorced) Hollywood movie magnate Ivor Llewellyn goes off to London for a while. Cribbing, as he leaves California, that he’s bound to end up asking some woman or the other to marry him—Llewellyn cannot help himself—he is given some advice by his lawyer, Mr Trout. Trout is a member of Bachelors Anonymous, a fiercely committed little group that stands by its members: every time one of them experiences the urge to propose, the others rally around and help him past the crisis. There is no Bachelors Anonymous chapter in London, but Trout assures Llewellyn: get a good man, explain what is needed, and it will be like having Trout by his side. Trout even gives Llewellyn the name of a law firm where Llewellyn will be able to get someone dependable.
Except that the lawyer-cum-failed playwright, Joe Pickering, who comes to Llewellyn’s aid, is recovering from the blow of his first play being an utter flop. And he's just fallen head over heels in love with Sally Fitch. Sally has just inherited £25,000 from an ex-employer, who was a fervent anti-tobacco leaguer and stipulated that Sally gets to keep the money only if she stays off tobacco for two years… and to enforce that, Sally has to share her newly inherited apartment with a private eye named Daphne Dolby, in charge of keeping a hawk eye on Sally for any signs of use of tobacco.
But, as Monty Bodkin would say, there are wheels within wheels. Trout decides he must take on the task of protecting Llewellyn from himself, himself. An old flame resurfaces in Sally's life. And more.
Wodehouse is a joy, as always. The coincidences flow thick and fast. The plot is deliciously convoluted, and the main characters are loads of fun. Plus, there is Plum’s language, such a delight. And his humour, so grin-inducing: “I don't like the thought of two loving hearts being parted by a misunderstanding. Who do you think I am? Thomas Hardy?”
Highly recommended.
Five times married (and five times divorced) Hollywood movie magnate Ivor Llewellyn goes off to London for a while. Cribbing, as he leaves California, that he’s bound to end up asking some woman or the other to marry him—Llewellyn cannot help himself—he is given some advice by his lawyer, Mr Trout. Trout is a member of Bachelors Anonymous, a fiercely committed little group that stands by its members: every time one of them experiences the urge to propose, the others rally around and help him past the crisis. There is no Bachelors Anonymous chapter in London, but Trout assures Llewellyn: get a good man, explain what is needed, and it will be like having Trout by his side. Trout even gives Llewellyn the name of a law firm where Llewellyn will be able to get someone dependable.
Except that the lawyer-cum-failed playwright, Joe Pickering, who comes to Llewellyn’s aid, is recovering from the blow of his first play being an utter flop. And he's just fallen head over heels in love with Sally Fitch. Sally has just inherited £25,000 from an ex-employer, who was a fervent anti-tobacco leaguer and stipulated that Sally gets to keep the money only if she stays off tobacco for two years… and to enforce that, Sally has to share her newly inherited apartment with a private eye named Daphne Dolby, in charge of keeping a hawk eye on Sally for any signs of use of tobacco.
But, as Monty Bodkin would say, there are wheels within wheels. Trout decides he must take on the task of protecting Llewellyn from himself, himself. An old flame resurfaces in Sally's life. And more.
Wodehouse is a joy, as always. The coincidences flow thick and fast. The plot is deliciously convoluted, and the main characters are loads of fun. Plus, there is Plum’s language, such a delight. And his humour, so grin-inducing: “I don't like the thought of two loving hearts being parted by a misunderstanding. Who do you think I am? Thomas Hardy?”
Highly recommended.
December 10, 2023
This is one of a kind in all Wodehouse’s novels. I haven’t seen a premise like this any other novel. It all revolves around this little club/group called Bachelors Anonymous in California who think celibate life is the best. When any of those group fall into the temptation of love, they confront the person and talk to them like Dutch Uncle. A good novel and many memorable laughs.
Some of my fav quotes:
“Mr Llewellyn was staring dumbly, as Tennyson’s Lady of Shalott might have stared when the mirror cracked from side to side and the curse had come upon her. Indeed, if the Lady of Shalott had entered at this moment, he would have
slapped her on the back and told her he knew just how she felt.”
“When he replaced the receiver, his face wore the expression which one notices on the faces of those who have been saved from the scaffold at the eleventh hour, and his voice when he spoke had so much of the carolling skylark in it that Percy Bysshe Shelley, had he been present, would have been fully justified in saying ‘Hail to thee, blithe spirit’.”
