Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
London : Penguin, 1999.
Description
Classic Literature. Fiction. Humor (Fiction.) HTML: In this, the second novel in P.G. Wodehouse's delightful Jeeves series, the family fumbles through a comedy of errors that is set in motion by a marriage proposal and a downward spiral of miscommunication and crossed wires. This hilarious novel contains many of the most beloved scenes and set pieces from the series. A must-read for Wodehouse fans and lovers of top-notch humor writing..
User reviews
LibraryThing member thorold
It's amazing to reflect that what are possibly the two funniest full-length Jeeves novels, Right Ho, Jeeves and Thank you, Jeeves, were both published in the space of a single year, 1934. Right Ho, Jeeves is of course the one where Gussie Fink-Nottle officiates at the prize-giving at Market
Bertie is in fine mid-season form as narrator, with some of his best inappropriate similes: "the face was pale, the eyes gooseberrylike, the ears drooping, and the whole aspect that of a man who has passed through the furnace and been caught in the machinery" (Gussie); "She unshipped a sigh that sounded like the wind going out of a rubber duck" (Madeline Bassett regretting that she can never love another); "it sounded as if Carnera had jumped off the top of the Eiffel Tower onto a cucumber frame" (Bertie crunching a piece of apple). But it's unfair to pick out particular passages -- there's linguistic treasure trove on every page. I can't think of any reason not to recommend this book...
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Snodsbury Grammar School, in one of Wodehouse's most celebrated passages. But we also get a wonderful exchange of telegrams between Bertie and Aunt Dahlia, and Bertie's unforgettable midnight bicycle ride.Bertie is in fine mid-season form as narrator, with some of his best inappropriate similes: "the face was pale, the eyes gooseberrylike, the ears drooping, and the whole aspect that of a man who has passed through the furnace and been caught in the machinery" (Gussie); "She unshipped a sigh that sounded like the wind going out of a rubber duck" (Madeline Bassett regretting that she can never love another); "it sounded as if Carnera had jumped off the top of the Eiffel Tower onto a cucumber frame" (Bertie crunching a piece of apple). But it's unfair to pick out particular passages -- there's linguistic treasure trove on every page. I can't think of any reason not to recommend this book...
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LibraryThing member atimco
Lately I've been enjoying Wodehouse's Wooster and Jeeves books on unabridged audiobook, read by the talented Peter Cecil for Audio Editions. I finished Right Ho, Jeeves yesterday and thought it quite good, but not among Wodehouse's greats. This story takes place at the Travers' country home
Bertie and Jeeves are again at odds over an article of Bertie's wardrobe. This time it's a mess jacket of... ahem... unusual cut and color. You can just hear the pain in Jeeves' voice when he mentions it! Again Bertie is pursued by a woman he can't stand, and again this woman is convinced he loves her devotedly. Wodehouse is very formulaic, but his formulas work, dash it.
It was different to see Bertie take a more aggressive approach with Jeeves, and his jealousy of Jeeves' reputation for brainpower is so funny. Jeeves' revenge is daring and dramatic; just wait till you see what he pulls. Of course the whole mess comes off perfectly once Jeeves puts his bean to the job, despite Bertie's blundering efforts. And even if the rest of the book is blah (which it isn't), Gussie's intoxicated speech at the prize-giving of the Market Snodsbury Grammar School would make the whole thing worth it. Oh, so funny!
I have to note that the audio quality didn't seem quite up to par on this recording. The louder voices such as Gussie and Aunt Dahlia seemed to saturate the microphone and distort slightly. It wasn't terribly intrusive, but I did notice it enough to be distracted occasionally. It's a pity, because Peter Cecil's reading is fantastic. But I was sorely disappointed that I didn't get to hear Anatole speak. It cut out right as the enraged French cook was opening his mouth, and I had to skip two tracks because the CD was damaged. I hope Judgment Day arrives with unusual severity for people who mistreat library CDs...
If you've never listened to Wodehouse on audiobook, you've got a treat coming. It's just another reason that this is a wonderful, splendid, amazing world, full of optimism and sunshine! Or so Gussie would say when under the influence...
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Brinkley Court, where Bertie has repaired to see if he can patch up his cousin Angela's engagement with Tuppy Glossop. Of course there is also another unhappy couple on the premises: the newt-loving, shy Gussie Fink-Nottle and Madeline Bassett (a fearsomely winsome girl whom Bertie calls "the Bassett" — haha!). Many complications and machinations arise, and Bertie is hard-put to it to sort things out. He's determined to try, though; Jeeves has gotten enough glory!Bertie and Jeeves are again at odds over an article of Bertie's wardrobe. This time it's a mess jacket of... ahem... unusual cut and color. You can just hear the pain in Jeeves' voice when he mentions it! Again Bertie is pursued by a woman he can't stand, and again this woman is convinced he loves her devotedly. Wodehouse is very formulaic, but his formulas work, dash it.
