Enter Jeeves: 15 Early Stories (Hilarious Stories)

Book Description

Splendid collection features Bertie Wooster, the deliciously dim aristocrat, and Jeeves, his brainy manservant. Included are the first 8 Jeeves stories as well as the complete Reggie Pepper (Bertie's prototype) series. "Extricating Young Gussie," "The Aunt and the Sluggard," "Leave It to Jeeves," "Absent Treatment," "Rallying Round Clarence," 10 more tales.

Customer Reviews:

Fun Reading.......2007-08-16

It took me a couple of tries to get into this book - maybe the historical period isn't of particular interest to me. I kept after it and I really did enjoy the stories.

This isn't a novel - it's a collection of stories previously published in periodicals. Don't expect a 'flow' - each story stands alone, as was the intent of the writer in writing for periodicals. The good thing about it is that you can read them story by story and put the book down not wondering what in the world happens next. The stories are entertaining and fun and short enough to read in one of those 'boredom windows' we all have - at the doctor's office, on the bus, or whenever we have to sit and wait for something.

Even Wodehouse said it.......2003-10-27

Even darling P.G. Wodehouse had said it. He did no justice whatsever to the beloved man servant Jeeves in his first story. "Extricating Young Gussie". But Wodehouse had made up for it in every other Jeeves stories that he had written. Bertie Wooster on the other hand had been well developed from the get go.

Reading the Reggie Pepper stories is a gas. I feel in love with dear ol' misguided at times Reggie from the first sentence in "Absent Treatment."

There is no way you can book "Enter Jeeves" down without fistening the story that you are on. You would just want to read the entire book in one sitting, but you know that you just want to savor the witty P.G. Wodeshouse in the book for as long as you can.

Before there was Bertie.......2000-01-18

The first half of this book contains the first Jeeves tales, as they appeared in periodicals. If you've read 'Carry on Jeeves,' there's a lot of overlap here, although the style was polished up a bit later. The second half features Reggie Pepper, Bertie's prototype. His stories are entertaining in their own right, although they can't hold a candle to later Wodehouse. Still, it's interesting to see the evolution.

An enjoyable collection of Wodehouse's works.......1999-02-27

Before purchasing this book I had only been aquainted with Wodehouse's most famous characters Bertie Wooster and his stalwart man servant, Jeeves; and I must say that it was a pleasant suprise to be introduced to Reggie Pepper. His stories frolic in as much fun as Bertie's and he is a man who can think for himself (althought I do miss the perspicatious Jeeves standing in a corner ever ready to solve all the world's problems). With a mixture of Bertie, Jeeves and Reggie you're sure to have a jolly old time.

Average customer rating:

A Must-Read for Any British Comedy Enthusiast!
Enjoyable, but Highly Repetitive
Stories Don't Come Any Better Than This (or Any Funnier)
Perhaps the best introduction to & compendium of Wodehouse!
Each of the 34 stories is a good read for a relaxing evening

The World of Jeeves
P. G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060159685

Customer Reviews:

A Must-Read for Any British Comedy Enthusiast!.......2007-06-08

P.G. Wodehouse shows why Jeeves and Wooster are his most loved characters by readers in his compilation of short stories entitled The World of Jeeves. You will fall immediately in love with all of Wodehouse's characters; all of whom I know no one like, but I completely understand their personalities. Bertie Wooster is a person you wish you could be sometimes because of the lavish lifestyle he lives and his social Einstein for a valet, Jeeves. Jeeves is the person everyone wishes they knew because of his cunning in escaping from pickles. Bertie's Aunt Agatha is the member of the extended family that everyone has who they love to hate. It seams like she always has someone new to stay with Bertie or a new woman to potentially settle Bertie down with in married life. Whether it's Cyril Bassington Bassington or Wilmot Malvern who overstay there welcome (and especially in Motty's case), Jeeves always finds a way to get them moving on their way out of Bertie's flat. This however does lead to the only flaw in the book. Although it is exciting in every story to see how Jeeves solves the problem, it can get somewhat repetitive because you know that Jeeves will eventually solve it and everything will turn out fine in the end. But to anyone looking for something that is actually fun to read; a getaway from the serious literature out there, especially about the 1920's such as F. Scott Fittzgerald, then this is the book for you. Fitzgerald chooses to take the wealthy class during the 1920's seriously while Wodehouse chooses to make fun of their pinstripe suit wearing and obscure sock, hat, and tie styles, which is far more fun to read about.

Enjoyable, but Highly Repetitive.......2004-09-26

P. G. Wodehouse definitely can tell a funny story. The interaction between Bertie Wooster and his gentleman's gentleman, Jeeves, always bring the smile to one's face. The problem is, once one has read a handful of the over thirty stories in this collection alone, everything else is simply repetition.