“Mr Llewellyn was saying ‘Listen’, preparatory to cleansing his stuffed bosom of the perilous stuff that weighs upon the heart, as Shakespeare and the Welsh school marm would have phrased it, though Shakespeare ought to have known better than to put ‘stuff’ and ‘stuffed’ in the same sentence like that.”
Some of my fav quotes:
“Mr Llewellyn was staring dumbly, as Tennyson’s Lady of Shalott might have stared when the mirror cracked from side to side and the curse had come upon her. Indeed, if the Lady of Shalott had entered at this moment, he would have
slapped her on the back and told her he knew just how she felt.”
“When he replaced the receiver, his face wore the expression which one notices on the faces of those who have been saved from the scaffold at the eleventh hour, and his voice when he spoke had so much of the carolling skylark in it that Percy Bysshe Shelley, had he been present, would have been fully justified in saying ‘Hail to thee, blithe spirit’.”
“Mr Llewellyn was saying ‘Listen’, preparatory to cleansing his stuffed bosom of the perilous stuff that weighs upon the heart, as Shakespeare and the Welsh school marm would have phrased it, though Shakespeare ought to have known better than to put ‘stuff’ and ‘stuffed’ in the same sentence like that.”
November 9, 2010
A tight, entertaining little book but not my favorite form of Wodehouse; I definitely prefer the short episodes in the Jeeves & Wooster books and Young Men in Spats. This being one whole story made it too tense and Three's-Company like for me. I really prefer reading one little story before bed and having all of the troubles, miscommunications and loose ends neatly wrapped up before I go to sleep.
I imagine this book gives you a good idea of what a Wodehouse play might have been like. It's also interesting to read something from him where the women aren't ALL the enemy for a change of pace. Still, I prefer it when they are (except for that brilliant closing story in Spats).
I imagine this book gives you a good idea of what a Wodehouse play might have been like. It's also interesting to read something from him where the women aren't ALL the enemy for a change of pace. Still, I prefer it when they are (except for that brilliant closing story in Spats).
October 4, 2016
This gave me a good chuckle. I tried to read this awhile ago, but I couldn't get into it, so I tried again today and enjoyed the whole thing this time around. While it is a bit cheesy (I mean, a guy in one day goes from being adamantly against marriage, to all for it when he meets a woman!!), it is certainly a Wodehouse through and through!! I loved the lady who slammed Bible verses as Joe and Mr. Trout when they tried to see Sally. I was snickering out loud! Not as good as Wooster and Jeeves and certainly not a deep read. Very light and silly, so personally I wouldn't make a habit of reading his books all the time.
*A few swear words. And one man is divorced five times, but at least he is adamant not to marry again!
*A few swear words. And one man is divorced five times, but at least he is adamant not to marry again!
December 26, 2017
I am so glad I started reading Wodehouse books early because now I can enjoy them for the rest of my life!
A group of men in Hollywood have formed an organization, Bachelors Anonymous. Unfortunately their activities don't extend into London, which is where Ivor Llewellyn of the Superba-Llewellyn studio of Llewellyn City, Hollywood is headed in order to be free from the urge to marry. To keep the young man safe from this evil, Ephraim Trout has organized for a bodyguard to stay with him. One thing happens after another and suddenly you have proposals and car chases and fortunes and all manner of chaos. This was a very funny and very recommendable Wodehouse novel. I enjoyed every minute of it!
A group of men in Hollywood have formed an organization, Bachelors Anonymous. Unfortunately their activities don't extend into London, which is where Ivor Llewellyn of the Superba-Llewellyn studio of Llewellyn City, Hollywood is headed in order to be free from the urge to marry. To keep the young man safe from this evil, Ephraim Trout has organized for a bodyguard to stay with him. One thing happens after another and suddenly you have proposals and car chases and fortunes and all manner of chaos. This was a very funny and very recommendable Wodehouse novel. I enjoyed every minute of it!
February 27, 2020
Plum Notes on chasing "Popsy"!
May 15, 2020
Scritto alla veneranda età di 92 anni. Per me è stato il secondo incontro con P.G. Wodehouse.
Non mi ha divertito come il precedente romanzo che avevo letto, Lampi d’estate, ma l’ho trovato comunque gradevole, leggero e scanzonato.
Non mi ha divertito come il precedente romanzo che avevo letto, Lampi d’estate, ma l’ho trovato comunque gradevole, leggero e scanzonato.