It was different to see Bertie take a more aggressive approach with Jeeves, and his jealousy of Jeeves' reputation for brainpower is so funny. Jeeves' revenge is daring and dramatic; just wait till you see what he pulls. Of course the whole mess comes off perfectly once Jeeves puts his bean to the job, despite Bertie's blundering efforts. And even if the rest of the book is blah (which it isn't), Gussie's intoxicated speech at the prize-giving of the Market Snodsbury Grammar School would make the whole thing worth it. Oh, so funny!
I have to note that the audio quality didn't seem quite up to par on this recording. The louder voices such as Gussie and Aunt Dahlia seemed to saturate the microphone and distort slightly. It wasn't terribly intrusive, but I did notice it enough to be distracted occasionally. It's a pity, because Peter Cecil's reading is fantastic. But I was sorely disappointed that I didn't get to hear Anatole speak. It cut out right as the enraged French cook was opening his mouth, and I had to skip two tracks because the CD was damaged. I hope Judgment Day arrives with unusual severity for people who mistreat library CDs...
If you've never listened to Wodehouse on audiobook, you've got a treat coming. It's just another reason that this is a wonderful, splendid, amazing world, full of optimism and sunshine! Or so Gussie would say when under the influence...
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LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
I think that this novel is only really challenged by The Code of the Woosters for the honour of being the finest story about Bertie Wooster and Jeeves.
There are a lot of things one can say about P G Wodehouse's books - immature, very childish, total unworldly, lacking in any political or ecological
Right Ho, Jeeves is, to my mind, the apotheosis of Wodehouse's world. His plots are always full of Byzantine twists, his characters are usually hilarious, but in this novel he excelled his own extremely high standards and brought off a comedy classic.
There are two set pieces in particular (Gussie Fink-Nottle's address when presenting the prizes at Market Snodsbury Grammar School's Speech Day, and the stream of outrage from Anatole, the sublimely talented yet extremely temperamental French chef, when Gussie appears to be pulling faces at him through the skylight of his bedroom) which must rank among the finest examples of humorous writing. If one is prepared briefly to suspend disbelief and enter Wodehouse's world the rewards are enormous. This particular book was first published in 1934, but is already looking back to an unspecified Corinthian past, largely of Wodehouse's own imagining.
In this world, gentlemen always wear suits, and occasionally spats though never (in England, anyway) white mess jackets, or not, at least, if Jeeves has his way. They also never bandy a lady's name or break an engagement, no matter how disastrously they might view the prospect of nuptials. Bertie Wooster, though not the brightest chap ever to have ventured into metropolitan life, is a stickler for such correct behaviour, and frequently finds himself beset as a consequence.
Wodehouse's writing is a joy - always grammatically perfect, yet he is able to capture the different voices with clinical precision. Bertie rambles in a manner now reminiscent of Boris Johnson (though without the egregious narcissism) [though, of course, in reality it is the other way round with Johnson trying to be like Wooster, but lacking the charm to pull it off] while Jeeves favours a cultured orotundity of speech, peppered with a mixture of highly scholarly references to poetry and philosophy bathetically contrasted with allusions to his rather bizarre-sounding family. The plots are immensely intricate, to the extent that they make Agatha Christie's novel seem entirely transparent, but Wodehouse always ties up every loose end, no matter how impossible that might seem even just one or two chapters from the end of the book.
I have read this novel several times before, and am confident that I will read it several times again, as it never fails to cheer me up.
There are a lot of things one can say about P G Wodehouse's books - immature, very childish, total unworldly, lacking in any political or ecological
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conscience … It is difficult to challenge any of those judgements (and I should know because most of them have been applied, regularly to me, too). However, I prefer to think of them as exquisite, beautifully written, faultlessly constructed, charming and ceaselessly entertaining. Sadly all too few of those epithets have ever been applied to me!Right Ho, Jeeves is, to my mind, the apotheosis of Wodehouse's world. His plots are always full of Byzantine twists, his characters are usually hilarious, but in this novel he excelled his own extremely high standards and brought off a comedy classic.
There are two set pieces in particular (Gussie Fink-Nottle's address when presenting the prizes at Market Snodsbury Grammar School's Speech Day, and the stream of outrage from Anatole, the sublimely talented yet extremely temperamental French chef, when Gussie appears to be pulling faces at him through the skylight of his bedroom) which must rank among the finest examples of humorous writing. If one is prepared briefly to suspend disbelief and enter Wodehouse's world the rewards are enormous. This particular book was first published in 1934, but is already looking back to an unspecified Corinthian past, largely of Wodehouse's own imagining.