Wodehouse's characters are two dimensional at best. These stories are definitely intended as very light reading, as a glance through the "other books written by" page in this volume suggests: There are 93 books by this author. 93! That doesn't include the omnibuses.

Wodehouse's writing is complete fluff, yet charming fluff at that. I certainly couldn't read more than two or three of these short stories at a sitting. This is definitely library or used book material.

Stories Don't Come Any Better Than This (or Any Funnier).......2004-07-02

What better introduction to the wonders of P.G. Wodehouse's writing than a collection of stories about the adventures of Bertie Wooster and his repeated rescue by Jeeves? This volume includes all the stories - thirty-three narrated by Bertie and one by Jeeves. None is less than good; most have had me laughing out loud.

In addition to Bertie and Jeeves, you'll meet such memorable characters as Bingo Little and his wife Rosie M. Banks, Tuppy Glossop and his uncle Sir Roderick, Bertie's aunts Agatha and Dahlia, and, in "Jeeves and the Old School Chum", Rosie's friend Laura Pyke.

If you like to laugh and like good literature, this collection is for you. If you've never read any Wodehouse, I envy you the pleasure awaiting you.

Perhaps the best introduction to & compendium of Wodehouse!.......2002-04-02

This book is at once both an excellent introduction to, as well as an outstanding compendium of the outrageous "Jeeves" stories by PG Wodehouse. This collection of short stories is the pinancle of parody of the stereotypical British elite, as seen though the eyes "the perfect manservant" to a "1920's bachelor on the run".

I admit that I was biased when I began this book, at the incessant recommendation of my siblings. I was certain that I would not enjoy it, and resisted its wickedly incisive humor with all my might as I turned page after page ... after page. I finally gave in to Wodehouse's unbeatable combination of an incredibly accurate, ironic, insightful view of the world and an always well-turned phrase. I dare you to spend an evening with it - you'll find yourself hooked! The good news is that there are many more fine "Jeeves" stories to enjoy after these.

You really should enjoy at least one Wodehouse "Jeeves" book - at this is the perfect place to begin, if you ask me.

Do enjoy - Cheerio!

Each of the 34 stories is a good read for a relaxing evening.......1999-01-19

Bertie and Jeeves know just how to take your mind off hypocritical House and Senate impeachment hearings and sexual overkill.

THE WORLD OF JEEVES has brisk dialogue, well paced tales of British leisure class misdoings punctuated by the brilliant people skills of the Gentleman's Gentleman who always saves the day. Best if read aloud. I can't wait to start on another volume.

Average customer rating:

Good stuff.

Wodehouse in Fine Fettle

Not A Negative Word

Waiting

One of the Best by the Master of Farce

Jeeves in the Morning
P. G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060972823

Book Description

Jeeves in the Morning reflects the glories and absurdities of a vanished era as Jeeves and his master, Bertie Wooster, frolic through a series of outrageous and nightmarish doings.

Customer Reviews:

Good stuff........2006-09-13

One of the better Jeeves and Wooster novels, and that's saying something. Packed full of boyscouts, fiancés, and Cheesewrights. This book just plain fun and is not to be missed, pick up your copy today. Now. And get another for the road. Wodehouse is the best English humorist that you'll never hear of in Brit Lit.

Wodehouse in Fine Fettle.......2006-08-04

Reading some reviews I wonder if these readers read the same book I did. Wodehouse would seem the last author to psychoanalyze, and his books would seem the last to over-analyze, being almost the only antidote left to the over-everything of the modern (or is it post-modern world?). By the way, there is no "capital punishment" in this book, which refers to the death penalty. There is "corporal punishment" common in the Britain of Wodehouse's day and referred to often in his books as "six of the juciest" and by other sobriquets.

Anyone who's read a lot of PGW has already read this one, one of the topping best. But if you've perused one another Jeeves book, you may still think you've read this one due to the Wooster habit of referring to and reminiscing about his previous adventures.

Also, fans of the excellent Jeeves and Wooster (or is it Wooster and Jeeves?) TV series will find all sorts of bits from this book, some of them surviving intact. While I very much like the Penguin new reissue paperbacks, this edition and a few other American paperbacks feature art by Steven Guarnaccia. They are slightly larger than the pocket paperbacks, fall open nicely in the hand, and have slightly tan pages which minimize the glare when reading outside.

I think the reviewer is correct who said this is the same book as Joy in the Morning, itself a clever play on the Psalmist's "Joy cometh in the morning". The alternate editions are listed in two books (neither of which I have handy right now), Joseph Connolly's P.G. Wodehouse (Thames and Hudson Literary Lives), out of print and rather difficult to get but well worth it; and Richard Usborne's Plum Sauce (I may have misspelled both author's names). These books have helped me avoid ordering the same book under different titles, and also enable those so desiring to read PGW's output in chronological order.

