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Soon Bertie finds himself in a stately country home, and embroiled in a romance himself. particularly when Bertie Wooster lends a hand. With more than a few hilarious twists and turns all ends up well, but not before Jeeves has arrived on the scene.In the Wodehouse world it is always that lovely era between the Wars when smart young things had the time and money to spend long weekends in stately English country houses to recuperate from nights spent at the theatre and various nightclubs. Once again all the principals are in place, Bertie Wooster has returned from a few weeks on the Riviera with one of his numerous Aunts to discover his man Jeeves has taken to giving advice of the romantic sort to Bertie's pals. Since Bertie and Jeeves are engaged in one of their many battles of will over Bertie's wardrobe Bertie quickly decides to take over the task. Everyone knows everyone else and still manages to become involved in complicated misunderstandings that would make Shakespeare proud. Fans of the 1eeves and Wooster series featuring Frye and Laurie will undoubtedly recognize this one, but knowing how the story ends will in no way diminish the delight of reading about the misadventures along the way.This review is based on the Kindle version of the novel, a particular delight since it was located and delivered on a dreary night in a matter of minutes at no charge.
Wodehouse books are 'spot on', I say. Being a fan of PBS TV. I find myself reading the novels in the speech pattern that Laurie and Fry use in the tv series. I enjoy British comedy(Laurie and Fry) in the Wooster and Jeeves series. The P.G. Mr. Wodehouse uses words that I have never seen before, causing me to keep a dictionary handy.
RHJ is certainly the best Wodehouse novel although some of the Mulliner, Golf, and Ukridge short stories may score higher if you're giving points for brevity ("pound for pound" funnyness). Which is caused by (apparent) betrayal. If yes, how many Passion-analogues can get away with having the Christ-figure be the first-person narrator. Every line of RHJ is funny and beautiful as well. Not many. Yes, as another reviewer said, it's easy to read, but it also rewards rereading many times. On the other hand, maybe not. And, to which he is more-or-less legitimately condemned for stirring up the community.
Like Mozart, it's quite a bit more complicated than it sounds at first.SPOILER ALERT: Do not read further until you have read the book.Question to consider AFTER reading: is Bertie a Christ-figure. He does, after all, redeem the story's universe through his suffering. How many succeed this well at getting the reader to identify with him. As I said, I think this piece may be deeper than it appears.
Without Jeeves, Bertie's life would be a mess : he makes an excellent hangover cure, his bets usually win and is intelligent enough to rescue Bertie from nearly any situation. The book is set in England and features Wodehouse's best known creations : Bertie Wooster and his valet, Jeeves. Gussie, an old school-friend of Bertie's, is something of a reclusive character : he doesn't drink, looks rather like a fish, prefers country life to the city and is a noted newt-fancier. He's a member of the "idle rich" and, rather than having to work for a living, lives off an allowance provided by his uncle.
By sheer coincidence, the object of Gussie's desires is none other than Madeline Basset - who, after the trip to Cannes, has returned to Brinkley Court (Aunt Dahlia's stately home). He spends much of his time in the bar-room of the Drones Club, is fond of the occasional wager and has an appalling dress sense. Luckily, Bertie has Jeeves, to look after him. "Right Ho Jeeves" was first published in 1934 in the UK, though was first published in the US under the name "Brinkley Court". However, when word comes through that Angela has brokern off her engagement with Tuppy Glossop, Bertie and Jeeves race off to the countryside to offer their support. Arriving back at his flat, Bertie is surprised to learn that Gussie Fink-Nottle has been a frequent caller in his absence.
Gussie has apparently fallen in love, and has - wisely - taken to visiting Jeeves for his advice on how to win the young lady's heart. However, following a disagreement with Jeeves about a white mess jacket purchased in Cannes, Bertie decides to take over Gussie's case.
Naturally, Bertie's attempts to ease smooth things over land everyone in a great deal of bother. Bertie is the book's wealthy, good-natured and rather dim narrator.
Bertie sends Gussie off to the stately home in question - though his motives aren't entirely noble. He disapproves of Bertie's more garish items of clothing, and will - occasionally - take it upon himself to deal with the offending item.
The book opens with Bertie's return from Cannes, having spent two months on holiday with his Aunt Dahlia, his cousin Angela and Madeline Basset - Angela's best friend. As well as spending time with Madeline, Gussie will also be delivering a speech at the local grammar school's prizegiving day - a job Aunt Dahlia had intended for Bertie.
A very easy and enjoyable read.
And as usual, poor Bertie finds himself the object of young ladies' affections -- in this case, the appallingly goofy Madeleine thinks he's madly in love with her, when she's not rambling about fairies and bunnies. If there's one thing Bertie Wooster should never do, it's make elaborate plans to bring estranged lovebirds back together.And he demonstrates just why in the second full-length Jeeves novel, a screwball disaster saga that sees Bertie confidently trying to fix people's lives. But when Bertie hears that his cousin Angela has broken off her engagement to Tuppy Glossop -- and his aunt is in need of money -- he rushes down to assist all his relatives and pals by advising them to feign such sorrow that they're unable to eat.Unfortunately his plan falls through, and they manages to enrage the cook Anatole to the point where he storms out. "Right Ho Jeeves" is a prime example of his writing -- some small mistakes rapidly balloon out into a crazy tangled mess, which only an intelligent manservant can rescue Bertie from.Much of the book's charm comes from its complex plot and series of disasters (such as Tuppy's homicidal rampage). And they're backed by a colourful, small cast of nutty aristocrats, schoolboys, sharp-tongued aunts and cousins, newt-fancying fish-faced men, and a girl who talks about how "every time a fairy sheds a tear, a wee bitty star is born." Yech."Right Ho Jeeves" is a hilarious, tangled farce of love, money, jealousy, dinner jackets and the mating rituals of newts. Even worse, the prize-giving is a disaster and the wrong people end up engaged -- and pursued by homicidally angry exes.
It's arch and wry, whether he's describing basic actions ("He leaped like a lamb in springtime"), or goofy dialogue ("But if you were a male newt, Madeline Bassett wouldn't look at you. Of course, things go horribly wrong, and Wodehouse's arch, nutty look at what happens next is an absolute gem.When Aunt Dahlia summons him to Brinkley Court for a prizegiving, Bertie sends his newt-fancying friend Gussie instead -- especially since Gussie is enamoured of a girl staying there, the soppy Madeleine Bassett. If there's a flaw, it's that Jeeves' final solution is a bit limp.But Wodehouse's writing is what really makes the book timeless. Only Jeeves' formidable brain can somehow save the day -- and Bertie's behind.P.G. Wodehouse made a pretty good living off of spoofing the upper crust of England, and the subtlely intlligent servants who bail them out. Not with the eye of love, I mean").Jeeves and Bertie are the perfect comic team -- Bertie is proud, goofy, and not terribly bright, while the quiet Jeeves is a towering intellect with wry wit.
Absolutely priceless, from start to finish.
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