In this world, gentlemen always wear suits, and occasionally spats though never (in England, anyway) white mess jackets, or not, at least, if Jeeves has his way. They also never bandy a lady's name or break an engagement, no matter how disastrously they might view the prospect of nuptials. Bertie Wooster, though not the brightest chap ever to have ventured into metropolitan life, is a stickler for such correct behaviour, and frequently finds himself beset as a consequence.
Wodehouse's writing is a joy - always grammatically perfect, yet he is able to capture the different voices with clinical precision. Bertie rambles in a manner now reminiscent of Boris Johnson (though without the egregious narcissism) [though, of course, in reality it is the other way round with Johnson trying to be like Wooster, but lacking the charm to pull it off] while Jeeves favours a cultured orotundity of speech, peppered with a mixture of highly scholarly references to poetry and philosophy bathetically contrasted with allusions to his rather bizarre-sounding family. The plots are immensely intricate, to the extent that they make Agatha Christie's novel seem entirely transparent, but Wodehouse always ties up every loose end, no matter how impossible that might seem even just one or two chapters from the end of the book.
I have read this novel several times before, and am confident that I will read it several times again, as it never fails to cheer me up.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
I think that this novel is only really challenged by The Code of the Woosters for the honour of being the finest story about Bertie Wooster and Jeeves.
There are a lot of things one can say about P G Wodehouse's books - immature, very childish, total unworldly, lacking in any political or ecological
Right Ho, Jeeves is, to my mind, the apotheosis of Wodehouse's world. His plots are always full of Byzantine twists, his characters are usually hilarious, but in this novel he excelled his own extremely high standards and brought off a comedy classic.
There are two set pieces in particular (Gussie Fink-Nottle's address when presenting the prizes at market Snodsbury School's Speech Day, and the stream of outrage from Anatole, the sublimely talented yet extremely temperamental French chef, when Gussie appears to be pulling faces at him through the skylight of his bedroom) which must rank among the finest examples of humorous writing. If one is prepared briefly to suspend disbelief and enter Wodehouse's world the rewards are enormous. This particular book was first published in 1934, but is already looking back to an unspecified Corinthian past, largely of Wodehouse's own imagining.
In this world, gentlemen always wear suits, and occasionally spats though never (in England, anyway) white mess jackets, or not, at least, if Jeeves has his way. They also never bandy a lady's name or break an engagement, no matter how disastrously they might view the prospect of nuptials. Bertie Wooster, though not the brightest chap ever to have ventured into metropolitan life, is a stickler for such correct behaviour, and frequently finds himself beset as a consequence.
Wodehouse's writing is a joy - always grammatically perfect, yet he is able to capture the different voices with clinical precision. Bertie rambles in a manner now reminiscent of Boris Johnson (though without the egregious narcissism) [though, of course, in reality it is the other way round with Johnson trying to be like Wooster, but lacking the charm to pull it off] while Jeeves favours a cultured orotundity of speech, peppered with a mixture of highly scholarly references to poetry and philosophy bathetically contrasted with allusions to his rather bizarre-sounding family. The plots are immensely intricate, to the extent that they make Agatha Christie's novel seem entirely transparent, but Wodehouse always ties up every loose end, no matter how impossible that might seem even just one or two chapters from the end of the book.
I have read this novel several times before, and am confident that I will read it several times again, as it never fails to cheer me up.
There are a lot of things one can say about P G Wodehouse's books - immature, very childish, total unworldly, lacking in any political or ecological
Show More
conscience … It is difficult to challenge any of those judgements (and I should know because most of them have been applied, regularly to me, too). However, I prefer to think of them as exquisite, beautifully written, faultlessly constructed, charming and ceaselessly entertaining. Sadly all too few of those epithets have ever been applied to me!Right Ho, Jeeves is, to my mind, the apotheosis of Wodehouse's world. His plots are always full of Byzantine twists, his characters are usually hilarious, but in this novel he excelled his own extremely high standards and brought off a comedy classic.
There are two set pieces in particular (Gussie Fink-Nottle's address when presenting the prizes at market Snodsbury School's Speech Day, and the stream of outrage from Anatole, the sublimely talented yet extremely temperamental French chef, when Gussie appears to be pulling faces at him through the skylight of his bedroom) which must rank among the finest examples of humorous writing. If one is prepared briefly to suspend disbelief and enter Wodehouse's world the rewards are enormous. This particular book was first published in 1934, but is already looking back to an unspecified Corinthian past, largely of Wodehouse's own imagining.
In this world, gentlemen always wear suits, and occasionally spats though never (in England, anyway) white mess jackets, or not, at least, if Jeeves has his way. They also never bandy a lady's name or break an engagement, no matter how disastrously they might view the prospect of nuptials. Bertie Wooster, though not the brightest chap ever to have ventured into metropolitan life, is a stickler for such correct behaviour, and frequently finds himself beset as a consequence.
