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Jeeves #2-4
Pip-pip, sir!
A glorious collection of all the short stories featuring Jeeves, the perfect manservant, and Bertie Wooster, a 1920s bachelor on the run.
Contains the books Carry On, Jeeves, The Inimitable Jeeves and Very Good, Jeeves and the short stories Jeeves Makes an Omelette and Jeeves and the Greasy Bird.
Contains the books Carry On, Jeeves, The Inimitable Jeeves and Very Good, Jeeves and the short stories Jeeves Makes an Omelette and Jeeves and the Greasy Bird.
275 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
245 people are currently reading
1816 people want to read
About the author
P.G. Wodehouse
1,678 books6,913 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 226 reviews
May 8, 2024
My neighbor came by and we were chatting about how much he has found himself just enjoying reading the many books available in my Little Free Library Shed. He said it has saved him from going to our local library. I really appreciated his compliments and thanked him for his comments.
He then handed me this book. He asked me if I remembered Jeeves. I said Jeeves was taking us back in time. (I believe the first story came out in 1915.) He said, that he had been holding on to this book for a long time, but he was now ready to donate it. I asked him if he was sure, and he said he was.
So, I decided I would love to re-visit Jeeves before I released it to the neighborhood, as well. (And since this was a re-visit, it didn’t take me long to be reminded of how many of the stories I had remembered.)
In his introduction, Wodehouse called this book, an “ideal paperweight.” It is rather a large book of short stories (this version is 654 pages).
This collection is known as an omnibus (stories that have been published before and are now in one volume). They feature Bertie Wooster, a wealthy young man about town and his famous valet, Jeeves who knows exactly how to take care of him.
Although the stories are set mostly at a country house in London, there are many opportunities for excursions to France and the United States within these pages.
Bottom line, this is cozy, comfort reading. And definitely in-between reading. What I love to read, in-between the novels – when one wants to take a break, and just breeze through a lovely short story in which we watch the very competent Jeeves know how to maneuver Bertie out of an uncomfortable situation.
Since Wodehouse is of an earlier generation, his tendency is to be male-dominated in his characterizations. The women characters are not as well-developed, in that they may be looking more for husbands, than for careers, but that is understandable for the times.
Mostly, in meandering through the stories, it is just fun to watch the romantic entanglements, or the embarrassing situations, that typically confuse and confound Bertie. Yet, Jeeves has this amazing way of smoothing it all out. The two are incredible characters, surrounded by other memorable characters, in interesting scenic settings.
Which makes this omnibus an amazing historical fiction short story collection that is fun nostalgic reading.
He then handed me this book. He asked me if I remembered Jeeves. I said Jeeves was taking us back in time. (I believe the first story came out in 1915.) He said, that he had been holding on to this book for a long time, but he was now ready to donate it. I asked him if he was sure, and he said he was.
So, I decided I would love to re-visit Jeeves before I released it to the neighborhood, as well. (And since this was a re-visit, it didn’t take me long to be reminded of how many of the stories I had remembered.)
In his introduction, Wodehouse called this book, an “ideal paperweight.” It is rather a large book of short stories (this version is 654 pages).
This collection is known as an omnibus (stories that have been published before and are now in one volume). They feature Bertie Wooster, a wealthy young man about town and his famous valet, Jeeves who knows exactly how to take care of him.
Although the stories are set mostly at a country house in London, there are many opportunities for excursions to France and the United States within these pages.
Bottom line, this is cozy, comfort reading. And definitely in-between reading. What I love to read, in-between the novels – when one wants to take a break, and just breeze through a lovely short story in which we watch the very competent Jeeves know how to maneuver Bertie out of an uncomfortable situation.
Since Wodehouse is of an earlier generation, his tendency is to be male-dominated in his characterizations. The women characters are not as well-developed, in that they may be looking more for husbands, than for careers, but that is understandable for the times.
Mostly, in meandering through the stories, it is just fun to watch the romantic entanglements, or the embarrassing situations, that typically confuse and confound Bertie. Yet, Jeeves has this amazing way of smoothing it all out. The two are incredible characters, surrounded by other memorable characters, in interesting scenic settings.
Which makes this omnibus an amazing historical fiction short story collection that is fun nostalgic reading.
July 1, 2023
Highly recommended volume of short stories for anyone in need of a good laugh and a cheerful escape!
