Piccadillyn Jim

by P. G. Wodehouse

Other authorsTuulikki Routamo (Translator)

Paper Book, 1962

Status

Available

Call number

823.912

Genres

General Fiction

All Topics

Fiction

Collections

pd, oc

Publication

Helsinki : Otava, 1962.

Description

Classic Literature. Fiction. Humor (Fiction.) HTML: Wodehouse does it again with Piccadilly Jim, a novel that picks up the story of overbearing gold-digger Nesta and her spoiled brat of a son, Ogden. In this caper tale, a scheme is hatched to fake Ogden's kidnapping. Will Nesta's nephew, the roustabout Jimmy Crocker, be able to pull off this nefarious plot?.

User reviews

LibraryThing member Helenliz

A fun outing this one. Jim Crocker is a bit of a lad about town, which is fine until his name is linked with that of his aunt Nesta and she takes umbrage about it. She's convinced that Jim is a wastrel and that his life should be turned around by working for his living, preferably in her husband's

firm. Jim doesn't necessarily agree with the plan, but he ends up falling in line when he falls for Nesta's husband's niece, Ann. Unfortunately, Ann has had a run in with Jim before, when he was working as a journalist and wrote a piece after an interview in which he scorned her poems and she has been set against him ever since, on principle. Somewhere mixed in all this is a boxer, a plan to kidnap a spoilt brat, baseball and two determined sisters who have married men who might be able to exert themselves in the office, but who wilt when faced with their wives. It's light-hearted and, unlike the Bertie Wooster books, at least has someone wanting to marry (unlike Bertie's aims to not be married). Enjoyable light writing, not entirely believable and relying on co-incidence, but you can forgive that when they're this much fun.

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LibraryThing member mausergem

This book has all the ingredients of a Wodehouse novel, a wayward nephew, a beautiful niece, head strong aunts, meek uncles, a crazy scientist and a fierce female detective. But somehow it lacks the humorous punch that make a good comic novel.

All and all a disappointment.

LibraryThing member losloper

The life of Jimmy Crocker has been little more than one drunken brawl after another. His formidable Aunt Nesta has had enough of his antics and decrees that the young Crocker must be reformed. However, Jimmy has fallen in love and decided to reform himself. Unfortunately, to win the heart of his

intended, Jimmy must pretend to be someone else and take part in the kidnapping of Aunt Nesta's loathesome offspring Ogden.The reformation of oneself can be a decidedly tricky business.

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LibraryThing member ChrisSterry

I love Wodehouse, but am used to his Jeeves & Wooster books, which are, essentially, a string of short stories. Piccadilly Jim is a single, coherent plot, told with the usual Wodehouse brilliance. Any description of the plot would undoubtedly be a 'spoiler'. Suffice it to say that it is shot

through with deception, counter-deception and mistaken identity. Towards the end I scarcely dared to turn the page to the next Chapter in fear of the next excruciating twist and turn. Wooster is, in the end, always put upon by others. Piccadilly Jim manages to make his own trouble. Look out for the wonderfully written Miss Trimble, Housemaid and Private Detective, as well Skinner the butler!

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LibraryThing member CarltonC

The man can do no wrong - another corker!
This is a story of farcical mix ups between an American and English extended family, when the antics of James Crocker (the eponymous Piccadilly Jim) in London upsets his step-mother when his antics may cost his American father an English Lordship.
James

Crocker shamed by his behaviour therefore takes ship for New York, meets the girl of his dreams on the ship, who he had upset five years earlier writing a biting review of her book of adolescent verse. She does not recognise him, so he pretends to be the son of his parent's butler (Bayliss - a precursor of Beach in the Blanding novels), but then is asked to pretend to be James Crocker (yes, himself!) in order to gain access to his aunt and uncle's house (they have never met him) to kidnap the extremely badly behaved son of his aunt, who is making his step-father's life a misery.
Of course, it is more complicated than the above even begins to convey and yet it is written with such ease, when you are reading it it all makes perfect sense and it is so funny.
Although not in one of the series for which he is better known, this is an excellent stand-alone Wodehouse.

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LibraryThing member stuart10er

Jim is an American who causes waves by going to England and tying one on. His parents are not amused. He comes back to the US and woos a fair maiden who he previously knew.... oh well, too complicated to say all the things that happen. Needless to say, it all comes out ok in the end. Pretty

formulaic, but still amusing.

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LibraryThing member leslie.98

This is one of the rare occasions when the audiobook was less enjoyable than reading the book in print. Although Frederick Davidson's normal speaking voice is fine, the voices he uses for some of the characters were off the mark and in some cases irritating. Too bad, as this is a very funny book

with mostly American characters.

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LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing

I enjoy the Laurie/Fry series of Jeeves & Wooster, but it seems the books are not for me. I liked the fighting young couple (Ann and the eponymous Jim), but everyone else just annoyed me. It’s a light-hearted, baldly written story, and I could hardly get through it.

LibraryThing member PhilSyphe

This isn’t one of Mr Wodehouse’s finest works, but there are enough laughs to make “Piccadilly Jim” a worthwhile read.

LibraryThing member EricCostello

One of Wodehouse's earlier efforts (originally published in 1917), and it doesn't really show him at his best. He hasn't quite rounded into the peak form that he would acquire later. Pretty much for completists only.

LibraryThing member leslie.98

with mostly American characters...

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