Wodehouse's writing is a joy - always grammatically perfect, yet he is able to capture the different voices with clinical precision. Bertie rambles in a manner now reminiscent of Boris Johnson (though without the egregious narcissism) [though, of course, in reality it is the other way round with Johnson trying to be like Wooster, but lacking the charm to pull it off] while Jeeves favours a cultured orotundity of speech, peppered with a mixture of highly scholarly references to poetry and philosophy bathetically contrasted with allusions to his rather bizarre-sounding family. The plots are immensely intricate, to the extent that they make Agatha Christie's novel seem entirely transparent, but Wodehouse always ties up every loose end, no matter how impossible that might seem even just one or two chapters from the end of the book.
I have read this novel several times before, and am confident that I will read it several times again, as it never fails to cheer me up.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mrtall
I have read that many humor writers – Dave Barry is a salient example – labor slavishly over their prose, line by line, word by word, joke by joke. It’s not easy sounding off-the-cuff hilarious.
Dave Barry used to write a 500-word column a week. Nearly all were exemplars of timing, word
But now imagine writing an entire novel that’s as continuously funny as the best humor column you’ve ever read, a novel in which nearly every sentence shimmers with the wit and misdirection and unexpected incongruity that coalesce into funny writing. That’s Right Ho, Jeeves. And now imagine a whole shelf-load of novels like this one. That’s P G Wodehouse.
It’s impossible to overstate the overall genius of Wodehouse, and the specific genius of this novel. Its plot – a mélange of misdirected affections and misunderstood intentions – is not the point. It’s the characters, the banter, the outrageous telegrams, the physical anguish in the billowy portions!
This masterpiece of English fiction is freely available – along with many other Wodehouse works – for free at Project Gutenberg. There’s no excuse whatever for not reading it.
Dave Barry used to write a 500-word column a week. Nearly all were exemplars of timing, word
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choice and consistent hilarity.But now imagine writing an entire novel that’s as continuously funny as the best humor column you’ve ever read, a novel in which nearly every sentence shimmers with the wit and misdirection and unexpected incongruity that coalesce into funny writing. That’s Right Ho, Jeeves. And now imagine a whole shelf-load of novels like this one. That’s P G Wodehouse.
It’s impossible to overstate the overall genius of Wodehouse, and the specific genius of this novel. Its plot – a mélange of misdirected affections and misunderstood intentions – is not the point. It’s the characters, the banter, the outrageous telegrams, the physical anguish in the billowy portions!
This masterpiece of English fiction is freely available – along with many other Wodehouse works – for free at Project Gutenberg. There’s no excuse whatever for not reading it.
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LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
Every so often it's very enjoyable to just lean back and let PG Wodehouse tell me another story about Bertie Wooster, gay boulevardier and carefree man-about-town, and his fish-eating manservant Jeeves. In Right Ho, Jeeves, Bertie must contend with a bossy aunt, a friend who can't quite summon up
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the courage to tell the girl he loves how he feels and a manservant who disapproves of his new, natty jacket. Wodehouse tells essentially the same story in each of his Wooster and Jeeves books and that is a part of the charm, along with some of the funniest dialogue ever written and main character with a gift for creating outrageous messes, while remaining utterly ignorant of his effect on others. Right Ho, Jeeves was, like every other book in the series, an absolute delight. Show Less
LibraryThing member isabelx
"Thank goodness you've come, Bertie."
"Nothing could have kept me away," I replied, touched. "I felt you needed me."
"Yes."
"Quite."
"Or, rather," she said, "not you, of course, but Jeeves. The minute all this happened, I thought of him. The situation obviously cries out for Jeeves. If ever in the
I think, if I had been standing up, I would have staggered. In fact, I'm pretty sure I would. But it isn't so dashed easy to stagger when you're sitting in an arm-chair. Only my face, therefore, showed how deeply I had been stung by these words.
Bertie Wooster can't quite believe it when his nearest and dearest spurn his help in times of crisis, turning to Jeeves for advice instead. Having already had to speak to Jeeves quite firmly over his disapproval of Bertie's new, oh so fashionable at Cannes, white mess jacket with brass buttons, Bertie decides to take over Jeeves' latest cases himself. These involve helping newt-loving recluse Gussie Fink-Nottle pluck up the courage to propose to the equally soppy Madeline Basset, who describes the stars as God's daisy-chains, and healing the rift between Tuppy Glossop and Bertie's cousin Angela, after she breaks off their engagement due to Tuppy's stark refusal to believe that she had an encounter with a shark at Cannes, and his wounding insistence that it must have been a flatfish.
I think that I must have read this book before, a long time ago, as I remembered Bertie's troubles with Madeline Bassett, Gussie's lobe of newts, the school prize-giving, the servants' dance, and the night-time bike ride, but I may also be remembering the story from the old Jeeves and Wooster television series starring Fry and Laurie. Although it contains a lot of the usual Wodehouse tropes, the plot does seem comparatively fresh, possibly because it is only the second Jeeves and Wooster novel. One of the best things about the book is the first -person narration by Bertie. He uses lots of slang, shortens phrases to their initial letters, and scatters half-remembered biblical quotations throughout (after all, he did win a prize for scriptural knowledge at prep school).
