Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Penguin (Non-Classics) (1997), Mass Market Paperback, 272 pages
Description
Classic Literature. Fiction. Humor (Fiction.) HTML: Regarded as one of the most skilled humor writers ever to write in English, Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse's works of fiction usually pillory the British upper classes that represented the social milieu into which he was born. In The Adventures of Sally, Wodehouse turned his attention to a young American heiress whose sudden wealth brings with it an array of unforeseen problems..
User reviews
LibraryThing member atimco
The Adventures of Sally, first published in serial form in 1921, is a rather unusual Wodehouse story. The author's irrepressible comic wit peeps through occasionally, but the novel takes a much more serious tone than the usual lighthearted farce that is Wodehouse's signature. I didn't know what to
Sally Nicholas, who has been scraping a living for several years as a professional ballroom dancer, has just come into her inheritance. The future looks rosy—she can quit her job, she's going to tour Europe, and she's engaged to Gerald, an up-and-coming playwright (though the engagement is secret because his plays haven't yet caught on). Her only worry is her brother, Fillmore, whose crazy schemes for hitting it big in business usually go badly... until he invests in Gerald's latest play and it becomes wildly popular. But Sally's comfortable world is turned on its head when her friend Ginger Kemp brings her bad news. Suddenly Sally must decide what to do with the rest of her life—a life nothing like what she had dreamt of.
The characters, though fitting into somewhat stereotypical roles, play their parts well and even with depth. Bruce Carmyle is brilliantly named and I can see him so clearly in my mind. Sally is sympathetically drawn and suffers serious loss and depression quite unlike Wodehouse's more generally known heroines. Ginger is one of those characters you start off feeling patronizing about and end up cheering madly on. Wodehouse also makes some keen observations about what people will sacrifice for their careers; rather chilling. And Uncle Donald, though a bit player, smacks of the comical relatives that will later populate Wodehouse's literary worlds.
It was interesting to see a different side of Wodehouse—or perhaps a less-developed Wodehouse who hadn't yet found his footing as a master of comedy. It makes perfect sense that he would be able to write characters who go through devastating betrayals and touch the reader with sympathy rather than amusement. This insight is probably why Wodehouse can soar to such hilarious heights in his better-known works; it's grounded in a real knowledge of human emotion. I wouldn't exactly call this a serious novel—there's too much fun in it—but it's certainly the closest I've seen Wodehouse come to somber. And that's not a bad thing at all, once you know what to expect.
Show More
make of it at first, having been accustomed to a steady diet of Jeeves and Blandings, but I found that a more plot-driven Wodehouse isn't a bad storyteller at all.Sally Nicholas, who has been scraping a living for several years as a professional ballroom dancer, has just come into her inheritance. The future looks rosy—she can quit her job, she's going to tour Europe, and she's engaged to Gerald, an up-and-coming playwright (though the engagement is secret because his plays haven't yet caught on). Her only worry is her brother, Fillmore, whose crazy schemes for hitting it big in business usually go badly... until he invests in Gerald's latest play and it becomes wildly popular. But Sally's comfortable world is turned on its head when her friend Ginger Kemp brings her bad news. Suddenly Sally must decide what to do with the rest of her life—a life nothing like what she had dreamt of.
The characters, though fitting into somewhat stereotypical roles, play their parts well and even with depth. Bruce Carmyle is brilliantly named and I can see him so clearly in my mind. Sally is sympathetically drawn and suffers serious loss and depression quite unlike Wodehouse's more generally known heroines. Ginger is one of those characters you start off feeling patronizing about and end up cheering madly on. Wodehouse also makes some keen observations about what people will sacrifice for their careers; rather chilling. And Uncle Donald, though a bit player, smacks of the comical relatives that will later populate Wodehouse's literary worlds.
It was interesting to see a different side of Wodehouse—or perhaps a less-developed Wodehouse who hadn't yet found his footing as a master of comedy. It makes perfect sense that he would be able to write characters who go through devastating betrayals and touch the reader with sympathy rather than amusement. This insight is probably why Wodehouse can soar to such hilarious heights in his better-known works; it's grounded in a real knowledge of human emotion. I wouldn't exactly call this a serious novel—there's too much fun in it—but it's certainly the closest I've seen Wodehouse come to somber. And that's not a bad thing at all, once you know what to expect.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Eat_Read_Knit
Another Wodehouse classic, which this time sees the unfortunate Sally gaining and losing both a fortune and several suitors before finding domestic bliss in an unexpected quarter. Add in the difficulties of explaining the duties of a scrum-half to a bewildered American and keeping several large
Show More
dogs - not to mention several Broadway actresses - under control, and copious quantities of Wodehouse wit and style, and you have the makings of a wonderful story. Show Less
LibraryThing member ClytieS
As always, Wodehouse charms and entertains. His plots are fun, and his language is exquisite. Douglas Adams said Wodehouse was the greatest comedic writer in English, and I agree. Punch said criticizing Wodehouse was like taking a spade to a soufflé. Just enjoy the soufflé.