May 22, 2019
It doesn't have the Certain Something that the Girl In Blue had. As far as stand alones go I couldn't get into it, I'm afraid. Too many Americans perhaps.
June 29, 2008
Wodehouse first introduced us to movie mogul Ikey Llewellyn in ‘The Luck of the Bodkins’ smuggling some jewels for his wife Grayce and again in ‘Pears, Girls and Monty Bodkin’. In both these he is a bit player supporting the hapless Monty Bodkin but here he moves up to be the second name on the bill, top billing going to Joe Pickering. Ikey has recently being divorced by fifth wife Grayce and is concerned that due to his inability to talk of other matters that he will shortly be proposing again and due to his animal magnetism whoever his dinner date is will, of course, accept. His lawyer, Ephraim Trout, despite being grateful to the fees Ikey’s divorces pull in suggests he join ‘Bachelors Anonymous’.
As Trout explained ‘It was Alcoholics Anonymous that gave the founding fathers the idea, our methods are frankly borrowed from theirs. When one of us feel the urge to take a woman out to dinner becoming to strong for him, he seeks out the other members of the circle and tells them of his craving, and they reason with him’. Difficulties arise when Ikey travels to England as their is no chapter of Bachelors Anonymous their so Trout suggests a level headed solicitor, Joe Pickering, to deputise for them. When Trout discovers that Joe is engaged and very much a fan of the opposite sex even to the point of donning morning coat and spongebag trousers he travels to England to take charge.
So Wodehouse has his work cut out to bring a universally happy ending with all the bachelors suitably paired off, can even Trout discover love?
Not the greatest Wodehouse novel but still manages to bring some joy to a couple of rainy hours.
As Trout explained ‘It was Alcoholics Anonymous that gave the founding fathers the idea, our methods are frankly borrowed from theirs. When one of us feel the urge to take a woman out to dinner becoming to strong for him, he seeks out the other members of the circle and tells them of his craving, and they reason with him’. Difficulties arise when Ikey travels to England as their is no chapter of Bachelors Anonymous their so Trout suggests a level headed solicitor, Joe Pickering, to deputise for them. When Trout discovers that Joe is engaged and very much a fan of the opposite sex even to the point of donning morning coat and spongebag trousers he travels to England to take charge.
So Wodehouse has his work cut out to bring a universally happy ending with all the bachelors suitably paired off, can even Trout discover love?
Not the greatest Wodehouse novel but still manages to bring some joy to a couple of rainy hours.
March 22, 2012
A comedy of errors in true Wodehouse form.
Bachelors Anonymous is a self-help group of gentlemen that believes a celibate life is the best life. These saintly marauders are not only there for each other, they will also cheerfully intervene on behalf of any man, saving him from the horrors of marriage whether welcomed or not. In their eyes even one date is cause for alarm because as we all know, dinner leads to marriage. When one such man deemed to be of high risk (he’s been married five times previously) announces he will be moving to London, for which there is no chapter, the Bachelors not only demand he have an emissary, but send along a chaperon as well! It is this well-intentioned, albeit misguided, assistance that fuels the mishaps and confusion of our heroes and heroines, tearing lives apart before ultimately rubber-cementing them back together again.
Though P.G. Wodehouse does tend to recycle his plot lines and wrap his stories up in a nice little bow at the end, on the whole, Bachelors Anonymous is a solid effort that still holds up today.
This is an easy read: short, nicely-written and moves at a good pace. The language is formal and a bit dated, and the book is peppered with fifty-cent words and bone-dry wit, but if you enjoy this sort of metier you will find yourself entertained.
Bachelors Anonymous is a self-help group of gentlemen that believes a celibate life is the best life. These saintly marauders are not only there for each other, they will also cheerfully intervene on behalf of any man, saving him from the horrors of marriage whether welcomed or not. In their eyes even one date is cause for alarm because as we all know, dinner leads to marriage. When one such man deemed to be of high risk (he’s been married five times previously) announces he will be moving to London, for which there is no chapter, the Bachelors not only demand he have an emissary, but send along a chaperon as well! It is this well-intentioned, albeit misguided, assistance that fuels the mishaps and confusion of our heroes and heroines, tearing lives apart before ultimately rubber-cementing them back together again.
Though P.G. Wodehouse does tend to recycle his plot lines and wrap his stories up in a nice little bow at the end, on the whole, Bachelors Anonymous is a solid effort that still holds up today.