September 21, 2015
Ever since the destruction of The Great Lighthouse we've been truly short of Wonders of the World. Okay, there’s still The Pyramids and of course people make claims for other impressive items of beauty – for example The Great Barrier Reef, or The Great Wall of China – for a place on any modern list. But if we are to have new and reinvigorated seven, then I would like to put forward for inclusion ‘The World of Wooster’ – the quite magnificent (and I use that term without any fear of hyperbole) collected short stories of Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves.
Okay, when it comes to visual splendour a 774 paperback volume of short stories might not be up there with The Colossus of Rhodes or The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, but once the pages are open there is joy almost beyond comprehension. Read amazed as Jeeves saves Bertie’s bacon (and arranges his life), ripping victory from the jaws of calamity again and again. I struggle to think of a funnier collection of tales anywhere in the English language, and as I type this I’m smiling at the thought of Bertie inadvertently kidnapping a small child, at Bingo Little’s flirtation with Karl Marx, at the betting scam surrounding church sermons and, of course, numerous ill starred engagements. Evelyn Waugh called him ‘The Master’ and for my tuppence there was no funnier writer of The Twentieth Century. And Jeeves & Wooster is Wodehouse at his absolute funniest.
If there is a flaw though (and all wonders have a flaw, mostly – it has to be said – the flaw of being too easily destroyed), it’s the tale: ‘Bertie Changes His Mind’. This seems to be the only instance in the whole cannon where Jeeves does the narrating. And like those few tales Sherlock Holmes narrated, it has a jarring quality – demonstrating that such a quicksilver mind is better to observe than to enter. As how can we, as mere mortals, truly appreciate such a superlative brain? It’s much better to have a cretin narrate the tales and filter his genius through to us. As the truth is we’d all like to be Jeeves, but are far closer to Wooster – more prone to goggle at catastrophe than effortlessly save the day.
To be fair I’ve never actually set eyes on The Great Wall of China or The Great Barrier Reef – but I can’t believe there’s as much pleasure in gazing at them as there is in making one’s way through this volume. Let’s join together and insist it’s listed as a Great Wonder right now!
Okay, when it comes to visual splendour a 774 paperback volume of short stories might not be up there with The Colossus of Rhodes or The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, but once the pages are open there is joy almost beyond comprehension. Read amazed as Jeeves saves Bertie’s bacon (and arranges his life), ripping victory from the jaws of calamity again and again. I struggle to think of a funnier collection of tales anywhere in the English language, and as I type this I’m smiling at the thought of Bertie inadvertently kidnapping a small child, at Bingo Little’s flirtation with Karl Marx, at the betting scam surrounding church sermons and, of course, numerous ill starred engagements. Evelyn Waugh called him ‘The Master’ and for my tuppence there was no funnier writer of The Twentieth Century. And Jeeves & Wooster is Wodehouse at his absolute funniest.
If there is a flaw though (and all wonders have a flaw, mostly – it has to be said – the flaw of being too easily destroyed), it’s the tale: ‘Bertie Changes His Mind’. This seems to be the only instance in the whole cannon where Jeeves does the narrating. And like those few tales Sherlock Holmes narrated, it has a jarring quality – demonstrating that such a quicksilver mind is better to observe than to enter. As how can we, as mere mortals, truly appreciate such a superlative brain? It’s much better to have a cretin narrate the tales and filter his genius through to us. As the truth is we’d all like to be Jeeves, but are far closer to Wooster – more prone to goggle at catastrophe than effortlessly save the day.
To be fair I’ve never actually set eyes on The Great Wall of China or The Great Barrier Reef – but I can’t believe there’s as much pleasure in gazing at them as there is in making one’s way through this volume. Let’s join together and insist it’s listed as a Great Wonder right now!
November 13, 2010
Of course, having just finished Life with Jeeves, I'd recently read most of the stories in this collection. However, there was one I'd never seen before, that stood out, even if it seems to 'forget' certain facts: "Bertie Changes His Mind." It's a Wooster story told from Jeeves's point of view, something I didn't know existed. For any fan of these tales, it's definitely worth a look, whether in this volume or in Carry On, Jeeves, i which it originally appears. For one thing, it allows me to compare Wodehouse to another writer who, having written quite a few stories about a character from the POV of his companion, once allowed the character to narrate a tale himself. I’m speaking, of course, of Arthur Conan Doyle who, after having had Dr. Watson narrate Sherlock Holmes’ adventures, has Holmes himself tell one, to with, “The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane.” (found in The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes). I must say Jeeves manages rather better than his fellow ‘superman’ and provides an understanding of Bertram Wooster I don’t think I had before. For any Wooster and Jeeves fan, it’s definitely worth a look.