LibraryThing member raizel
This book is actually not as sweet as most Wodehouse stories. The mean people are meaner, more selfish and self-centered, rigid. Still, not surprisingly, all works out in the end and even the mean people are happy. The answer to what the Sally's true love should do with his life was a surprise to
And there is a wonderfully brief description of a man, who I presume is the exact opposite of Mr. Wodehouse: "He was the sort of man who always has a pencil, and the backs of old envelopes never enter into his life." [p 60]
Show More
me; although it is suggested at the very beginning of the book.And there is a wonderfully brief description of a man, who I presume is the exact opposite of Mr. Wodehouse: "He was the sort of man who always has a pencil, and the backs of old envelopes never enter into his life." [p 60]
Show Less
LibraryThing member shabacus
Disclaimer: As a huge Wodehouse fan, everything starts at four stars and goes up or down from there.
Characteristic of early Wodehouse, "The Adventures of Sally" is a little more serious, and a little less repetitive, than his later works. It's also a little less fun. However, you can definitely see
Characteristic of early Wodehouse, "The Adventures of Sally" is a little more serious, and a little less repetitive, than his later works. It's also a little less fun. However, you can definitely see
Show More
the seeds of his later, more famous characters, and I enjoyed reading it immensely. Show Less
LibraryThing member losloper
"The Adventures of Sally" is a transatlantic comedy set in worlds Wodehouse knew well: American theatres, English country houses, and the theatrical boarding-houses where young men and women dream of finding fame and fortune. Coming into an inheritance, one of these young women, Sally, is able to
Show More
leave her boarding-house at last, and looks forward to a quiet life in a small apartment. Instead, she finds herself swept up in a series of adventures with her ambitious brother, an accident-prone, dog-loving Englishman she meets on a French beach, and his supercilious cousin who pursue her across the Atlantic. While losing her inheritance backing a play, and then retrieving it, she sheds an unsatisfactory fiance, falls in love with the accident-prone, dog-loving Englishman, rejects the supercilious cousin, and finds happiness in a kennel on Long Island. Show Less
LibraryThing member veracite
Sally is delightful; I love her madly and, while I knew it would all turn out right in the end, it was a fun trip to get there. Wodehouse still a complete wizard with words.
LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
Sally is a young woman living in a boarding house in the United States at the start of this novel. We meet several of her friends and quickly learn that she’s a generous, open-hearted girl if perhaps a little naive.
Sally has a brother who’s rather pompous and whom she feels that she must look
The plot moves between Europe and the US with all travels made by ship and communication by post or telegram, as this is set in the early part of the 20th century. There's plenty of low-key humour; while I didn't laugh out loud, I certainly smiled a few times, both at events and at the style of writing.
It’s not the exceptional quality of some of the author's better-known 'Jeeves' books. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this very much, and it made excellent reading material for a holiday, ideal for train journeys or odd moments.
Recommended to any fans of PG Wodehouse.
Sally has a brother who’s rather pompous and whom she feels that she must look
Show More
after. She’s also engaged to someone who insists that their relationship must be kept secret. He’s not a particularly likeable person; Wodehouse is skilled at showing this kind of thing with the lightest of touches and some humour; inevitably many of the people are caricatured, but in this kind of book it doesn't matter at all.The plot moves between Europe and the US with all travels made by ship and communication by post or telegram, as this is set in the early part of the 20th century. There's plenty of low-key humour; while I didn't laugh out loud, I certainly smiled a few times, both at events and at the style of writing.
It’s not the exceptional quality of some of the author's better-known 'Jeeves' books. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this very much, and it made excellent reading material for a holiday, ideal for train journeys or odd moments.