Not A Negative Word.......2006-03-12

Superlative, sterling, superior, tops, great, bang-up, bully, capital, outstanding, dandy, corking, distinguished, extraordinary, keen, nifty, humorous, peachy, whimsical, smashing, slap-up, swell, comical, amusing, mirthful, rummy, singular, funny, acute, sharp, perceptive, piercing, farcical, droll, risible, hilarious, mirthful, witty, sidesplitting, uproarious, waggish, wry, jocose, zany, rosy, upbeat, and perfectly plotted, to say the least.

Waiting.......2005-08-08

I'm sure that I've read this one before (or the alternate Joy in the Morning) but don't seem to have a copy. So I've ordered one.

Sure do wish all booksellers would put the alternate titles so that unsuspecting buyers don't buy duplicates.

Oh and I thoroughly enjoy all the Bertie & Jeeves books. Check out his Psmith ones too!

One of the Best by the Master of Farce.......2005-05-12

This wonderfully humorous novel, published as Joy in the Morning in Britain, is perhaps the best of the Bertie and Jeeves novels, and I can think of no higher praise than that for any book.

All the elements for a successful Bertie and Jeeves novel are here: love affairs go off the rails, imperiling Bertie's status as a bachelor; Bertie's actions to right things fail; and Jeeves comes to the rescue. In addition, there are some special features: Bertie's Uncle Percival, Lord Worplesdon, the second husband of Bertie's Aunt Agatha (the one who, as I recall, "chews ground glass and conducts human sacrifices at the full moon") makes his only appearance in the Wodehouse oeuvre, as I believe is also the case for Boko Fittleworth, whose actions go awry just as often as Bertie's.

It's all held together, of course, by Bertie's extraordinary narration.

I have read this book perhaps a dozen times, and I still laugh aloud at least once on nearly every page.

Average customer rating:

Very, very good
It's fairly funny, yet it left me feeling somewhat empty
good; one story had me rolling
Jeeves & Bertie #3
Very Good Indeed! Wodehouse at his best.

Very Good, Jeeves!
P.G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140284109

Book Description

Now with a delightful new look, two collections of stories by P. G. Wodehouse, a "comic genius recognized in his lifetime as a classic and an old master of farce"(The Times [London])

In creating that incomparable pair--the lovable scamp Bertie Wooster and his unflappable valet, Jeeves--P. G. Wodehouse "made a world for us to live in and delight in" (Evelyn Waugh). This volume contains eleven stories, including "Jeeves and the Impending Doom," a hilarious chronicle of a ghastly weekend at Aunt Agatha's country home; "Jeeves and the Song of Songs," which features Bertie's reluctant public debut as a singer; and "The Inferiority Complex of Old Sippy," in which Jeeves manages, with his usual aplomb, to help one of Bertie's bumbling pals win the hand of the woman he loves.

Customer Reviews:

Very, very good.......2007-03-17

No one does comic short stories better than P.G. Wodehouse, and the eleven offerings in "Very Good, Jeeves" are among his very best.

It's fairly funny, yet it left me feeling somewhat empty.......2005-09-09

This book was all right. It was a nice little break from The Master and Margarita, the book I had read before it. It is very light reading in every sense of the word. It's easy and the material is as fluffy as meringue. Basically you have the extremely well off gentleman of the early 20th century in England--Bertie Wooster--and his multitude of acquaintances who are constantly getting him into hijinks. His "genius" of a butler, Jeeves, always helps him out of these situations, which he often attempts to solve himself only to go crying out to Jeeves when nothing works out the way he thought it would.
Bertie Wooster often complains of his aunt Agatha. She deems him a crime on humanity, and to be totally honest, I would agree with her. All Bertie Wooster does is sit on his bum all day and have people wait and serve on him and think totally of himself. His problems are always just "problems". It's amazing that Wodehouse managed to fill as many pages with the storyline as he did. While it was nice to read about something completely not serious for a bit, it got old after awhile and found myself rolling my eyes. I really began to dislike Bertie simply because he isn't all that great of a person in that he is totally self-involved. He is probably also one of THE most sheltered characters ever. So, overall, I would say the book was all right for the reading of one story every so often, but all at once really makes me want to gag.

good; one story had me rolling.......2004-09-23

While I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection, I didn't generally find them terribly funny--though throughout it's always entertaining to hear Bertie Wooster's take on things--but there is at least one story, The Song of Songs, that is knock-down hilarious. I wouldn't want to give anyone too high expectations, but for days after reading the story I would think of it again and again, chuckling like an idiot. There's an ingenious situation, and Bertie's exchanges with Jeeves and his narration ("I commended my soul to God and went forth ...", "Well, they didn't rush the stage") are wildly funny. (That is, if you're into this sort of humor; if you don't like Song of Songs I doubt you'll like any Wodehouse.) Now I've read several of Wodehouse's novels, there are times when I'm not all that thrilled with the stuff, it seems almost formulaic, or clever but shy of brilliant, but Song of Songs is a masterpiece, than which it's hard for me to think of a funnier story or passage I've read anywhere.