As for the book as a whole, as others, including the author himself, have warned, it’s probably something to visit from time to time rather than devour in one or two sittings unless, of course, like myself, you’re endlessly fascinated by Wodehouse’s style and by the dialect he uses. Then it’s a veritable feast, what?
Which reminds me—the introduction, written by Plum himself, is also of interest to the more than casual fan, particularly in regards to how this volume should be employed.
What ho!
As for the book as a whole, as others, including the author himself, have warned, it’s probably something to visit from time to time rather than devour in one or two sittings unless, of course, like myself, you’re endlessly fascinated by Wodehouse’s style and by the dialect he uses. Then it’s a veritable feast, what?
Which reminds me—the introduction, written by Plum himself, is also of interest to the more than casual fan, particularly in regards to how this volume should be employed.
What ho!
March 9, 2020
The omnibus collection of all Jeeves short stories (well, see below) is confectionery of the highest order. Truly gutbustingly funny English wit, told from the wonderful perspective of Bertie Wooster. Wodehouse was a comic genius.
Three caveats:
1. Like all confectionery, one should not attempt to swallow too much at once. As Wodehouse himself cautions in his preface, these stories should be savoured individually. They're too light and fluffy to be stimulating when taking many at once.
2. This compilation combines all the Jeeves short stories in the canon. This means you don't need to buy "The Inimitable Jeeves", "Carry On, Jeeves" or "Very Good, Jeeves", as they are short story collections. However, it does not contain "The Man With Two Left Feet" (mentioned in Wodehouse's prelude). This is technically the first appearance of Jeeves, although the appearance is minimal and doesn't really tie in with the overall comic voice of this series.
3. My only issue with the Arrow printing is that the back of the book nowhere states that this is the complete short stories. Listing it as "specially selected and introduced by Wodehouse himself" suggests more of a "Greatest hits" package, which is rather deceptive to readers who are likely to get confused and re-purchase collections contained herein!
Three caveats:
1. Like all confectionery, one should not attempt to swallow too much at once. As Wodehouse himself cautions in his preface, these stories should be savoured individually. They're too light and fluffy to be stimulating when taking many at once.
2. This compilation combines all the Jeeves short stories in the canon. This means you don't need to buy "The Inimitable Jeeves", "Carry On, Jeeves" or "Very Good, Jeeves", as they are short story collections. However, it does not contain "The Man With Two Left Feet" (mentioned in Wodehouse's prelude). This is technically the first appearance of Jeeves, although the appearance is minimal and doesn't really tie in with the overall comic voice of this series.
3. My only issue with the Arrow printing is that the back of the book nowhere states that this is the complete short stories. Listing it as "specially selected and introduced by Wodehouse himself" suggests more of a "Greatest hits" package, which is rather deceptive to readers who are likely to get confused and re-purchase collections contained herein!
November 6, 2008
As great as these short stories are, there can sometimes be too much of a good thing. That's the only thing stopping me from giving this a 5-star rating - as much as I enjoyed each story, they do seem to follow a pattern that gets a little formulaic. 1) Bertie establishes the scene, 2) friend (or aunt) of Bertie presents problem (usually one of a romantic nature), 3) Bertie royally screws everything up, 4) Jeeves saves the day...
What's remarkable is that even with a pattern that get so predictable, Wodehouse makes it work. He does a great job establishing the characters, and he infuses each story with a nice helping of humor. Each story was great and I found myself chuckling out loud numerous times.
Whenever there's a book that was adapted into a movie or show, the judgment is usually "the book is better". I think in this case, I would have to give the edge to the BBC show with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Fry and Laurie simply _are_ Jeeves and Wooster, and they bring them to life in such a wonderful way. If you haven't seen the show, do yourself a favor and check them out on DVD...
