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Available
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Series
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Publication
Overlook Hardcover (2003), Hardcover, 263 pages
Description
Bertie Wooster was indignant-and with reason. The neighbors had dared to make a fuss about the assiduous practicing of his beloved banjolele. But a further blow was to come. "If," said Jeeves, "it is really your intention to continue playing that instrument, I have no option but to leave." Haughtily rejecting this ultimatum, Bertie sought refuge in a cottage owned by his buddy, Lord Chuffington. But the peace and quiet were rudely shattered by the arrival of Pauline Stoker-to whom he was once unnervingly engaged-and her formidable father, who saw in Bertie a pestilential suitor barmy to the core.
User reviews
LibraryThing member atimco
When Bertie insists upon playing the banjolele, to the distress of his neighbors and his impeccable valet Jeeves, Jeeves is forced to take drastic action. And by drastic action, I mean he leaves B.'s service (!). But Bertie is entirely dedicated to his art, and decides to rent one of his friend
There is the usual romantic imbroglio; a former fiancée of Bertie's, Pauline Stoker, enters the picture as Chuffy's guest while her father, the American millionaire J. Washburn Stoker, considers the purchase of Chuffnell Hall. Of course Pauline and Chuffy proceed to fall madly in love, and when they fall out, it's up to Bertie to set things to rights again. Only, without Jeeves, it's a deuced awkward business, wot?
Modern readers may be put off by the casual racism scattered throughout the story. This was originally published in serial form in 1933–4, so allowances should be made; Wodehouse didn't have the influences under which we operate. And there is a purpose for the inclusion of the "Negro minstrels," as Bertie's impersonation of one of them is a pivotal plot point. Finally, none of it is intentionally malicious; it is all quite incidental and offhand. Racism still isn't okay, but I think there's a difference between intentional agendas and unconscious references to the prevailing views of the day.
This story is prefaced by Wodehouse's anecdote of his attempt to dictate it into a newfangled recording device instead of typing it. He got through chapter three or so before stopping to give it a listen. Apparently the result was disastrously unfunny, like a dry schoolmaster with a nasally voice attempting to tell jokes. I wonder if Wodehouse saw himself at all in Bertie's wounded dignity, when informed that his banjolele-playing was causing pain to his hearers!
I listened to this on audiobook, read by Alexander Spencer. Spencer is good, but he does less distinct character voices than Jonathan Cecil, whose Wodehouse narrations I prefer. Still, Spencer fully gets the humor and I found that his character intonations improved as the story went on.
As may be guessed, Bertie's efforts fail miserably and it's not until Jeeves assumes control that a happy ending is had by all. The formula is predictable, but Wodehouse always manages to deliver exquisitely funny characters and situations. It's good medicine.
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Lord Chuffnell's cottages so as to pursue his banjolele studies away from the madding (and maddened) crowd... only to learn that Jeeves has taken employment as Chuffy's valet at Chuffnell Hall. Right-ho, then.There is the usual romantic imbroglio; a former fiancée of Bertie's, Pauline Stoker, enters the picture as Chuffy's guest while her father, the American millionaire J. Washburn Stoker, considers the purchase of Chuffnell Hall. Of course Pauline and Chuffy proceed to fall madly in love, and when they fall out, it's up to Bertie to set things to rights again. Only, without Jeeves, it's a deuced awkward business, wot?
Modern readers may be put off by the casual racism scattered throughout the story. This was originally published in serial form in 1933–4, so allowances should be made; Wodehouse didn't have the influences under which we operate. And there is a purpose for the inclusion of the "Negro minstrels," as Bertie's impersonation of one of them is a pivotal plot point. Finally, none of it is intentionally malicious; it is all quite incidental and offhand. Racism still isn't okay, but I think there's a difference between intentional agendas and unconscious references to the prevailing views of the day.
This story is prefaced by Wodehouse's anecdote of his attempt to dictate it into a newfangled recording device instead of typing it. He got through chapter three or so before stopping to give it a listen. Apparently the result was disastrously unfunny, like a dry schoolmaster with a nasally voice attempting to tell jokes. I wonder if Wodehouse saw himself at all in Bertie's wounded dignity, when informed that his banjolele-playing was causing pain to his hearers!