BTW, among the Wodehouse I've read so far besides this, I guess I liked Code of the Woosters and some of the other Bertie-Jeeves stories best, did not like the Blandings, Psmith or Mulliner stories as much. If you're new to Wodehouse, I might recommend you first read one or two of the Bertie-Jeeves novels--my first was Code of the Woosters, which was great but has had the drawback that, so far anyway, few of his other works quite match that level of hilarity, at least for me.

Jeeves & Bertie #3.......2002-09-13

Previous: Carry On, Jeeves

The third and last short story collection, this volume contains some of the very best Jeeves and Bertie stories, again, stand-alone and unrelated. My favorite in this collection-and my favorite short story overall-is the brilliant Jeeves and the Impending Doom. Not only is the plot wonderfully eccentric, Jeeves manages to get in a very subtle jab at Bertie's intelligence which is particularly well-timed and memorable. Notable also is Jeeves and the Song of Songs, which is outright hilarious. And notable primarily for the irony of the story is The Love that Purifies, in which the kids vow to live upright lives, while the adults go out of their way to corrupt them into bad behavior. Memorable and hilarious stuff!

Next: Thank You, Jeeves

Very Good Indeed! Wodehouse at his best........2002-03-23

This collection of short stories from the Jeeves and Wooster series was first published in 1930. If the proof of classic status lies in how well a book stands the test of time, then this volume is indeed a classic. All eleven stories herein are excellently written and slyly humorous. Wodehouse once remarked that his stories were the opposite of "real world" stuff and in a way that is true, as his created world of Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves is in many ways a delightful fantasy. Having said that however, Wodehouse's comic situations and droll characterizations and observations reveal that he knew a lot about human nature. Like James Thurber his humorous fantasy is both an escape from and simultaneously an insight into human relationships and social situations.

One reviewer once remarked of this book's stories that "everyone was the best," and I'm tempted to agree, as all are worth reading and remembering. Perhaps my own favorite is "Jeeves and the Old School Chum" in which Wooster's former school mate newlywed Bingo Little suffers unmercifully from the ideas foisted on his romance novelist wife Rosie M. Banks' way of thinking regarding the pleasures of the dinner table, due to a visit from her "old school chum" Laura Pyke. Pyke is a "food crank" who (horrors) forces the rest of the household to abstain from cigarettes, alcohol, and most nourishment this side of tofu and bean sprouts for a time. Visiting Bertie suffers along with his buddy Bingo until such time as Jeeves can put things right. Along the way Bertie learns a little about the realities of marriage (the husband is master in his own home, unless the wife has an opposing viewpoint), the proper tactics for a male when intervening in an argument between two ladies (don't!, imitate the opossum and play dead), and how to bargain with a surly homeowner who has just gotten the baby to sleep (you'll have to read the story to find this one out).

A simply worded plot summary such as this can't even begin to come close however to conveying Wodehouse's command of the English language and his gift for humorous understatement. He has to be read to be truly appreciated. My own wish to anyone reading this review is for you to certainly find this volume or another one of the novels or short story collections in the series and give them a try. You won't be disappointed.

Also, if you haven't seen the PBS videos of the series starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry then I would strongly suggest checking them out. Several of the first season's episodes were inspired by the stories in this volume, and the series did an excellent job of conveying the warmth and humor of the stories to the screen. Watching them can only add to the pleasure of reading the stories. Still, reading Wodehouse is the best. I highly recommend him.

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What Jeeves did while Bertie was away.....

Jeeves attempts to operate without Bertie.

The Return of Jeeves (A Jeeves and Bertie Novel)
P. G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060965029

Customer Reviews:

What Jeeves did while Bertie was away............2005-03-01

Bertie Wooster has gone off to school in an attempt to learn how to fend for himself, (which in Bertie's case meant locating and donning his own socks).

Jeeves has gone to the household of the Earl of Towcester, a young gentleman as much in need of Jeeves as Bertie. The Earl has a large estate, a fiancee, a sister and brother-in-law and a desperate need for ready cash. He and Jeeves attempt to remedy this problem by becoming turf accountants (bookies to us Americans). Naturally this only makes matters worse.

As one would expect in a Wodehouse novel the situation rapidly becomes absurd, the long lost appear, romance blooms and goes awry, wrong conclusions are reached and a wonderful time is had by all.

This is a hilarious story, perfect escapism for those times when the world begins to get too serious.