Overall, definitely a good read - though these stories are perhaps best enjoyed sparingly instead of reading through an entire volume as I did.
What's remarkable is that even with a pattern that get so predictable, Wodehouse makes it work. He does a great job establishing the characters, and he infuses each story with a nice helping of humor. Each story was great and I found myself chuckling out loud numerous times.
Whenever there's a book that was adapted into a movie or show, the judgment is usually "the book is better". I think in this case, I would have to give the edge to the BBC show with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Fry and Laurie simply _are_ Jeeves and Wooster, and they bring them to life in such a wonderful way. If you haven't seen the show, do yourself a favor and check them out on DVD...
Overall, definitely a good read - though these stories are perhaps best enjoyed sparingly instead of reading through an entire volume as I did.
June 8, 2019
P.G. Wodehouse was a comic genius. This collection of short stories featuring Jeeves the brilliant valet and the less brilliant, bumbling Wooster is phenomenal.
Bertie Wooster has his trials, he has an Aunt Agatha that makes his life trying. He however, is fortunate to engage the services of Jeeves the valet.
From the first story, Wodehouse sets up the dynamic between Jeeves and Wooster.
Of the many supporting characters mentioned in these stories, my favorite is Bingo, the old school friend of Wooster who falls in love repeatedly.
P.G. Wodehouse knew how to craft a comic story in a way that allowed you to forget the truth you knew throughout the story, which is Jeeves would always figure out how to help.
I am a fan of all of P.G. Wodehouse's books but the Jeeves and Wooster are always at the top.
Bertie Wooster has his trials, he has an Aunt Agatha that makes his life trying. He however, is fortunate to engage the services of Jeeves the valet.
From the first story, Wodehouse sets up the dynamic between Jeeves and Wooster.
Of the many supporting characters mentioned in these stories, my favorite is Bingo, the old school friend of Wooster who falls in love repeatedly.
P.G. Wodehouse knew how to craft a comic story in a way that allowed you to forget the truth you knew throughout the story, which is Jeeves would always figure out how to help.
I am a fan of all of P.G. Wodehouse's books but the Jeeves and Wooster are always at the top.
October 30, 2017
This volume collects all of Wodehouse's Jeeves & Bertie short stories, and it's a treat. Most of the stories have similar plots, but they're amusing plots, and you don't really read Wodehouse for the plot, anyway - you read for the characters and the language, and both are usually hilarious here. Jeeves could be a superhuman parody of a valet, but you see the emotion behind the reserved exterior on several occasions just often enough to make him real. And Bertie Wooster is one of the great comic characters of English literature - he is good-hearted and simple-minded in equal parts. Much of the pleasure of these stories comes from the interaction between the sophisticated, unflappable Jeeves and his easily confused and manipulated employer. Here is one of my favorite exchanges, when Bertie is asking for Jeeves' advice and attempting to keep the involved parties anonymous. Jeeves has suggested that Bertie refer to the parties as A and B. Bertie needs to bring in a third person, and says:
"Now until quite recently B was engaged to--"
"Shall we call him C, sir?"
"Caesar's as good a name as any, I suppose. Well, as I was saying, until quite recently B was engaged to Caesar...."
The last two stories here have not appeared in any other collection, as far as I know, and that's reason enough for Wodehouse fans to pick this up. And if you're not a fan yet, do yourself a favor and check out the world of Jeeves.
"Now until quite recently B was engaged to--"
"Shall we call him C, sir?"
"Caesar's as good a name as any, I suppose. Well, as I was saying, until quite recently B was engaged to Caesar...."
The last two stories here have not appeared in any other collection, as far as I know, and that's reason enough for Wodehouse fans to pick this up. And if you're not a fan yet, do yourself a favor and check out the world of Jeeves.
January 27, 2020
“Lay out some raiment suitable for travel, and leave the rest to me. Where is this waterpipe of which you speak so highly?”
You can find reasons to dislike Wodehouse – his work has no real resonance beyond itself, he (sort of) collaborated with the Nazis, Julian Fellowes likes him – and he truly is to middle-aged Tories what Harry Potter is to millennials (by which I mean: ffs, read another book). But this compendium of mostly early Jeeves stories – airy, stylish, often brilliantly funny – is escapism of the highest order. I’ve been reading one before bed most evenings, and it’s just become a lovely thing to look forward to. Every story is basically the same, but it’s a good story, and one illuminated by varying – and often dazzling – degrees of inspiration. I’ll start on the novels next.
