The Best of Wodehouse: An Anthology [Hardcover]

P.G. Wodehouse (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 19, 2007

(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)

With a New Introduction by John Mortimer

P.G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) was perhaps the most widely acclaimed British humorist of the twentieth century. Throughout his career, he brilliantly examined the complex and idiosyncratic nature of English upper-crust society with hilarious insight and wit. The works in this volume provide a wonderful introduction to Wodehouse’s work and his unique talent for joining fantastic plots with authentic emotion.

In The Code of the Woosters, Wodehouse’s most famous duo, Bertie Wooster and his unflappable valet Jeeves, risks all to steal a cream jug. Uncle Fred in the Springtime, part of the famous Blandings Castle series, follows Uncle Fred as he attempts to ruin the Duke of Blandings while he is preoccupied with his favorite pig. Fourteen stories feature some of Wodehouse’s most memorable characters, and three autobiographical pieces provide a revealing look into Wodehouse’s life.

With his gift for hilarity and his ever-human tone, Wodehouse and his work have never felt more lively.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Wodehouse is the greatest comic writer ever.” –Douglas Adams

“Mr. Wodehouse’s idyllic world can never stale. He will continue to release future generations from captivity that may be more irksome than our own. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in.” –Evelyn Waugh

“The very definition of British humor.” –Entertainment Weekly

“It is impossible to be unhappy while reading the adventures of Jeeves and Wooster. And I've tried.” –Christopher Buckley

“Timelessly funny and mean.” –David Foster Wallace

“Wodehouse can be extremely funny, of course, and Bertie and Jeeves are echt-Englishmen, but the surprising and surpassing pleasure of these books is their cheerful humanity.” –Kurt Andersen

About the Author

PG Wodehouse was born on the 15th October 1881 in Guildford, Surrey, England He was educated at Dulwich College between 1894 & 1900, and in 1900 he entered the employ of the Hong Kong & Shanghai bank at 80 per year. He began writing articles for various newspapers & periodicals In 1902 he resigned from the bank, and in the same year his 1st novel The Pothunters was published. 'Plum' then wrote many highly successful novels as well as musicals, and in 1929 he signed a contract to work as a screenwriter in Hollywood After several years in Britain, he moved back to to the USA permanently. In 1974 his last complete novel Aunts aren't Gentlemen was published, and in 1975 he was knighted by the Queen. On the 14th Feb 1975 Plum died in hospital "after a good morning's work on his latest novel" INTRODUCER BIOGRAPHY: John Mortimer is a playwright, bestselling novelist, screen-writer and former practising barrister. His plays for television include A Voyage Round My Father and the series Rumpole of the Bailey. His novels include the Leslie Titmuss trilogy and the acclaimed comic novel Quite Honestly. He has received a knighthood for services to the arts. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 840 pages
• Publisher: Everyman's Library (June 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307266613
• ISBN-13: 978-0307266613
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 1.9 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of Fun, December 28, 2007

By 

Chester John Blazak (celebration fl usa) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best of Wodehouse: An Anthology (Hardcover)

How do you select a Best of Wodehouse collection. Everyman's Library does an excellent job of pulling some of the best from the many Wooster & Jeeves books as well as other writings. Totally enjoyable read...great book to take to bed with you. Light but interesting stories with lots of twists and turns...Great comic sense. Also this addition is beautifully bound with built in page ribbon (I always like that!)

81 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some information, September 4, 2007

By 

P. Hines - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Best of Wodehouse: An Anthology (Hardcover)

I don't own this anthology, just became aware of it half an hour ago, but a little Googling reveals that it comes in at about 500 pages. Introduction by John Mortimer. It contains two complete novels, one Jeeves and one Blandings Castle: The code of the Woosters (1938) and Uncle Fred in the springtime (1939); along with 14 stories: Jeeves takes charge, Jeeves and the impending doom, The love that purifies, Jeeves and the Yule,tide spirit, The great sermon handicap, Uncle Fred flits by, The crime wave at Blandings, The amazing hat mystery, Honeysuckle cottage, Ukridge rounds a nasty corner, A bit of luck for Mabel, The editor regrets, The heart of a goof, The nodder; plus extracts from his memoir: From over seventy.

It all looks pretty fine to me. The short story selection, in as much as I'm able to judge, looks excellent. Golf stories, yahoo! But really it'd be worth it just for the Code of the Woosters and Uncle Fred which are basically priceless (and both customer reviewed elsewhere at Amazon). Also Everyman hardbacks are really nice books in my experience, well printed on decent paper and bound properly, made to last.

But, you know, Wodehouse is Wodehouse. He's just stone brilliant, God's gift to readers. The only thing that could really go wrong with having this would be the book catching fire.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wodehouse, master of humor, November 1, 2009

By 

G. Berger (Bellerose, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best of Wodehouse: An Anthology (Hardcover)

Wodehouse never fails to make me laugh, great book. If you've never read any of his stories, I feel sorry for you and you should immediately remedy that sad situation by buying this book. Or get it from the library.