Jeeves attempts to operate without Bertie........1998-01-05

This is one of P.G. Wodehouses lesser efforts. The books plods rather than races along. All the other Jeeves books are written from the point of view of Bertie Wooster, but with Bertie gone this tactic cannot be used and the book suffers as a consequence. Only get it if you are making a collection of Wodehouse. Two other points. Firstly, the character in the novel is the Earl of Rowcester (not Towcester) and secondly the book was previously published as 'Ring for Jeeves'

Introducing Jeeves: Six Classic Stories (Large Print Classics)

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Introducing Jeeves: Six Classic Stories (Large Print Classics)
P. G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486433617

Book Description

British humorist P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) charmed generations of readers with such whimsical characters as the Honourable Bertie Wooster — a deliciously dim aristocrat — and Jeeves, his imperturbable manservant. This entertaining collection presents six entertaining tales featuring the unflappable valet, among them "Leave It to Jeeves," "Jeeves Takes Charge," and "Jeeves in the Springtime."

Average customer rating:

clean surface and sleek condition
A bed book for reading in the bed.
A cure for insomnia
Early Jeeves/Wooster, and Reggie Pepper too
Classic Wodehousiana!

My Man Jeeves
P. G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Waking Lion Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1600962289
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Book Description

Where would Bertie Wooster be without his man Jeeves? The discerning butler knows all, sees all, and ultimately resolves all problems in this masterpiece of British comedy. Newly designed and typeset in a modern 6-by-9-inch format by Waking Lion Press.

Download Description

What I mean is, while there's no doubt that in certain matters of dress Jeeves's judgment is absolutely sound and should be followed, it seemed to me that it was getting a bit too thick if he was going to edit my face as well as my costume. No one can call me an unreasonable chappie, and many's the time I've given in like a lamb when Jeeves has voted against one of my pet suits or ties; but when it comes to a valet's staking out a claim on your upper lip you've simply got to have a bit of the good old bulldog pluck and defy the blighter.

Customer Reviews:

clean surface and sleek condition.......2006-02-28

the book is in excellent, in fact, perfect, shape, and has a beautiful feel to it--the contents are the usual brilliant Jeeves and Wooster humor!

A bed book for reading in the bed........2006-01-02

I love Jeeves stories and these are some of the first. But not all are about Jeeves and Wooster, thou they would show up in later books changed to be Jeeves and Wooster stories.
A bed book, as I pointed out, is meant to be used while in bed. It is designed so you can read it while on your side. I like to read books while laying on my front in bed, so it is nice to have. I had to take a star away for the fact that not ALL stories were of the J & W type.

A cure for insomnia.......2005-10-14

I listen to audio books all night - re-cuing to where I left off every time I wake up. Jeeves is a very light, relaxing, entertaining listen - especially when narrated by Jarvis. I DO laugh out loud occasionally - even on the 2nd or 5th listen - and even at 3am, but the lightness of the stories and the humor are surpassed (to my taste) only by John Mortimer's Rumpole series read by Leo McKern.

Like "Tootsie" the movie, you won't come away from this with a different outlook on life, but it's good escape and, for me, chases away the worries that night in the George Bush era bring.

Early Jeeves/Wooster, and Reggie Pepper too.......2005-01-23

This was the earliest (1919) of Wodehouse's short story collections to mention Jeeves in the title, and these are very early Jeeves/Wooster stories. But only half of the stories in this volume are set in the Wooster household. The other half of these stories feature Reggie Pepper. Pepper can be thought of as a proto-Bertie, but he has no Jeeves-like character around. The Reggie Pepper stories are also similar to the Jeeves/Wooster stories in that they are written in Reggie's voice. Once Wodehouse got rolling with the Jeeves/Wooster stories, he abandoned Reggie Pepper. I think there are only eight Reggie Pepper stories in total, with half of them found in this collection.

A few points are worth noting. The earliest Jeeves/Wooster story is not in this collection. That first story was "Extricating Gussie", which is to be found in the 1917 collection "The Man With Two Left Feet." It is in "Extricating Gussie" that Jeeves and Wooster travel to New York. All the Jeeves/Wooster stories in "My Man Jeeves" are set in New York as well. Another factor to bear in mind is that most of these early stories were later reworked, and appear in "Carry On, Jeeves." The story "Leave it to Jeeves" appears in "Carry On" as "The Artistic Career of Corky", with the first few paragraphs re-written for that version. The stories "Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest" and "Jeeves and The Hard-Boiled Egg" appear in "Carry On" with no obvious alterations. Also, the story "Helping Freddie" appears in "Carry On" as "Fixing it for Freddie", but in that case the story has been changed from a Reggie Pepper vehicle to one featuring Bertie and Jeeves - the plot and much of the language carry directly through this transformation.

In short, three of the four Jeeves/Wooster stories, and one of the Reggie Pepper stories, appear, with varying degrees of alteration, in "Carry On, Jeeves." The only Jeeves/Wooster item in this collection that doesn't appear in "Carry On" is "The Aunt and the Sluggard."