This is an amusing and frothy tale in which love conquers all at the end, and Bertie escapes unscathed from an accidental engagement, all thanks to Jeeves of course. It is my favourite Wodehouse so far, and definitely deserves 5 stars.
"Nothing could have kept me away," I replied, touched. "I felt you needed me."
"Yes."
"Quite."
"Or, rather," she said, "not you, of course, but Jeeves. The minute all this happened, I thought of him. The situation obviously cries out for Jeeves. If ever in the
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whole history of human affairs there was a moment when that lofty brain was required about the home, this is it." I think, if I had been standing up, I would have staggered. In fact, I'm pretty sure I would. But it isn't so dashed easy to stagger when you're sitting in an arm-chair. Only my face, therefore, showed how deeply I had been stung by these words.
Bertie Wooster can't quite believe it when his nearest and dearest spurn his help in times of crisis, turning to Jeeves for advice instead. Having already had to speak to Jeeves quite firmly over his disapproval of Bertie's new, oh so fashionable at Cannes, white mess jacket with brass buttons, Bertie decides to take over Jeeves' latest cases himself. These involve helping newt-loving recluse Gussie Fink-Nottle pluck up the courage to propose to the equally soppy Madeline Basset, who describes the stars as God's daisy-chains, and healing the rift between Tuppy Glossop and Bertie's cousin Angela, after she breaks off their engagement due to Tuppy's stark refusal to believe that she had an encounter with a shark at Cannes, and his wounding insistence that it must have been a flatfish.
I think that I must have read this book before, a long time ago, as I remembered Bertie's troubles with Madeline Bassett, Gussie's lobe of newts, the school prize-giving, the servants' dance, and the night-time bike ride, but I may also be remembering the story from the old Jeeves and Wooster television series starring Fry and Laurie. Although it contains a lot of the usual Wodehouse tropes, the plot does seem comparatively fresh, possibly because it is only the second Jeeves and Wooster novel. One of the best things about the book is the first -person narration by Bertie. He uses lots of slang, shortens phrases to their initial letters, and scatters half-remembered biblical quotations throughout (after all, he did win a prize for scriptural knowledge at prep school).
This is an amusing and frothy tale in which love conquers all at the end, and Bertie escapes unscathed from an accidental engagement, all thanks to Jeeves of course. It is my favourite Wodehouse so far, and definitely deserves 5 stars.
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LibraryThing member gpower61
This is the one that features the much lauded scene in which a well juiced Gussie Fink-Nottle presides over the prize-giving at Market Snodsbury Grammar School. It’s in all the anthologies, or so I’m led to believe, and praised to the heavens by the likes of Stephen Fry as a rib-tickler of
Anyway, it’s a terrific book - an immaculate mess jacket of a book with big brass buttons attached - and just the tonic for our treacherous times. Wooster’s attempted usurpation of his natural superior, Jeeves, results in all the convoluted chaos you could hope for. But, as always with Wodehouse, the style’s the thing; his fleet-footed prose defies gravity in every sense.
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unparalleled prowess. And the likes of Stephen Fry are by no means misguided. It is, undeniably, a belting set piece in a book positively bursting its bindings with belting set pieces. To be perfectly candid, my own very personal ribs were tickled even more proficiently by Aunt Dahlia’s elegantly vituperative verbal bashings of Bertie, but no matter.Anyway, it’s a terrific book - an immaculate mess jacket of a book with big brass buttons attached - and just the tonic for our treacherous times. Wooster’s attempted usurpation of his natural superior, Jeeves, results in all the convoluted chaos you could hope for. But, as always with Wodehouse, the style’s the thing; his fleet-footed prose defies gravity in every sense.
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LibraryThing member soliloquies
First ever Wodehouse and I really enjoyed it. Quick wit and a fast pace.
LibraryThing member ianw
Superbly written Jeeves/Wooster story. Introduces the Fink-Nottle/Madeline Basset theme, amongst others. Features Gussie Fink-Nottle presenting the prizes at Market Snodsbury Grammar School, which must be amongst the best 10 or 15 pages he ever wrote.
LibraryThing member iayork
Maybe Mephistopheles was a bad idea after all...: You know things are going bad for Gussie (Agustus Fink-Nottle) when Bertie steps in to lend a able hand in his affairs..