This is an easy read: short, nicely-written and moves at a good pace. The language is formal and a bit dated, and the book is peppered with fifty-cent words and bone-dry wit, but if you enjoy this sort of metier you will find yourself entertained.
July 16, 2016
Oh boy! Why didn't I read Wodehouse sooner? What fun! I am so glad to know it because he will be the perfect writer to turn to when I need something light and fun that is also intelligent and engaging -- and he wrote so many books that I won't have to worry about running out of options (at least, not for a long time)! Reading Bachelors Anonymous was like watching a 1930s screwball comedy, complete with silly wordplay, mistaken identities, swapped fiancés, and misunderstandings -- but very clever in its execution, not dumbed down at all. The characters names got confusing at times (who was Joe and who was Jerry? Trout vs Nichols vs. Pickering vs Warner?) but that's a small side note.
Also interesting to note that the female characters were pretty round and modern characters. They had jobs and worked hard and weren't afraid to do what they had to do and weren't merely there to be prizes for the men. They did get a bit wilty in the end, with all the marriages and marriage proposals going around - but then, so did several of the male characters.
Also interesting to note that the female characters were pretty round and modern characters. They had jobs and worked hard and weren't afraid to do what they had to do and weren't merely there to be prizes for the men. They did get a bit wilty in the end, with all the marriages and marriage proposals going around - but then, so did several of the male characters.
March 11, 2011
Commedia che scorre via rapida in un vortice di continui capovolgimenti di situazione e di coincidenze sempre al limite del paradosso che tessono una rete di relazioni fra i vari personaggi. Più che di leggere un libro sembra di essere al cinema a vedere un film di un "Woody Allen d'oltre manica" che ama farcire le situazioni che ha sapientemente estratto dal sua cappello a cilindro, con tutta una serie di citazioni alle opere di Shakespeare e di altri scrittori come E.A.Poe ("Mai più!), senza tralasciare rimandi a passi biblici come quello dei maiali della Gadarena (Mt 8, 28-34).
December 24, 2012
Bachelors Anonymous is a comedy of errors and coincidences. Joe Pickering is hired to protect Ivor Llewellyn, a Hollywood producer, from proposing marriage for a sixth time. At the same time, Pickering is hoping to propose to a young lady he has fallen for. Unfortunately, one of Llewellyn's friends is of the belief that bachelorhood is always to be preferred. His interference complicates things for both men. Bachelors Anonymous is fast, fun read. Cautions: none.
May 22, 2013
“As the days went by, he had become more and more alive to the perils inseparable from association with Miss Dalrymple.”
I consider it a great honor that Mr Wodehouse saw fit to create a character – Vera Dalrymple – with my own last name. She’s not the best character in this otherwise fine comic novel. But I like to read the sentence above and imagine the hell my daughter’s future suitors will suffer at my hands.
I consider it a great honor that Mr Wodehouse saw fit to create a character – Vera Dalrymple – with my own last name. She’s not the best character in this otherwise fine comic novel. But I like to read the sentence above and imagine the hell my daughter’s future suitors will suffer at my hands.
August 4, 2025
Not one of his best known books but still has all of the qualities that you need from a great Wodehouse. I laughed out loud a few time although not as many as as Blandings or great Jeeves title but this late story of his is still brilliant. The plot got a little confusing at times but that is also what you come for! If you can find it and you have read all of the key Wodehouse stories then this is a great addition to your collection.
December 10, 2011
A humorous non-Bertie piece, about a movie mogul who, having been married five times, is determined never to again and hires a young man to stop him from proposing, which he usually does when he runs out of things to say to a woman. The young man, however, himself falls for a girl, and the mogul’s lawyer decides he must protect him, too. It all, of course, turns out Right at The End.
September 2, 2007
This isa fun take on support groups. Instead of havig a typical support group setting, like Alcoholics Anonymous (not singling out this group; just using it as an example), Wodehouse takes the theme and applies it to a situation that some men (and women) fear: never marrying. A fun read.
June 12, 2008
Just read this one last night. It's not as funny as Jeeves and Wooster, but it was still good. I think it would have been even better as an audiobook. About a Hollywood movie executive who visits London and needs help to prevent him marrying for the 6th time. Lots of funny characters.
August 26, 2012
There are some very funny parts to this book, and the plot is very clever, but it isn't my favorite Wodehouse. I think part of the problem is that it is very short, so things don't have time to develop the way they usually do. A good book, but not his best.
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