Between 1904 and 1907, two young journalists called Bertram Fletcher Robinson ('Bobbles') and PG Wodehouse ('Plum') co-authored four satirical playlets together - each is a lampooning review of the previous year's news. These works were originally published in the "Daily Express", "Vanity Fair" and "The World". Robinson (1870-1907) had previously assisted Arthur Conan Doyle with "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (1901) and also enjoyed some success with his own fictional detective, Addington Peace (1904-1905). Later, Wodehouse (1881-1975) would achieve worldwide acclaim for his series of stories and books that feature both Reginald Jeeves and Bertram Wilberforce Wooster (1915-1974). Now all four Robinson/Wodehouse playlets are reavailable for the first time in this aptly named anthology, "Bobbles & Plum". This book provides the reader with a fascinating glimpse into the evolving mind of two of the finest young humorists of their generation.
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Paul R. Spiring is both a chartered biologist and chartered physicist. He is currently seconded by the U.K. Government to work as a science teacher within the English section of the European School of Karlsruhe in Germany. Paul is the joint author of three books: 'On the Trail of Arthur Conan Doyle', 'A Footnote to The Hound of the Baskervilles' and 'Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Devon' and he has compiled six other books. Paul also maintains a tribute website that commemorates the life of Bertram Fletcher Robinson (http://www.bfronline.biz) and he is a member of The Devonshire Association, The Sherlock Holmes Society of London, La Société Sherlock Holmes de France, The Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment, The Crew of the S.S. May Day and The Sydney Passengers.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A thrill to read.,
This review is from: Bobbles and Plum - Four Satirical Playlets by Bertram Fletcher Robinson & PG Wodehouse (Paperback)
It was a thrill to be reading some of Wodehouse's early work that had been lost for over 100 years and even more so when you find that his early work was much more edgy than his later work. The writer describes the playlets as similar to 'have I got news for you' and I would add The New Statesman to that analogy as well. The notes are helpful too as some of the references definitely need to be put into the context of the time. A gem and a wonderful find.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Interesting & Enjoyable Publication,
This review is from: Bobbles and Plum - Four Satirical Playlets by Bertram Fletcher Robinson & PG Wodehouse (Paperback)
The core of the book is the re-publication of four playlets written by Wodehouse and Bertram Fletcher Robinson from 1903 to 1906. The book opens with a short eulogy to Robinson on his death in 1907 written by Jessie Pope (whom Wodehouse also knew) followed by a Foreword by Hilary Bruce [Chairman of the P G Wodehouse Society (UK)]. There is then a thirteen-page introduction by Norman Murphy and Tony Ring which summarises the careers of the two men, hypothesises on their meeting during the 'Parrot Poems' craze and discusses their subsequent collaboration in the playlets and Robinson's commissioning short stories from Wodehouse.
We then get the four playlets which deal with the political and social events of the time that everybody talked about. There was some comment in 'The Observer' newspaper on Wodehouse being 'political' (26 July 2009), but the writer of this article had not realised that, from the time Wodehouse got work on 'The Globe' in 1903, that was his job. He had to turn out a humorous column each day on what was topical and, in the early 1900s, that meant Chamberlain and Tariff Reform, the split among the Conservatives and Liberals over Tariffs and Home Rule for Ireland, Suffragettes, the activities - and expenditure - of the new London County Council, the Entente Cordiale and Gaiety Girls marrying into the aristocracy. It may seem all very dated today. Of course it is but, if you have read 'The Parrot and Other Poems', you will already have a feel for the period. In any event, the playlets (49 pages in total) are followed by 36 pages of explanatory notes. An interesting, enjoyable publication though slightly marred by occasional typos including, I regret to say, 'Woodhouse' for Wodehouse.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clever, Witty & Funny...,
By Ted Sherrell (Devon) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Bobbles and Plum - Four Satirical Playlets by Bertram Fletcher Robinson & PG Wodehouse (Paperback)
The following review was written by Roger Johnson and published in The District Messenger: The Newsletter of The Sherlock Holmes Society of London (Issue 295, July 2009):
The latest fruits of Paul Spiring's research are found in Bobbles and Plum: Four Satirical Playlets by Bertram Fletcher Robinson and P G Wodehouse (MX Publishing Ltd, 335 Princess Park Manor, Royal Drive, London N11 1JN; £9.99 or $16.95). The play, never intended for performance, appeared variously in the Daily Express, Vanity Fair and The World between 1903 and 1907. They're part of the tradition of satire that continues today, and though they date from a more respectful era they aim some pretty sharp darts at the politicians. Moreover, they're clever, well-written, and funny. The full annotations help us appreciate just how clever they are, and how harmoniously the two authors worked together. Wodehouse was just starting a career that would last another seventy years. Robinson's career was about to be cut short. Who can say what he might have achieved?
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