It’s the centenary of the first Jeeves novel. Wodehouse created two of the most enduring comedic characters in literature, Jeeves and Bertie Wooster. The novel is a series of linked short stories. They are coherent only in the sense that they’re a brilliant set of sketches featuring Wooster, Jeeves and Bingo Little. Bingo is a man who ‘falls’ passionately in love a few times a year. He’s also penniless relying on his uncle for a substantial allowance and many of the chapters relate to him trying to protect that allowance.

The joy of the novel isn’t the storyline: It’s the development of character and the superb writing.

Wodehouse is a brilliant comedic author with a strong sense of the absurd. If you love wonderful writing and can dissuade your brain from being critical of the storyline you’ll love it. An added bonus is it can be had for free.¹

Try this

“One is fighting a losing battle, I fear, sir, but I did venture to indicate to Mr. Little a course of action which might prove of advantage. I recommended him to busy himself with good works.”

“Good works?”

“About the village, sir. Reading to the bedridden—chatting with the sick—that sort of thing, sir. We can but trust that good results will ensue.”

“Yes, I suppose so,” I said doubtfully. “But, by gosh, if I was a sick man I’d hate to have a looney like young Bingo coming and gibbering at my bedside.”

“There is that aspect of the matter, sir,” said Jeeves.

Note

1 The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Inimitable Jeeves, by P. G. Wodehouse There are also many episodes of the brilliant Laurie and Fry series on YouTube if you prefer that.