You can find reasons to dislike Wodehouse – his work has no real resonance beyond itself, he (sort of) collaborated with the Nazis, Julian Fellowes likes him – and he truly is to middle-aged Tories what Harry Potter is to millennials (by which I mean: ffs, read another book). But this compendium of mostly early Jeeves stories – airy, stylish, often brilliantly funny – is escapism of the highest order. I’ve been reading one before bed most evenings, and it’s just become a lovely thing to look forward to. Every story is basically the same, but it’s a good story, and one illuminated by varying – and often dazzling – degrees of inspiration. I’ll start on the novels next.
Read
July 23, 2012I went and picked this up after reading a recent "chick lit" novel that, to its credit, reminded me that comic tales of the rich and feckless can be rather enjoyable when well done. I hadn't read any Wodehouse since (I suppose) about the age of 17... I had discovered him, gone on a binge, and then quit because the books seemed too repetitive. But I thought it was probably time to revisit this classic comic writer.
Wodehouse warned that one shouldn't read too many of these stories at a time, and I tried to follow that advice--a few at bedtime, basically. Even so, the first part of the book really made me feel that I'd made a mistake in purchasing it--Jeeves was always shimmering in, Bingo Little was always in love with a new gal, Bertie was always agreeing by the end of the tale to get rid of some loud item of clothing.
However, things picked up a bit. Bingo Little actually married, and the plots began to diversify a bit. In essence, Wodehouse is wonderful, but he's got his formula and so the question for the reader is, do you enjoy his formula? If you do, then the next question is how much of it can you take before it palls? I wish I could take more than I apparently can. But then, I can't usually tolerate more than a few bites of anything sweet, either. I'd rather take too much Wodehouse than too much sugar any day.
Wodehouse warned that one shouldn't read too many of these stories at a time, and I tried to follow that advice--a few at bedtime, basically. Even so, the first part of the book really made me feel that I'd made a mistake in purchasing it--Jeeves was always shimmering in, Bingo Little was always in love with a new gal, Bertie was always agreeing by the end of the tale to get rid of some loud item of clothing.
However, things picked up a bit. Bingo Little actually married, and the plots began to diversify a bit. In essence, Wodehouse is wonderful, but he's got his formula and so the question for the reader is, do you enjoy his formula? If you do, then the next question is how much of it can you take before it palls? I wish I could take more than I apparently can. But then, I can't usually tolerate more than a few bites of anything sweet, either. I'd rather take too much Wodehouse than too much sugar any day.
April 23, 2014
I just finished re-reading this collection of the Jeeves short stories, which remain gems, and totally refreshing in my diet of books that can be a little heavy going.
I went through a phase of preferring the Blandings stories, as I overdosed on Jeeves & Wooster when younger, but have come back to them again after a long break, and I'm so glad I did. Wodehouse's use of words can be extraordinary, and these short but beautifully crafted stories are simply a delight. Of all his creations, the gentleman's personal gentleman (or valet, but certainly not a butler) Jeeves is perhaps the most perfect. I first read the collection on holiday in Le Touquet (which gets a brief mention and still has a feel of the period in places), but it works equally well as an end-of-the-day pick me up.
The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is that like any massive banquet, it is possible to get a little overloaded, and it's possible that going through all the stories in one go is perhaps a little much as occasionally this makes them become a little samey - though there is the advantage that characters re-occur and it's easier to remember them this way. However, it is still highly recommended, top notch and generally deserves the blessed cherry. Pip pip!
I went through a phase of preferring the Blandings stories, as I overdosed on Jeeves & Wooster when younger, but have come back to them again after a long break, and I'm so glad I did. Wodehouse's use of words can be extraordinary, and these short but beautifully crafted stories are simply a delight. Of all his creations, the gentleman's personal gentleman (or valet, but certainly not a butler) Jeeves is perhaps the most perfect. I first read the collection on holiday in Le Touquet (which gets a brief mention and still has a feel of the period in places), but it works equally well as an end-of-the-day pick me up.