The premise of this ridiculously funny book is simple, Gussie has fallen in love with Madeline Basset, friend of Bertie's cousin
When helping convey Gussie's love to Madeline, Bertie convices Madeline that he loves her too. So when Madeline falls out with Gussie, she comes running to Bertie, who would rather she not. Tuppy, is also convinced that some low-lying snake has stolen Angela from him, and thinking that this l.l.s is Gussie. Gussie, meanwhile, to brace himself for the gruelling task of presenting the prizes in the Market Snodsbury school (for which he is down at Brinkley Court) tanks up on alchohol, and threatens to sully the Wooster name in a gathering of Market Snodsbury's finest. When the going gets tough, the tough ring for Jeeves. Can the man save the hour and untangle this absolute mess?
This is one of Wodehouses's finest Jeeves books. I say that in a different way in every review of mine, but I cant help it. The man is so good! If you cannot read this book in its entirety (shame on you!) just read the description of Gussie presenting the prizes. That one chapter will brighten your day, suffuse you in a radiant light of good cheer and make you feel that life is one great glad song.
Don't miss this book. It's an absolute ringer!
The premise of this ridiculously funny book is simple, Gussie has fallen in love with Madeline Basset, friend of Bertie's cousin
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Angela, who (Angela) has quarelled with her lover and Bertie's longtime friend (the episode at the Drones notwithstanding) Tuppy Glossop over the matter of the latter not acknowledging the former's tryst with a shark at Cannes. Simple enough right? Take all these people and confine them in a country house, add a liberal dashing of Aunt Dahlia and that man of intellect Jeeves, not to mention a few assorted cooks and uncles, and you have a tale of horror (for Bertie) or a tale of absolute joy for the rest of us. When helping convey Gussie's love to Madeline, Bertie convices Madeline that he loves her too. So when Madeline falls out with Gussie, she comes running to Bertie, who would rather she not. Tuppy, is also convinced that some low-lying snake has stolen Angela from him, and thinking that this l.l.s is Gussie. Gussie, meanwhile, to brace himself for the gruelling task of presenting the prizes in the Market Snodsbury school (for which he is down at Brinkley Court) tanks up on alchohol, and threatens to sully the Wooster name in a gathering of Market Snodsbury's finest. When the going gets tough, the tough ring for Jeeves. Can the man save the hour and untangle this absolute mess?
This is one of Wodehouses's finest Jeeves books. I say that in a different way in every review of mine, but I cant help it. The man is so good! If you cannot read this book in its entirety (shame on you!) just read the description of Gussie presenting the prizes. That one chapter will brighten your day, suffuse you in a radiant light of good cheer and make you feel that life is one great glad song.
Don't miss this book. It's an absolute ringer!
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LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
Classic Wodehouse. Bertie and Jeeves have a little altercation about a new jacket which Bertie has bought... and relations are a little strained. So when they go to stay with Bertie's relatives, and - as ever - various romantic problems arise, Bertie attempts to solve everything by himself, getting
It's years since I had read this book, but many of the scenes came back to me. I don't laugh aloud very often with PG Wodehouse, but I smile a great deal, and appreciate his wordplay and irony, and the wonderful naivety and (sometimes) gross stupidity of the hapless Bertie. Naturally Jeeves comes out top in the end with a brilliant solution to the various problems, albeit rather at the expense of Bertie himself.
This kind of upper-class verbal slapstick doesn't appeal to everyone, and inevitably the style is slightly dated, as it was first published in 1934. But the humour shines through, the caricatured people are superb, and overall I enjoyed it very much. I was delighted to find it available free for the Kindle at Project Gutenburg.
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into deeper and deeper water.It's years since I had read this book, but many of the scenes came back to me. I don't laugh aloud very often with PG Wodehouse, but I smile a great deal, and appreciate his wordplay and irony, and the wonderful naivety and (sometimes) gross stupidity of the hapless Bertie. Naturally Jeeves comes out top in the end with a brilliant solution to the various problems, albeit rather at the expense of Bertie himself.
This kind of upper-class verbal slapstick doesn't appeal to everyone, and inevitably the style is slightly dated, as it was first published in 1934. But the humour shines through, the caricatured people are superb, and overall I enjoyed it very much. I was delighted to find it available free for the Kindle at Project Gutenburg.
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LibraryThing member ben_a
Another splendid Jeeves and Wooster, memorable in particular for the famous Fink-Nottle prize-giving speech, and the following exchange of telegrams
No, but dash it, listen. Honestly, you don't want me. Get Fink-Nottle distribute prizes. A born distributor, who will do you credit. Confidently
There was an hour of breathless suspense, and then the joyful tidings arrived:
Well, all right. Something in what you say, I suppose. Consider you treacherous worm and contemptible, spineless cowardly custard, but have booked Spink-Bottle. Stay where you are, then, and I hope you get run over by an omnibus. Love. Travers.