Classic Wodehousiana!.......2003-09-04

Martin Jarvis' reading of My Man Jeeves runs circles around Jonathan Cecil's reading of *anything* (for more ranting on Cecil, see Psmith: Journalist). He simply embodies the characters of Bertie Wooster, Jeeves, Biffy, Corky, and all the cast (albeit with the same typical attempt at an American accent).

This recording consists of the two stories from the printed Carry On, Jeeves collection that were left out of the CD copy of the Carry On, Jeeves audiobook--one of which has Jeeves himself as the narrator--as well as three stories starring Bertie Wooster's predecessor, Reggie Pepper.

Pepper by himself isn't as funny or touching as the relationship between Jeeves and Wooster, but the predicaments are identical to those that Bertie would find himself getting into. The only difference is that Reggie manages to extricate himself from the troubles, unlike Bertie, who relies on the wiles of his man, Jeeves.

Book Description

One of literature’s most celebrated fictional duos, lovable fop Bertie Wooster and his clever valet Jeeves, take center stage in these hilarious tales. In the first four, Jeeves saves Bertie from some serious scrapes involving stolen manuscripts, unfortunate engagements, marital scandals, and jailbird friends. The other four find Bertie exiled to 1920s New York, where Jeeves rescues him from American aunts, visiting Brits, poetic chumps, and femme fatales. “Jeeves Takes Charge” is chronologically the first in the series, telling how the canny valet entered Wooster’s life. “Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest” expands the canvas to include Bertie’s young cousin who goes wild under his wing. “The Rummy Affair of Old Biffy,” “Clustering Round Young Bingo,” and “The Artistic Career of Corky” are variations on the Wodehousian theme of dastardly rascals who scheme to take advantage of Bertie’s hopeless naivete. The author’s witty wordplay, eccentric characters, and incisive comedics are well served by Martin Jarvis’s pitch-perfect performance.

Customer Reviews:

A Capital Collection.......2007-01-20

This volume of ten stories originally hails from 1925. I read them in the 1999- 2000 Penguin paperback edition. While many readers like the covers by Ionicus on earlier Penguin paperbacks, these recent editions with covers by David Hitch are my favorites. They are very well done, reasonably priced and just the right size, which is to say, perfect for the novice or seasoned Wodehouse reader. The stories are also among the absolute tops in the Wooster/ Jeeves canon, and give the back stories that Bertie meditatively refers to in so many of the later books.

As Richard Usborne notes in his invaluable guide, Plum Sauce, five of these stories appeared earlier in My Man Jeeves (1919). Two of the stories there told by Reggie Pepper are here transformed into Bertie's ruminations. Carry On Jeeves was the next collection following the ten stories in The Inimitable Jeeves (1923), and Wodehouse was on a roll. Here's Bertie's first engagement to Florence Craye, and his first encounter with her younger brother, Edwin, the Boy Scout, who rapidly renders unsafe house and home. Enter Biffy and Bingo Little, later fixtures in the Wooster ouvre. Here also Bertie pens his oft- mentioned "piece" for his "good aunt" Dahlia Travers, and her struggling paper, Milady's Boudoir. The last story in this collection is somewhat questionably narrated by Jeeves, but Wodehouse fortunately reverted to telling tales in first person Bertie in the later shorts. Some of these tales also found their way into the Jeeves and Wooster TV shows with even more riotous results. All in all, a capital collection.

Carry On, Jeeves.......2006-06-28

Carry On, Jeeves is another classic from P.G. Wodehouse. It follows in the same kind of humorous hiliarious vein of his other books that involve Berty Wooster and his Man Servant Jeeves. This is a book that should not be missed. In fact,
all of P.G. Wodehouse's books involving Jeeves and Berty Wooster
should be thoroughly enjoyed by every one.

The original show about nothing.......2006-05-14

I had never got around to reading any P.G. Wodehouse until I read this volume, and now I regret the delay.

My first exposure to Wodehouse, at least the first I can remember, was the great Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie (better known from "Black Adder" and "House") TV series "Jeeves and Wooster". That series, plus a few artsy articles on Wodehouse (for example this one by Christopher Hitchens [...] ), turned my Wodehouse radar on.

Even though the world of butlers and aristocratic drones in the 1920s may as well be life of the Siberian Steppes to us web connected suburbanites, the human comedy never really changes. It was the Jeeves and Wooster stories, not "Seinfeld", that was the original "show about nothing."

Every story starts from a minor mishap that turns into major mayhem, requiring the sagacious Jeeves to slide in and rescue his well meaning but social accident prone patron from the self induced quagmire.