I listened to this on audiobook, read by Alexander Spencer. Spencer is good, but he does less distinct character voices than Jonathan Cecil, whose Wodehouse narrations I prefer. Still, Spencer fully gets the humor and I found that his character intonations improved as the story went on.
As may be guessed, Bertie's efforts fail miserably and it's not until Jeeves assumes control that a happy ending is had by all. The formula is predictable, but Wodehouse always manages to deliver exquisitely funny characters and situations. It's good medicine.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Crayne
I am in love.
And although that is perhaps too strong of a sentiment, I am definitely enamoured of P.G. Wodehouse after my introduction to Bertram 'Bertie' Wooster, the mentally neglible (and sometimes downright loony) protoganist of 'Thank you, Jeeves'. I have a habit of not noticing worthwile
Wodehouse writes effortlessly, his words flowing like water. Water underneath which swim piranhas. This book is a congenial yet poignant jab at what Monty Python would later dub 'upper-class twits', packaged in a farce that would look equally great when brought to life on the silver screen. Oh wait, they did. I suppose you can guess wether I picked up on that when it first aired. Of course not.
It's not a big book and you'll be reading the last words before you know it, but every page in between is crammed with joy. I'll be seeing a lot more of Bertie Wooster and his man, Jeeves.
And although that is perhaps too strong of a sentiment, I am definitely enamoured of P.G. Wodehouse after my introduction to Bertram 'Bertie' Wooster, the mentally neglible (and sometimes downright loony) protoganist of 'Thank you, Jeeves'. I have a habit of not noticing worthwile
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trends amongst my peers and only getting round to discovering them years after everyone trampled the path. It happened with Pratchett, it happened with Rowling...I'm something of a dunce. Which is probably why I like Wooster so much.Wodehouse writes effortlessly, his words flowing like water. Water underneath which swim piranhas. This book is a congenial yet poignant jab at what Monty Python would later dub 'upper-class twits', packaged in a farce that would look equally great when brought to life on the silver screen. Oh wait, they did. I suppose you can guess wether I picked up on that when it first aired. Of course not.
It's not a big book and you'll be reading the last words before you know it, but every page in between is crammed with joy. I'll be seeing a lot more of Bertie Wooster and his man, Jeeves.
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LibraryThing member snat
For the past couple of years, the name P. G. Wodehouse kept popping up in interviews and articles about some of my favorite people (most notably Hugh Laurie and Neil Gaiman, among others). They praised him as THE master of British comedy. Since I admittedly like my comedy British, I decided it was
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time to give Wodehouse a try. The thing with Wodehouse is that he creeps up on you. During the first few chapters, I thought, "What's all the fuss about?" There is some admittedly clever language and the strange turn of phrase, but nothing laugh out loud hilarious. In true Wooster fashion, I thought, "Everyone who loves this man must have gone potty. They're seriously off their onion. What a rummy bit of business this is." And then it happened--a smile here, a titter there, a giggle, and then laugh out loud hilarity. Particularly hilarious were Wooster's attempts to go to sleep while being constantly awakened by the far too diligent local lawmen, Jeeves' plan to smuggle Wooster off the yacht where he's being held captive (which results in Wooster spending a good portion of the book in black face), the quest for slabs of butter, and the maniacal replacement for Jeeves (who quit Wooster's employ because of his disdain for the banjolele). Many of the jokes aren't subtle in that you know exactly how one event leads to the creation of a particularly vexing problem for our man Wooster. However, that doesn't rob the book of its fun as the anticipation of the event lends itself to a certain joyful giddiness when the events do indeed come to pass. Show Less
LibraryThing member John5918
Another brilliantly funny offering from P G Wodehouse, this one a full length novel.
Jeeves leaves Bertie's service, and the upper-class twit has to make do with his new man, Brinkley. As usual there is romantic interest, numerous misunderstandings, and Jeeves eventually saves the day.
Jeeves leaves Bertie's service, and the upper-class twit has to make do with his new man, Brinkley. As usual there is romantic interest, numerous misunderstandings, and Jeeves eventually saves the day.
LibraryThing member wendyrey
Very funny and well written. The first of the Jeeves novels. Written in the language of Wodehouse's times and class so don't be put off by the use of words now considered racist - the use was clearly not intended to be derogatory and was a simple description.
Brilliant.
Brilliant.