The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is that like any massive banquet, it is possible to get a little overloaded, and it's possible that going through all the stories in one go is perhaps a little much as occasionally this makes them become a little samey - though there is the advantage that characters re-occur and it's easier to remember them this way. However, it is still highly recommended, top notch and generally deserves the blessed cherry. Pip pip!
March 21, 2011
I read this book when I first bought it 11 years ago and loved it then. I let all these years go by so I could forget all of the stories and I'm glad I did. Re-reading it now is like reading it for the first time. It's laugh out loud funny, if you have that kind of sense of humor. P.G. Wodehouse's parody of the English aristocracy of the 1920's is spot on. These stories are made even better if you've had a chance to see the BBC/PBS mini series featuring Stephen Fry as Jeeves and Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster. If you haven't seen them they are well worth finding from the library (or internet), I've had my copies for years.
May 31, 2021
It's wonderful to have all the Jeeves stories in one place. This'll be a wonderful, late night, bedside reader for years to come. Just plain fun!
November 13, 2025
An absolute riot of silliness and escapism, I've never read anything like it before. I knew of the characters and had a vague idea of the stories but I was surprised how much I enjoyed them. Jeeves is an amazing character and Bertie so sweet and dippy.
On to The Code of the Woosters now!
On to The Code of the Woosters now!
April 9, 2024
Was hoping to enjoy this one but... after 10 chapters it was time to throw in the towel. At the beginning, I found the Bertie - Jeeves tandem mildly humorous but as the chapters progressed it all became increasingly repetitious, more of the same and so boring that I just tuned out.
I've since read that it's best to start the series with The Code of the Woosters or Joy in the Morning. I may try Jeeves again someday but for now, it's time to move on.
I've since read that it's best to start the series with The Code of the Woosters or Joy in the Morning. I may try Jeeves again someday but for now, it's time to move on.
January 12, 2011
i didn't give this collection Five Stars because, as awesome as they are, having them all in one collection is too much of a good thing. It reveals that Wodehouse has only two basic plotlines. A) Bertie does something stupid. He tries to fix it without Jeeves' help. He makes it worse. He finally tells Jeeves. He fixes it and gets what he wants. B) One of Bertie's relatives do something stupid or inconvenient to him and/or Jeeves. Jeeves refuses to help because he's angry at Bertie about something, normally related to clothes. Bertie makes it worse. Jeeves fixes everything. As thanks, Bertie agrees to let Jeeves burn the offending clothing item. Jeeves already has.
However, if you keep it on your bedside table and only read a short story every so often before bed, it's a fantastic collection. P.G. Wodehouse is the master of farce, and every short story is a gem. Bertie is a perfect upclass twit and genuinely a good guy. One can understand why Jeeves would stay around with him and why he has so many friends. Jeeves, in addition to being the perfect gentleman's gentleman, is snarky and a genius. One wonders sometimes why he isn't secretly in charge of the government.
The side characters are mostly well-developed and are all fun and lively characters. However, they all intertwine. Characters will show up in three stories in a row and then disappear for half the collection before popping up again. Normally, Wodehouse gives enough of a reminder for one to figure out who they are, though, and it isn't very intrusive since it's mostly done in a "remember my cousin Robert who dressed a badger in trousers?" sort of way. It seems like something Bertie would realistically say.
However, if you keep it on your bedside table and only read a short story every so often before bed, it's a fantastic collection. P.G. Wodehouse is the master of farce, and every short story is a gem. Bertie is a perfect upclass twit and genuinely a good guy. One can understand why Jeeves would stay around with him and why he has so many friends. Jeeves, in addition to being the perfect gentleman's gentleman, is snarky and a genius. One wonders sometimes why he isn't secretly in charge of the government.
The side characters are mostly well-developed and are all fun and lively characters. However, they all intertwine. Characters will show up in three stories in a row and then disappear for half the collection before popping up again. Normally, Wodehouse gives enough of a reminder for one to figure out who they are, though, and it isn't very intrusive since it's mostly done in a "remember my cousin Robert who dressed a badger in trousers?" sort of way. It seems like something Bertie would realistically say.
June 28, 2013
"'Biffy!' I cried. 'Well, well, well!'
He peered at me in a blinking kind of way, rather like one of his Herefordshire cows prodded unexpectedly while lunching.
'Bertie!' he gurgled, in a devout sort of tone. 'Thank God!' He clutched my arm. 'Don't leave me, Bertie, I'm lost.'