This is humour that is sympathetic to all the parties involved. As such it is a pleasant change from the rude brood of "cruder than thou" comedies that has dominated mainstream TV / movie comedy from both England and America for most of the last dozen years. My guess is that generation of young media consumers has grown up that know no humour other than the stick it someone else variety. Not to say there is anything wrong with that, it's just the monotony of it all that I am tired of.

Bring back Wodehouse!

The Immortal Bertie and Jeeves Sparkle (Carry On, Jeeves).......2006-04-12

P G Wodehouse specializes in extremely humorous, complex plots, with everyone seemingly at cross purposes, and the ubiquitous happy ending. His characters are the offspring of the builders of the British Empire, wastrels all. Bertie is an extremely affable chap, but a bit lacking in brain power. In the opening story Jeeves becomes Bertie's butler, definitely the brains of the duo. Bertie is one of natures bachelors, but this never prevents him from being engaged to completely unsuitable fiances. They generally have terrific profiles, volatile temperments, and consider Bertie to be a spineless jellyfish with brains to match; and attempt to mold him. The brainy literature they force on poor Bertie is way beyond our heroes reading level. Bertie leads an idyllic life, the sun is in the sky, the birds are singing in the trees, but he manages to always land himself in the soup. The magnificent Jeeves is ever there to fish him out, not unlike the magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Jeeves's mental prowess is always made available to come to the aid of Bertie's menagerie of pals.

Classic Wodehouse.......2006-03-11

This is a collection of Jeeves stories, most set in New York, that also includes the story of how Jeeves came to be hired by Bertie Wooster and Jeeves own account of one of his adventures with Bertie. All is classic Wodehouse and great fun to read.

Jeeves and the Tie That Binds: A Novel (Rep)

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The Funniest Assigned Reading I've Ever Had
Sunset at Totleigh Towers
The tie that binds...
90th birthday! -- but still amusing, predictable Wodehouse !
Wheels within Wheels within Wheels: Right Ho!

Jeeves and the Tie That Binds: A Novel (Rep)
P. G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060972831

Book Description

A Bertie and Jeeves classic, featuring the Junior Ganymede, a Market Snodsbury election, and the Observer crossword puzzle.

Jeeves, who has saved Bertie Wooster so often in the past, may finally prove to be the unwitting cause of this young master's undoing in Jeeves and the Tie that Binds. The Junior Ganymede, a club for butlers in London's fashionable West End, requires every member to provide details about the fellow he is working for. When information is inadvertently revealed to a dangerous source, it falls to Jeeves to undo the damage.

Customer Reviews:

The Funniest Assigned Reading I've Ever Had.......2007-09-14

'Jeeves & The Tie That Binds' was assigned reading for a college 'Humor in Lit' class. As so often happened to me in college, I managed to get through the class without doing the assigned reading.

What a mistake!

A week ago I happened to pick 'Jeeves & The Tie That Binds' up off of my bookshelf. I rarely so much as chuckle when reading, but P.G. Wodehouse's bumbling Bertie Wooster and his arch-English Butler Jeeves had me laughing out loud.

The story is a whirling cacaphony that includes Bertie's friend Ginger Winship standing for Parliment, money troubles, the Junior Ganymede club book (and it's dangerous contents), engagements, disengagements, theft, and every other manner of absurdity. Not that the plot really matters. P.G. Wodehouse's comic genius is in his wordplay and comic timing.

If you really want to delve into Wodehouse, you would find the ever present English obsession with class but you'd also be ruining a wonderfully light hearted piece of writing through over-examination. At only 208 pages, it's the perfect book for an airplane flight or a train ride.

Sunset at Totleigh Towers.......2006-02-21

I agree with another reviewer that this seems to be the same book as Much Obliged Jeeves. That happens with a lot of P.G. Wodehouse books as they were published with different titles (and often slight revisions) in Britain and America. Some also began life as serials in magazines, particularly the Saturday Evening Post. A few places list all the alternate titles, as in Joseph Connolly's P.G. Wodehouse and Richard Usborne's Plum Sauce.

Other reviewers have noted that this is not the best book of the Jeeves/ Wooster nexus. Having said that, if you've read all the others, you'll enjoy it very much. Published four years before PGW died, it serves as both the denoument of the Jeeves and Wooster series, and as a reminiscence of their adventures. All of these books are written in the first person as Bertie Wooster's musings and remembrances, often with asides to the reader filling in the backstory thus far, but this one revisits nearly their entire career. Quite enjoyable for those who've read those books: "remember that time that Madeline Basset..." but for new readers, not the place to start. Fortunately numerous other titles beckon, like breadcrumbs left on a road, and following it one meanders one's way through all the books, culminating in Jeeves and the Tie That Binds.

The tie that binds..........2006-01-03

This is a very special book. Written by Wodehouse at age 90, it celebrates the deep affection and friendship that grew between Bertie and Jeeves as a result of their many years of shared adventures--"the tie that binds".