7.11.09
No, but dash it, listen. Honestly, you don't want me. Get Fink-Nottle distribute prizes. A born distributor, who will do you credit. Confidently
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anticipate Augustus Fink-Nottle as Master of Revels on thirty-first inst. would make genuine sensation. Do not miss this great chance, which may never occur again. Tinkerty-tonk. Bertie.There was an hour of breathless suspense, and then the joyful tidings arrived:
Well, all right. Something in what you say, I suppose. Consider you treacherous worm and contemptible, spineless cowardly custard, but have booked Spink-Bottle. Stay where you are, then, and I hope you get run over by an omnibus. Love. Travers.
7.11.09
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LibraryThing member theokester
My wife and I stumbled across the 1990s Jeeves and Wooster TV series years ago and absolutely loved the show. We've watched them again and again with a ton of amusement. Since then, I've read snippets from some of the stories and really enjoyed the writing as well (showing that even though Hugh
For those unfamiliar with the Jeeves/Wooster story dynamic, the idea is that you've got Bertie Wooster who is a well-to-do bachelor living in England in the 20s/30s. Jeeves is his 'gentleman's personal gentleman' who, in addition to being an excellent personal valet helps solve the crazy problems that Bertie and his friends get into. The writing is tight, witty and great fun.
In Right Ho Jeeves, Bertie has decided that Jeeves has lost some of his skills and tries to solve his friends' and relatives' problems without Jeeves' help. Due to Bertie's often bumbling and clueless nature, he generally causes more problems than he solves. The result is a wild romp through the verbal slapstick of British humor.
I absolutely love the characters in the story and their outrageous personalities. The dialog is hilarious and I laughed out loud on a number of occasions. My only real complaint is that there are sometimes where the dialog is so quick that I, for a moment, lost track of who was speaking, but that was quickly resolved and easy to work through.
I acknowledge that "British Humor" is not something that everyone enjoys. But if you have the slightest inkling towards it, or if you just want to try out some funny writing about social and mental hijinks, then give P.G. Wodehouse's books a try. I can definitely recommend Right Ho Jeeves and, even without reading them, suspect that the other books will be equally hilarious. If you want to try watching some of them first, you can find a number of clips on YouTube or can buy the entire collection. This particular book was translated to TV in two episodes at the end of season 1.
So, if you're feeling a little smaltzy, melancholic or just fed up with life's malarkey, then slap yourself into a chair and fix your peepers on Jeeves & Wooster. They really are the cat's pajamas.
*****
4.5 out of 5 stars
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Laurie and Stephen Fry are fabulous actors…that the story/writing itself is astounding). Right Ho Jeeves was my first time with an entire novel, and it was fabulous.For those unfamiliar with the Jeeves/Wooster story dynamic, the idea is that you've got Bertie Wooster who is a well-to-do bachelor living in England in the 20s/30s. Jeeves is his 'gentleman's personal gentleman' who, in addition to being an excellent personal valet helps solve the crazy problems that Bertie and his friends get into. The writing is tight, witty and great fun.
In Right Ho Jeeves, Bertie has decided that Jeeves has lost some of his skills and tries to solve his friends' and relatives' problems without Jeeves' help. Due to Bertie's often bumbling and clueless nature, he generally causes more problems than he solves. The result is a wild romp through the verbal slapstick of British humor.
I absolutely love the characters in the story and their outrageous personalities. The dialog is hilarious and I laughed out loud on a number of occasions. My only real complaint is that there are sometimes where the dialog is so quick that I, for a moment, lost track of who was speaking, but that was quickly resolved and easy to work through.
I acknowledge that "British Humor" is not something that everyone enjoys. But if you have the slightest inkling towards it, or if you just want to try out some funny writing about social and mental hijinks, then give P.G. Wodehouse's books a try. I can definitely recommend Right Ho Jeeves and, even without reading them, suspect that the other books will be equally hilarious. If you want to try watching some of them first, you can find a number of clips on YouTube or can buy the entire collection. This particular book was translated to TV in two episodes at the end of season 1.
So, if you're feeling a little smaltzy, melancholic or just fed up with life's malarkey, then slap yourself into a chair and fix your peepers on Jeeves & Wooster. They really are the cat's pajamas.
*****
4.5 out of 5 stars
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LibraryThing member TerriS
So cute! I love the Jeeves and Wooster series. I've read six so far and this one was just as much fun as the rest of them have been. Bertie gets into his regular scrapes, and in this one he decides can solve his problems without any help from Jeeves. Of course, in the end, Jeeves comes to his
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rescue and puts everything into place very quickly and easily. This is a very light and satisfying read -- save it for a time when you need a fun "pick-me-up!" Show Less
LibraryThing member azulaco
Wodehouse is delightfully funny, and underappreciated in this day and age. He has a wonderfully light touch with language and humorous situations. I enjoyed this book, as I've enjoyed all the Jeeves books I've read so far. Although it was written eighty years ago, the humor holds up. If you are a
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fan of wry, slightly absurd British humor, I would highly recommend that you check out this book, or the other Jeeves books by P. G. Wodehouse. Show Less
LibraryThing member kaitanya64
Bertie Wooster is at his fumbling best in this engaging story. One engagement is broken and needs to be mended, a second engagement may never happen if Bertie's friend, Gussie Fink-Nottle is not somehow "bucked up." Aunt Dahlia has lost big at baccarat and now must get Uncle Thomas to bankroll her
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women's magazine. It's up to Bertie and Jeeves to set the world right and of course, they do so in most ridiculous fashion. Show Less
LibraryThing member librisissimo
Even a mediocre Wodehouse is good.