LibraryThing member Cauterize
This was my first Jeeves and Wooster story. I enjoyed it, it was very "British" in humour and in tone. Things like words like "Marmaduke" kept popping in and class conflict. Bertie's observations about how his new manservant (the story in this book is that Jeeves quits working for Wooster) and how
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secretly proletariat he is, had me in stitches. However, I will warn people about this one... a big part of the plot revolves around blackface humour. They're not using it making fun of black people, but as a way for Wooster to escape captivity by walking off a ship with a musical troupe made of black men. It's not very PC today, so I thought I'd mention it. My main gripe is that the book cost me $21.95 CDN, and I didn't think it was worth that much for a trade paperback and a couple hours read. It will be a library borrow from now on. But it was amusing to read the book and fantasizing that Hugh Laurie was reading it to me. However, I do think that people who haven't been exposed to British comedy and humour won't like or enjoy these books very much. Show Less
LibraryThing member jessieb30
This book is laugh out loud hilarious. This is all the more remarkable because it is written in the 30s about the 30s, yet the wit contained between the covers is still just as perfect today.
LibraryThing member raizel
Wodehouse is wonderful and I don't think he meant to be hurtful when he has Bertie use the "n" word; Jeeves, of course, is more formal and says, Negro. Jeeves has moved to the country when the residents of his apartment house and Jeeves himself say he must choose between staying and his new musical
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instrument. Show Less
LibraryThing member jrtanworth
One of the very funniest of the Bertie Wooster and Jeeves series. Because of his dedication to learning the "banjolele", which everyone else, even Jeeves, finds insufferable, Bertie finds himself with a new man"Brinkley" and is caught up in a hilarious series of events that can only be resolved by
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Jeeves at last. Thank you, P.G. Wodehouse. Show Less
LibraryThing member quiBee
This is Bertie's and Jeeves' first full length novel.
In a shock move, Jeeve ceases to be Berties valet in a difference of opinion about Bertie insisting on playing the banjolele out in the country.
There are misunderstandings and lovers torn asunder, as is usual in these stories, and Bertie comes to
A fun read, but a bit of language we're uncomfortable with nowadays.
In a shock move, Jeeve ceases to be Berties valet in a difference of opinion about Bertie insisting on playing the banjolele out in the country.
There are misunderstandings and lovers torn asunder, as is usual in these stories, and Bertie comes to
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an understanding with a long-time enemy.A fun read, but a bit of language we're uncomfortable with nowadays.
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LibraryThing member Pollifax
I loved this book with all of my heart!!!! I love the tv series as well!
LibraryThing member teaswirls
Wodehouse is a genius. The duo of Jeeves and Wooster is utterly hilarious and wonderful.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
I absolutely love these stories! I guess it helps to be an anglophile, but OMG they are funny!
LibraryThing member jmoncton
What a fun book! Jeeves is the epitome of the ideal British valet. Not only is he always ready with whatever item Bertie Wooster desires, he can quote Shakespeare, and in this story, he successfully gets Bertie out of some difficult romantic snafus. Perfect British comedy.
LibraryThing member losloper
While pursuing the love of his life, American heiress Pauline Stoker, Lord 'Chuffy' Chuffnell borrows the services of Jeeves, the perfect gentleman's gentleman. But when Chuffy finds out that Jeeves's employer, Bertie Wooster, was once engaged to Pauline himself – until the engagement was broken
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by her tough-egg father, abetted by loony-doctor Sir Roderick Glossop – such fearsome complications ensue that even Jeeves has difficulty securing a happy ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member RubyScarlett
Hilarious, apart from a very peculiar and distressing black face episode. This is endlessly quotable and the best read to cheer one up.