'What do you mean, lost?'
'I came out for a walk and suddenly discovered after a mile or two that I didn't know where on earth I was. I've been wandering round in circles for hours.'
'Why didn't you ask the way?'
'I can't speak a word of French.'
'Well, why didn't you call a taxi?'
'I suddenly discovered I'd left all my money at my hotel.'
'You could have taken a cab and paid it when you got to the hotel.'
'Yes, but I suddenly discovered, dash it, that I'd forgotten its name.'
And there in a nutshell you have Charles Edward Biffen. As vague and woolen-headed a blighter as ever bit a sandwich. Goodness knows -- and my Aunt Agatha will bear me out in this -- I'm not master-mind myself; but compared with Biffy I'm one of the great thinkers of all time.
'I'd give a shilling,' said Biffy wistfully, 'to know the name of that hotel.
'You can owe it to me. Hotel Avenida, Rue du Colisee.'
'Bertie! This is uncanny. how the deuce did you know?'
'That was the address you left with Jeeves this morning.'
'So it was. I had forgotten.'
'Well, come along and have a drink, and then I'll put you in a cab and send you home. I'm engaged for lunch, but I've plenty of time.'
We drifted to one of the eleven cafes which jostled each other along the street and I ordered restoratives.
'What on earth are you doing in Paris?' I asked.
'Bertie, old man,; said Biffy solemnly, 'I came her to try and forget.'
'Well, you've certainly succeeded.'"
-- The Rummy Affair of Old Biffy
He peered at me in a blinking kind of way, rather like one of his Herefordshire cows prodded unexpectedly while lunching.
'Bertie!' he gurgled, in a devout sort of tone. 'Thank God!' He clutched my arm. 'Don't leave me, Bertie, I'm lost.'
'What do you mean, lost?'
'I came out for a walk and suddenly discovered after a mile or two that I didn't know where on earth I was. I've been wandering round in circles for hours.'
'Why didn't you ask the way?'
'I can't speak a word of French.'
'Well, why didn't you call a taxi?'
'I suddenly discovered I'd left all my money at my hotel.'
'You could have taken a cab and paid it when you got to the hotel.'
'Yes, but I suddenly discovered, dash it, that I'd forgotten its name.'
And there in a nutshell you have Charles Edward Biffen. As vague and woolen-headed a blighter as ever bit a sandwich. Goodness knows -- and my Aunt Agatha will bear me out in this -- I'm not master-mind myself; but compared with Biffy I'm one of the great thinkers of all time.
'I'd give a shilling,' said Biffy wistfully, 'to know the name of that hotel.
'You can owe it to me. Hotel Avenida, Rue du Colisee.'
'Bertie! This is uncanny. how the deuce did you know?'
'That was the address you left with Jeeves this morning.'
'So it was. I had forgotten.'
'Well, come along and have a drink, and then I'll put you in a cab and send you home. I'm engaged for lunch, but I've plenty of time.'
We drifted to one of the eleven cafes which jostled each other along the street and I ordered restoratives.
'What on earth are you doing in Paris?' I asked.
'Bertie, old man,; said Biffy solemnly, 'I came her to try and forget.'
'Well, you've certainly succeeded.'"
-- The Rummy Affair of Old Biffy
August 6, 2008
This volume contains all of P.G. Wodehouse's short stories about his famous pair, Bertram Wooster and his valet Reginald* Jeeves. If you have not yet been exposed to Jeeves, I wholeheartedly urge you to seek out this book or one of its kindred. I always wish, after reading Wodehouse, that I could figure out a way to slip some of Bertie's slang into my daily speech without sounding ridiculous. The somewhat predictable story structure (Bertie or one of his friends gets into an awful pickle, then it gets more complicated, then Jeeves straightens everything out) and the over-the-top caricatures of characters only add to the reader's enjoyment. In short, this book is the eel's eyebrows, quite a good egg, and by way of being rather a topper. What ho!
*yes, really! This is not actually revealed in the short stories, but in the novel Much Obliged, Jeeves (published in the US as Jeeves and the Tie That Binds).
*yes, really! This is not actually revealed in the short stories, but in the novel Much Obliged, Jeeves (published in the US as Jeeves and the Tie That Binds).