Followers of the series know that Bertie belongs to the Drones men's club. In chapter one, we learn that Jeeves has also long belonged to a club for "gentlemen's gentlemen" (butlers and valets) known as the Junior Ganymede. The Junior Ganymede requires its members to contribute information about their employers to the club book. When this book (complete with its 11 pages of "dynamite" about poor Bertie's misadventures) is stolen by a villianous ex-valet a crisis ensues.

Friends of Bertie and Jeeves will greatly enjoy the warm, gentle humor of "Jeeves and the Tie That Binds".

90th birthday! -- but still amusing, predictable Wodehouse !.......2005-04-26

To be alive and kicking at age 90 ain't bad, but to be writing books worthy of one's younger efforts is indeed admirable. This entry in the Bertie and Jeeves long-running Wodehouse series is pretty much up to form -- silly plot for sure, but the delightful antics of Wooster, his butler/valet Jeeves, the "aged relative" Aunt Dahlia, and a half dozen goofy friends comprise the typical romp in the countryside so typical of these stories. And, as oft the case, Bertie's ex-girlfriends (he seems to have no end of them, yet ironically rarely a current one) make several appearances, and as their current romances flag, turn to back to Bertie, to his horror, with matrimonial intentions!

In "Tie That Binds", Bertie and Jeeves have traveled to his aunt's country cottage to help support a friend of hers, Ginger Winship, running for the House of Commons. Bertie's unwitting first canvassing call was upon Winship's opponent, a robust woman who, needless to say, takes the wind out of his sails and makes Bertie wonder if Ginger has a chance. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, his aunt is scheming to waylay a rich guest (L.P. Runkle) to solicit money for a young man wanting to marry, whose father had been somewhat cheated out of some inventor's riches by the rich guy. She winds up stealing a silver ornament from Runkle as part of a ploy to gain leverage, only to see Bertie blamed for the pilferage and stand to go to jail. Meanwhile, some other characters let loose on our hero, including his ex-'s, whom he tries to dodge at every turn. All we need are the Three Stooges and our farce would be complete!

This book was published in 1971 on the author's 90th birthday. His prose still amuses and his characters, usually shallow at best, entertain with their twisted personalities and hilarious comings and goings. One should not look for much more than an hour or so of smiling while reading Wodehouse, but to be able to find that every time for sure, not bad, eh?

Wheels within Wheels within Wheels: Right Ho!.......2005-01-25

It would be a mistake to read Jeeves & the Tie that Binds without being fully familiar with the earlier books about Jeeves and Bertie Wooster. This story follows hard on the heels of the action in Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, which in turn is a sequel as well. Without having enjoyed the two earlier books, I fear that this one will seem a little pale . . . because it relies on knowing the context for igniting fully humorous explosions of uncontrolled guffaws and side-splitting laughter.

Jeeves & the Tie That Binds also has the charm of looking behind the scenes to reveal a little more about Jeeves and his fellow butlers and gentlemen's gentlemen who belong to the Junior Ganymede club that keeps the top secret book about the foibles of those they serve . . . so they can avoid taking on someone who will be most unsuitable as an employer. Bertie's been worried about that book for years, despite having benefited from many of Jeeves's shared confidences about the book.

On the surface, the call to arms is a simple enough one. Aunt Dahlia, whose table is made resplendent by the redoubtable Anatole, wants Bertie to come to Market Snodsbury (don't you love that name?) to help his old Oxford friend, Harold (Ginger) Winship, run for office as an M.P. Bertie soon has matters all fouled up, as usual, when he makes his first campaign call on Ginger's opponent.

But Ginger has more serious problems, he's engaged to Florence Craye, the woman who keeps threatening to marry Bertie. Florence loves to improve her men, which is why Ginger is running for office. Fail to be elected, and he knows he will get the old heave-ho.

Bertie soon falls afoul of his mistaken reputation as a thief, and worse risks soon threaten him. Unfortunately, the latest person to suspect Bertie is the man he's supposed to charm into giving lots of money to his old friend, Tuppy Glossop.

Life gets even more challenging when it turns out that the secret book contains scandalous doings by Ginger that would scotch his efforts to become elected. Then Florence would have her eye on Bertie again . . . not to mention that Madeline Bassett is also seeking Bertie's hand in marriage.

Matters become so difficult that Bertie takes in on the lam, leaving matters in Jeeves's capable hands.

As usual, a major point in the book's favor is the frequent use of original metaphors, similes and comparisons. Here's one of my favorites by Aunt Dahlia: "Why are you staring at me like a halibut on a fishmonger's table?"

Hew to the old feudal spirit!

Jeeves Et Autres Nouvelles / Jeeves and Other Stories

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Jeeves Et Autres Nouvelles / Jeeves and Other Stories
Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 2266029010

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