LibraryThing member billiecat
This tale illustrates one of the reasons calling Wodehouse a "genius" is overreaching, in my opinion. The story is funny in places, but it is also appallingly dated. Blackface is simply no longer funny in 2007. Wodehouse's racial attitudes aren't particularly bad for his time and place, but his
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condescension toward people of color can be found in small doses even in the best of his books (and he uses the "N word" a lot - not as a pejorative but simply and unthinkingly for description, which is telling in itself). Here, unfortunately, it can't be un-entwined with the story as a whole, which features as a major plot point the existence of a minstrel group. If you are a Wodehouse fan, you will want to read this, but he has done better work. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Book on CD performed by Jonathan Cecil
In this full-length novel, Jeeves gives notice after yet another nearby resident complains of Bertie Wooster’s incessant banjolele playing. It seems that while Jeeves has somewhat smoothed relations with the neighbor, he cannot stand listening to the
This was a delightful romp. Lighthearted, fun, entertaining and extremely visual. I will warn modern readers, however, Bertie and another character don blackface for much of the second half of the novel. The dialogue includes one particular racist slur that would never be used so casually today; the book was originally written in 1934 and the audio edition I had did not edit the words for modern sensitivity. Had someone been able to rewrite these scenes to use a different device that was not so racially demeaning I would probably rate it higher.
Jonathan Cecil does a marvelous job narrating the audio version. His pacing is very good and his skill with voices breathes life into the laid-back Bertie, the blustering Mr Stoker, and the inimitable Jeeves.
In this full-length novel, Jeeves gives notice after yet another nearby resident complains of Bertie Wooster’s incessant banjolele playing. It seems that while Jeeves has somewhat smoothed relations with the neighbor, he cannot stand listening to the
Show More
instrument any longer himself. Just as Bertie has agreed to go to the country estate of his school friend Baron Chuffnell, he learns that Jeeves has taken a position in Chuffy’s household. Say what?! Good thing Jeeves is still nearby, because an American millionaire and his lovely daughter are also staying in the vicinity of the country estate aboard their yacht. Bertie had become briefly engaged to Pauline Stoker when visiting America but they parted when her father objected to the match. Now she is engaged to Chuffy, but one misunderstanding after another puts everything in a twist. Until Jeeves calmly and capably sorts it all out. This was a delightful romp. Lighthearted, fun, entertaining and extremely visual. I will warn modern readers, however, Bertie and another character don blackface for much of the second half of the novel. The dialogue includes one particular racist slur that would never be used so casually today; the book was originally written in 1934 and the audio edition I had did not edit the words for modern sensitivity. Had someone been able to rewrite these scenes to use a different device that was not so racially demeaning I would probably rate it higher.
Jonathan Cecil does a marvelous job narrating the audio version. His pacing is very good and his skill with voices breathes life into the laid-back Bertie, the blustering Mr Stoker, and the inimitable Jeeves.
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LibraryThing member aemurray
Loved it, but it is very dated.
LibraryThing member claidheamdanns
As usual, P. G. Wodehouse never fails to provide an entertaining, humorous read. Inane? Yes. Silly? Yes. Predictable? Yes. But thoroughly enjoyable, familiar, comfortable.
LibraryThing member tgraettinger
Classic Bertie and Jeeves. I just love the language and the voice of Bertie - cracks me up. Good story involving Bertie's pal Chuffie and the would-be fiancee Pauline Stoker - plus a handful of other great characters, including the banjolele.
LibraryThing member octothorp
The first full-length, plotted novel in the Jeeves series shows off what he can do for, with especially good results in comic effect of situation and running gags, and the language-and-literature jokes are starting to emerge. Marred by racialized language and situations.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
Feb. 2021 reread via unabridged digital audiobook from Audible Plus lending library
So funny! I had forgotten some of the details so I'm glad that I found this audiobook in Audible's Plus catalog. Jonathan Cecil is such a marvellous narrator who really enhances the humor of the book.
So funny! I had forgotten some of the details so I'm glad that I found this audiobook in Audible's Plus catalog. Jonathan Cecil is such a marvellous narrator who really enhances the humor of the book.
LibraryThing member brakketh
Laugh out loud funny and thoroughly British.
LibraryThing member PhilSyphe
The first installment in the Jeeves series that isn’t a collection of short stories. Unfortunately, this novel is a little disappointing. Main reason being, Jeeves is pushed into the background for much of the time.
Still, as you’d expect from any Wodehouse book, there’s enough quality humour
Still, as you’d expect from any Wodehouse book, there’s enough quality humour
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to keep the reader entertained. It’s just not as entertaining as it could’ve been. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Language
Original publication date
1934
Physical description
288 p.; 7.3 inches
ISBN
1585674346 / 9781585674343
Local notes
series: #04 jeeves
Other editions
Jeeves 04: Thank You, Jeeves [Folio Society] by P.G. Wodehouse (Hardcover)