March 24, 2008
Oh, they're JUST fabulous. Just! But dear P.G. is totally correct in his introduction, you really really shouldn't try and read the whole thing at once (partially 'cause you want to strangle dear Bertie)... and then, if you're attracted to men, you start wondering what kind of girl **really** is the proper sort for the ol' Wooster pride. Could you be the one sipping cocktails with Bertram 'til death do you part? I mean, YOU love Jeeves, of course... you'd never make the mistakes of Honoria Glossop and try to send him away... but could you really see yourself as second to Jeeves? Look at the size of his brain!! And even if you don't like boys, you wonder if you could possibly be a bit Jeevesish yourself...Do you have it in you? Could you really eat that much fish? Wonderful book - I'd rather go with the smaller editions, though.
December 30, 2012
Day one: I pilfered the book weeks ago when a friend gave it to me with instructions to loan it to a mutual friend ... time to pass it on or give it back ... Powell's in Portland to the rescue! I rarely buy books anymore (bookshelves and closets overflowing!) but made an exception with this wonderful copy.
Day three: No, I'm not done with it ... one of those books that one will put down/pick up time and again so I may as well rate it to let my friends know that it is a keeper (and also so goodreads won't ask me what page I'm on.) The World of Jeeves simply transports you to another world, and P.G. Wodehouse has hit upon a classic.
"Date I finished this book" - no, just the date that I rated it.
Day three: No, I'm not done with it ... one of those books that one will put down/pick up time and again so I may as well rate it to let my friends know that it is a keeper (and also so goodreads won't ask me what page I'm on.) The World of Jeeves simply transports you to another world, and P.G. Wodehouse has hit upon a classic.
"Date I finished this book" - no, just the date that I rated it.
June 12, 2010
A good book for both, those who want to be introduced to the charming world of Bertram Wooster and Jeeves, and also for those who already know of the all-knowing Jeeves and are looking to read some of his best efforts at serving the Wooster household considerable embarrassment.
The book contains some gems, like the first meeting of Jeeves and Wooster and also one which introduces the readers to Anatole, the French cook, for the very first time.
The only disappointment is there was virtually no mention of Sir Roderick Spode. Him and his 'Eulalie' stories would've made this book a complete hit.
The book contains some gems, like the first meeting of Jeeves and Wooster and also one which introduces the readers to Anatole, the French cook, for the very first time.
The only disappointment is there was virtually no mention of Sir Roderick Spode. Him and his 'Eulalie' stories would've made this book a complete hit.
August 10, 2016
To be fair, I only got halfway through this omnibus, but I know exactly how the rest of the stories will turn out. It's immensely repetitive, i.e. Wooster finds himself in a conundrum, attempts to fix it himself, fails, then turns to Jeeves who gets him out of it. But then again, I suspect Wodehouse wrote them as entertaining little tales to be told at bedtime. And they serve that exact purpose—the stories I did read were fun morsels of light-hearted humour I gladly imbibed before sleeping.
June 28, 2015
Wodehouse is a superb author. He writes with an ease that is only occasionally found. I would compare him with an author such as Anne Tyler. These stories are very funny and very clever. Sheer entertainment, but also a good lesson for would be writers particuarly those wanting to write a good short story.
John Eliot, author of poetry colection Ssh.
John Eliot, author of poetry colection Ssh.
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July 10, 2014This book is a riot. How did I miss these stories before. I suppose you could get tired of them at some point, but even though I know Jeeves will come through, and Bertie will be saved from catastrophe, I still enjoy the tales. Light and fun.
September 11, 2016
This book is a compilation of the hilarious short stories of the endearingly inept wealthy Wooster and his ingenious and beyond capable gentleman's gentleman Jeeves.
Wooster's vocabulary and perspective in storytelling is what really makes these stories work.
Enjoy!
Wooster's vocabulary and perspective in storytelling is what really makes these stories work.
Enjoy!
May 28, 2009
All I can say is Bertie should be damn happy he has Jeeves. I know we are.
February 6, 2010
Perhaps the finest collection of stories every put to paper.
September 11, 2011
These stories always make me laugh. I'm half in love with Bertie Wooster and his friends and family.
January 6, 2013
Bertie gets in a scrape. Jeeves fixes it up. Repeat as necessary.
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January 12, 2014A fun read of our own B. W.
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