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P. The character Jeeves has been the basis for many fictional valets and butlers, both on the page and on the screen. G. Wodehouse, one of Britain's most well known comic writers, wrote these short stories in 1924 featuring the memorable Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves. As such, Jeeves immediately seems familiar. In addition to creating these colorful characters, Wodehouse also delights with his playful use of language.
Its stop-and-start pacing betrays that origin, but Wodehouse has turned the stories into a continuous plot, so it all feels like one book, even if it isn't quite a novel.As always, Bertie is dim and continually getting into scrapes -- the ones in this book mostly concern the lovelife of his friend Bingo Little, who keeps falling into love with unlikely females and calling for Bertie's help to win them. For me, the books of P.G. Every reader needs comfort: something to retreat to when things aren't going as planned, a calm oasis of perfection while the storm rages outside. Bertie, of course, is very little help, but Jeeves's plots are cunning and true.though they're not always designed to do what Bingo or Bertie would like.Inimitable is not quite top-drawer Wodehouse; it sees him still tuning the instrument of the Jeeves-Wooster stories, and organizing the elements that he would later turn into the most exquisite of farces. Wodehouse perfectly fit that bill. Even better, he wrote over a hundred of them in his long life, so I'm still able to read new books when I need them.And so I turned to The Inimitable Jeeves after one nice novel that wasn't what I had thought it would be, an aborted reading of a tedious science fiction "satire," and a few false starts.Inimitable is from 1923, and was the first novel-length appearance of Jeeves (and his employer -- "master" would be entirely the wrong word -- Bertram Wilberforce Wooster, one of the idlest of the idle rich and dullest of the Drones), though it was actually a fix-up of eleven previously published stories. But "not quite as good as Wodehouse later got" is still vastly better than most modern humorists, and the world of Jeeves and Wooster is so timeless -- one part Gay Nineties, one part Roaring Twenties, one part pre-war gaiety, and several parts pure Wodehousian invention -- that it never feels dated.And, as always, I have to give high praise to The Overlook Press, which has been publishing Wodehouse's books, four or six of them a year, in these wonderful small editions, for about a decade now. They make Wodehouse's work not just a joy to read, but a joy to have on the shelf.
First the "Publishers Weekly" Starred Review says "Martin Jarvis brings the madcap world of Bertie Wooster and his brilliant valet Jeeves to life." that may well be so, but not in THIS edition; the reader is Simon Callow, NOT Martin Jarvis.Second, while there are some authors whose works should be abridged to the point of non-existence, Wodehouse is certainly not among them -- an abridgement of any Wodehouse work is tantamount to slicing off pieces of the Mona Lisa so it fits your frame better.
I don't see how anyone wouldn't enjoy this. I remember reading this, being surprised it was written towards the start of the century, because it read like it could have been written just this year. What amazes me more than anything else about Wodehouse's fiction is how timeless it is. Even my little sister, who hates reading, loves these books. Nothing I or anyone else could say could do justice to this book or Wodehouse in general. It's simply some of the best comedy ever written, but at the same time with sophisticated writing. This is one of the best of his books and an excellent place to start. Highly recommended to anyone who wants a good laugh.
A wonderful book by the master of wit. Good collection of Jeeves stories, and always good to curl up with to read.nice on a beach or on a train.Another great Wodehouse book is A Damsel in Distress, its rarer but VERY funny. Enjoy.A Damsel In Distress: A British Humor ClassicHappy reading.
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