LibraryThing member kaulsu
P.G. Wodehouse at his best. Bernie Wooster at his funniest! And Jeeves, well, I have to say, "Indeed."
Romantic entanglements all around and everyone turning to Jeeves (Jeeves!) to disentangle them! It's enough to make a young man of infinite charm and sagacity to plunge into severe depression. But
Romantic entanglements all around and everyone turning to Jeeves (Jeeves!) to disentangle them! It's enough to make a young man of infinite charm and sagacity to plunge into severe depression. But
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never let that be said of a Wooster! No, no, Bernie rises to the occasion admirably, and Jeeves is suitably chastened. Indeed. Show Less
LibraryThing member CarltonC
I have been reading the Folio edition of this and the numerous Paul Cox illustrations are wonderful, especially Gussy trying to get Anatole's attention through the skylight.
However, I have recently seen the Fry and Laurie adaptation, which is masterful, so that this novel in the series did not give
A wonderful book, but I was just not in the right mood.
However, I have recently seen the Fry and Laurie adaptation, which is masterful, so that this novel in the series did not give
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the usual joy, as the adaptation is remarkably faithful, so that the book held little surprise, although the abbreviation slang is not in the adaptation.A wonderful book, but I was just not in the right mood.
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LibraryThing member Unkletom
Jeeves & Wooster are the literary equivalent of Laurel & Hardy and Right Ho, Jeeves is the best of a great lot.
LibraryThing member kellyn
I laughed so hard while listening to this book that I thought I had induced a stroke. My family came to check on me several times throughout the duration of the novel. Truly one of the funniest books I have ever read or heard. When I need a good laugh this is the book I go to.
LibraryThing member JulesJones
Fifth in the Jeeves and Wooster books. Jeeves is called upon by Gussie Fink-Nottle to assist in the problem of Gussie being desperately in love with Madeline Bassett, but too shy to talk to anyone but his newts. Bertie, feeling jealous of the respect showered upon Jeeves, feels that he can do
It all goes wrong, and naturally is all put right again by Jeeves. You could call it formulaic, except that part of the charm is in knowing that this will happen, and watching how Wodehouse does it, with some of the funniest writing it's ever been my pleasure to read. The prose truly does scintillate, absurdity piled ever higher as Bertie prattles on.
And a curious thing -- as I read it, I heard it in Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry's voices. Those two did such a superb job of this novel in their tv adaptation that I think I will forever hear the dialogue just as they said it.
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better. He gets his opportunity when the first attempt by Jeeves is a failure. Needless to say, nothing can possibly go wrong with Bertie's plan. And certainly not when he also attempts to fix the broken engagement between his cousin Angela and his old chum Tuppy. It all goes wrong, and naturally is all put right again by Jeeves. You could call it formulaic, except that part of the charm is in knowing that this will happen, and watching how Wodehouse does it, with some of the funniest writing it's ever been my pleasure to read. The prose truly does scintillate, absurdity piled ever higher as Bertie prattles on.
And a curious thing -- as I read it, I heard it in Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry's voices. Those two did such a superb job of this novel in their tv adaptation that I think I will forever hear the dialogue just as they said it.
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LibraryThing member lizzybeans11
Another fantastic book in the Jeeves and Wooster saga. This story may have a few more hijinx than normal, and Jeeves is in rare and hilarious form. These novels are all written like they could be a tv mini series which is remarkable as tv wasn't around when these first few were written. P.G.
*Spoilers below*
Wooster is recently home from a stay with his favourite ancestor when he is called back to give prizes out at a boys school - a very unpleasant task apparently. He cons a school-friend into going so he can be with a girl he likes. Wooster inevitably has to go as well, hijinx ensue, tricks are played on him and Jeeves fixes everything as usual.
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Wodehouse was truly ahead of his time.*Spoilers below*
Wooster is recently home from a stay with his favourite ancestor when he is called back to give prizes out at a boys school - a very unpleasant task apparently. He cons a school-friend into going so he can be with a girl he likes. Wooster inevitably has to go as well, hijinx ensue, tricks are played on him and Jeeves fixes everything as usual.
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
Once again Jonathan Cecil does a marvelous job! His reading of Bertie and friends is spot on.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1934
Physical description
261 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
0140284095 / 9780140284096