Recommended to any fans of PG Wodehouse.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Pferdina
Sally inherits a large amount of money and then has adventures. She is a sensible, caring, young woman. She meets new people during her adventures in the south of France and in England, but she keeps hold of her friends from the old days. Her brother chases investments that never pan out. Sally is
Show More
sought by multiple suitors, but will she end up with the right man? Show Less
LibraryThing member PhilSyphe
“The Adventures of Sally” was my first visit to Wodehouse’s world. Although it didn’t impress me as much as predicted, I enjoyed the humour in it, and I felt persuaded to read more works by this author.
Six years on, I can state with hindsight that – compared to many other of this
Six years on, I can state with hindsight that – compared to many other of this
Show More
author’s books – this one is not one of his best, but it’s still a fun read. Show Less
LibraryThing member addunn3
A fun adventure with a charming character, Sally.
LibraryThing member Fliss88
P.G. Wodehouse is a master of charming wit. Sally is one of those vivacious characters that you just love right from the start! She tends to be a bit of a softie for anyone down on their luck and this causes a few complications. If you want a light, cleverly written, makes you smile book, give this
Show More
a go. The authors use of language is brilliant! Show Less
LibraryThing member saroz
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this one. It's the first Wodehouse I've read since The Pothunters to really include no deliberate comedy, at least outside of a few turns of phrase; it might more accurately be termed a kind of romance, or perhaps just a "novel of young people."
The book follows
Wodehouse's grasp of language keeps it light, but what probably keeps it from turning too emotional is his circumspection. Several major, dramatic events happen entirely outside of the view of the reader, almost exactly as in a stage comedy, and one significant shift takes place over a short epistolary interlude. It's almost as if Wodehouse is admitting that his strength is in scenes where two people banter with each other, and he really can't be bothered with very much else.
Still, it's enjoyable to see Wodehouse take on a female protagonist and treat her completely respectfully, with only one or two groan-worthy sexist cliches that might be put down to her generous nature. Sally is as close to a real person as Wodehouse ever wrote, and it's interesting to see Wodehousian characters in a context outside of farce. Here, they may banter and preen and talk in slang, but there's none of the neat and tidy assurance of a closed sphere (such as a gentleman's club, a boys' school, or a country estate) that everything will come out all right. It does, of course - but only because in a Wodehouse world, it would be too harsh for anything else to happen. They still experience heartache, loss, and even ruined dreams along the way.
The book follows
Show More
young Sally, who - having come into a certain amount of money - gets buffeted from one young man in her life to another, guided by her allegiances (real or assumed) to her brother, her fiance, a kindly older acquaintance, an arrogant young man on the prowl, and her daffy new best friend, "Ginger"—whom she comes to regard with the most affection, of course. It's never heavy enough to be a melodrama, but there are sequences with melodramatic aspirations, as well as romantic ones. Wodehouse's grasp of language keeps it light, but what probably keeps it from turning too emotional is his circumspection. Several major, dramatic events happen entirely outside of the view of the reader, almost exactly as in a stage comedy, and one significant shift takes place over a short epistolary interlude. It's almost as if Wodehouse is admitting that his strength is in scenes where two people banter with each other, and he really can't be bothered with very much else.
Still, it's enjoyable to see Wodehouse take on a female protagonist and treat her completely respectfully, with only one or two groan-worthy sexist cliches that might be put down to her generous nature. Sally is as close to a real person as Wodehouse ever wrote, and it's interesting to see Wodehousian characters in a context outside of farce. Here, they may banter and preen and talk in slang, but there's none of the neat and tidy assurance of a closed sphere (such as a gentleman's club, a boys' school, or a country estate) that everything will come out all right. It does, of course - but only because in a Wodehouse world, it would be too harsh for anything else to happen. They still experience heartache, loss, and even ruined dreams along the way.
Show Less
LibraryThing member leslie.98
Kara Shallenberg does a good job narrating this (free) Librivox recording of this Wodehouse novel.
As for the story itself, it was good fun but not as hilarious as some of the Jeeves or Blandings stories.
As for the story itself, it was good fun but not as hilarious as some of the Jeeves or Blandings stories.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
3½ stars for the story. I found the Librivox audiobook enhanced my enjoyment.
LibraryThing member glade1
I had only read Jeeves & Wooster books until this one, which I listened to on YouTube (read by William Lindholm). It is delightful! I love Sally, who does not seem old-fashioned at all, and all the characters seem quite real to me. Lots of fun!
Subjects
Original publication date
1922
Physical description
272 p.; 7.09 inches
ISBN
0140085041 / 9780140085044