Customer Reviews

A Damsel in Distress (Collector's Wodehouse)

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"A Damsel in Distress" was published in the U.S. on October 4, 1919 by George H. Doran, and then in the U.K. on October 17, 1919 by Herbert Jenkins, and it is a splendid example of early Wodehouse. This edition is part of The Collector's Wodehouse series being released by The Overlook Press (in the U.K. it is The Everyman's Wodehouse series from Everyman's Library).

As with many Wodehouse classics, this one includes a collection of colorful characters, a complex love story involving many characters, and of course the happy ending where everything works out. It is the story of an American Composer, George Bevan, who falls in love with Maud (The Earl of Marshmoreton's daughter). Maud is already in love with another American, Geoffrey Raymond, who she met in Wales the previous year. Her brother and aunt, Lord Belpher and Lady Caroline Byng oppose her getting involved with the American and want her to marry someone from her social class. There are more characters as well, including some servants, Lady Caroline's son Reggie, Lord Marshmoreton's secretary Alice Faraday, and an acquaintance of George's Billie Dore who is in the Chorus of George's latest musical comedy.

As with most Wodehouse stories, the plot is very complicated, and attempts to describe it in detail would fail to do it justice. It does involve a case of mistaken identity, a pool among the servants on who will marry Maud, and several characters finding their loves. Overall this is a very good example of a classic Wodehouse story, and it is well worth reading.

Just today I was making a list of the best-written bits in Wodehouse, and Damsel in Distress topped the list. Gracie Allen of Burns and Allen fame starred in an old black-and-white film based from this book and cast in the Billy Wilder screwball comedy vein. Arguably this book may not top the PGW cannon--nearly everyone would have a Jeeves, Mulliner or Drones book at the pinnacle of great reading--but it does contain some of the most delightful passages in Wodehouse.

The movie falls far short of the book simply because it was made when "All Singing, All Dancing"--(and no plot) was considered a good review for a movie. Any number of PGW novels critique and lampoon his experiences in Hollywood, but seeing the film first and then reading the book, one might be pleasantly surprised. For me, this novel holds up as one of the best non-Jeeves stories, others being French Leave and The Girl On the Boat.

George Bevan, burgeoning young american musical composer, fancies himself a knight-in-shining-armor when in the middle of Piccadily Circus a fair maiden flings herself into his cab to escape the obese pursuit of the dragon - her brother Percy, heir to the family title and vigilant protector of the family name. Our hero's fair lady Maud does indeed live trapped within the tower of Castle Belpher to which he repairs in swift pursuit of happiness.

George will face grim prospects in scheming servants, an evil aunt, a kindly but aunt-dominated Lord Marshmoreton and worst of all the fact that Maud is in love with another. The whole setting has obvious similarities to Blandings for those familiar with the Lord Emsworth stories. I wasn't roaring with laughter, but I was attached to the characters and couldn't put the book down. It is hard to say which book is a good introduction to Wodehouse because they are all so good!

Oh Mr. Wodehouse! One of the finest witty wordsmiths who ever picked up a pen. When I need a smile, or a lift, or even a roll on the floor laugh I turn to one of the many wonderful works of Wodehouse.
So many to choose from, and each one is from a different period in PG 'Plum' to his friends - life. While my favorite character is Psmith, how can I not enjoy the mutterings of Ukridge, or long to have my life saved from disasters by the likes of Jeeves.
Stephen Fry wrote 'Without Wodehouse I am not sure I would be a tenth of what I am today...his writings awoke me to the possibilities of language. His rhythms, tropes, tricks and mannerisms are deep within me. But more than that, he taught me something about good nature. It IS enough to be benign, to be gentle, to be funny, to be kind.
As laughter is the best medicine, perhaps we need a good dose of Wodehouse from time to time, and during these bleak winter months, in the dark time of the economy, Wodehouse is just what the Doctor ordered!

Since "A Damsel in distress" was one of P.G. Wodehouse's earlier works, the plot and the twists are recurring in many of his later works. I didn't enjoy this as much as his later novels, but I would think this would be a very good introduction to someone new to reading P.G. Wodehouse's style of writing.

I am glad that this along with other books by P.G. Wodehouse are available for free for the Kindle. I remember reading his works during my high school days in New Delhi, India, borrowing them every month from the local British Council Library. Reading "A Damsel in distress" took me back to those days. Looking forward to reading more of the collection especially over the Kindle.

This is the second book that I have read over my recently acquired kindle, I don't think I am going back to paper back or hard cover books again.

If you're a fan of Wodehouse, you know the drill; if you're a newcomer, this is a good introduction. The English are eccentric, the Americans are breezy, and the action is split between the London theater and a rose-covered country manor. What will happen isn't much of a head scratcher; how it will unfold is the pleasure of it.

What makes this novel stand out from everything else? Easy: Tremendous wit rendered with perfect use of the English language with not a single wasted word. For those of you who do not want to spend a fortune acquiring this great author, go to project gutenberg online, where a great deal of his work can be downloaded for free as it is in the public domain.

The plot is typical Wodehouse. Set at the estate of the Earl of Montmorte, virtually everyone has a romance crisis which unfolds with great mirth. The best character is the Earl himself, a man in his late 40s who is happiest tending to his garden in his oldest and shabbiest clothes, deceiving the public as to his identity. His and everyone else's romance is in thwart mode due to his sister, Lady Caroline, who wants to decree the marriages of everyone based on her preferences. She is aided by the Earl's son, a great buffoon of a fellow who is a perfect caricature of the worst of the aristocracy.

I loved this book. It is very light, witty and takes no effort or great concentration. I read it on vacation and think it was perfect for that. It would also be a perfect light reading evening after a stressful day so I will look for more Wodehouse! By the way I read it from a Kindle edition which was easily obtained and much less expensive!

A Damsel in Distress is a novel by P. G. Wodehouse, first published in the U.S. on October 4, 1919 by George H. Doran, New York, and in the U.K. by Herbert Jenkins, London, on 17 October 1919. It had previously been serialised in The Saturday Evening Post, between May and June that year. (From Source: Wikipedia).

In this summer I am determined to read as much PG Wodehouse as possible before the fall and work begins. I feel if I have lots of fun, laughs and smile often it will carry me thru the winter. In A Damsel in Distress, you will find Wodehouse in his element - romantic farce, wit and social satire in this delightful wacky, witty, romantic novel. I had a laugh on each page, loved every minute of it - and I can tell you after reading Wodehouse, it really does make the world easier to live in! Give yourself a break and read Wodehouse!