Customer Reviews

Jeeves And The Tie That Binds

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The Jeeves and Wooster books generally follow the same template: the young, wealthy airhead Wooster or one of his upper-crust pals gets in some sticky social situation, and it is up to his genius butler Jeeves to devise an ingenious solution to the quandary. Often the stories involve some manner of deception, misunderstanding, or often, mistaken identity-and sometimes, Jeeves' scheme backfires, resulting in even greater hilarity (although as with every comic tale, all is set right by the end). The books can fairly be compared to contemporary TV sitcoms, as they to reply on recurring (often over the top) characters, a rarefied setting, a single type of humor, and recurring situations. Simply put, if you like one Wooster tale (and don't get sick of them), you're going to like them all. Much of this can be explained by Wodehouse's mastery of the language and constant deft turns of phrase, period slang, and comic timing.

This entry in the canon (a direct sequel to Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves) is a little disappointing in comparison to others, mainly because for once, Wodehouse overuses some of his gags. Throughout the story, Wooster fumbles for words and phrases, a device which quickly loses any of its scant charm. Similarly, Jeeves' erudition is overdisplayed, as quotes from Shakespeare, Burns, Worthsworth, and numerous Romans are crammed in-as are Biblical references and Wooster's reminiscing about winning a school prize for Old Testament knowledge. Still, the story of a local election, a purloined silver pot, the missing journal of the Junior Ganneymeade Club, Spode, and various ladies eager to marry Bertie, all set amidst Aunt Dahlia's mansion, is sure to please what Wodehouse refers to as "the old sweats."

Those who deride the shallow subject matter and milieu of the Jeeves and Wooster series need to recall the context in which these stories appeared. Only a few years removed from the horrors of World War I-an event that is never alluded to in the series, despite the loss of an entire generation of British young men-the stories can be viewed as a bandage of sorts, an attempt to transport the reader to a world far removed from the traumatic recovery from the Great War. Not to mention Wodehouse's clear depiction of the upper classes as wastrels and idiots of the highest order when compared to the street savvy of the servants (as exemplified by Jeeves). Of course, one doesn't read Wodehouse for social commentary or as a salve these days, but for his dry wit and keen command of the written word.

I first discovered P.G. Wodehouse through his mostly-true autobiography, "Bring on the Girls," in which he adroitly recalls his theater days with Guy Bolton and Jerome Kern. But Wodehouse is most famous for his "Jeeves" books, featuring the wise and unflappable butler who extricates Bertram "Bertie" Wooster from all manner of ridiculous conundrums. The wonder of these farces is that Wooster himself narrates the story, presumably unaware of his foolish prattling and numerous faux pas. In the Jeeves books, Wodehouse manages to write similar plots that are soothingly familiar and yet still ingenious. Wodehouse typically sets the bumblings and posturing of the "social betters" against Jeeves' clever, no-nonsense, "psychology of the individual" solutions. Wodehouse is nimble, nuanced, and both smilingly and laugh-out-loud funny.

This is a good, but somewhat disappointing (by the very elevated Wodehousian standards) work. For one thing, Wodehouse's humorous devices are somewhat redundant, centered too often around Wooster's difficulties with words and phrases. Wodehouse dips into this well just a little too often: "Ceasing to expostulate then, if expostulate is the word I want," and "What's the word I've heard you use from time to time--begins with eu?" "Euphoria, sir." While perhaps a minor complaint, Wodehouse's vitality and invention are somewhat enervated by this reliance on linguistic stumbling.

The plot involves (as usual) fiancees on the brink, Wooster accused of pilfering, and assorted foolish/nasty characters gathered at his Aunt Dahlia's house. This time around, the butlers'club journal (in which the butlers record the less commendable actions of their employers) is stolen by one of its members with a mind for political blackmail. A wonderful engine for a story, but I thought Wodehouse lost some opportunities in not exposing any of the club book's contents, and paying just fleet attention to an apparently uproarious political debate. It's true that Wodehouse is a master of understated humor, but I've read other books in which he better exploited an episode's comic possibilities.

Still, Wodehouse is always a treat: "she guffawed more liberally than I had ever heard . . . If there had been an aisle, she would have rolled in it," and "He . . . gave the impression, as Esmond did, of being able, if he cared to, to fell an ox with a single blow. I don't know if he had ever actually done this, for one so seldom meets an ox . . . " Wodehouse's nuanced humor and farcical elements are always enjoyable, especially in Wooster's scenes with Jeeves and with his aunt. I just think that the initiate might better begin with a different, perhaps more humorous "Jeeves" book, such as the excellent "Code of the Woosters." I hope you'll give P.G. Wodehouse, "the Master," as he is known by his many fans, a try, you'll be very pleased indeed.

To be alive and kicking at age 90 ain't bad, but to be writing books worthy of one's younger efforts is indeed admirable. This entry in the Bertie and Jeeves long-running Wodehouse series is pretty much up to form -- silly plot for sure, but the delightful antics of Wooster, his butler/valet Jeeves, the "aged relative" Aunt Dahlia, and a half dozen goofy friends comprise the typical romp in the countryside so typical of these stories. And, as oft the case, Bertie's ex-girlfriends (he seems to have no end of them, yet ironically rarely a current one) make several appearances, and as their current romances flag, turn to back to Bertie, to his horror, with matrimonial intentions!

In "Tie That Binds", Bertie and Jeeves have traveled to his aunt's country cottage to help support a friend of hers, Ginger Winship, running for the House of Commons. Bertie's unwitting first canvassing call was upon Winship's opponent, a robust woman who, needless to say, takes the wind out of his sails and makes Bertie wonder if Ginger has a chance. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, his aunt is scheming to waylay a rich guest (L.P. Runkle) to solicit money for a young man wanting to marry, whose father had been somewhat cheated out of some inventor's riches by the rich guy. She winds up stealing a silver ornament from Runkle as part of a ploy to gain leverage, only to see Bertie blamed for the pilferage and stand to go to jail. Meanwhile, some other characters let loose on our hero, including his ex-'s, whom he tries to dodge at every turn. All we need are the Three Stooges and our farce would be complete!

This book was published in 1971 on the author's 90th birthday. His prose still amuses and his characters, usually shallow at best, entertain with their twisted personalities and hilarious comings and goings. One should not look for much more than an hour or so of smiling while reading Wodehouse, but to be able to find that every time for sure, not bad, eh?

This is a very special book. Written by Wodehouse at age 90, it celebrates the deep affection and friendship that grew between Bertie and Jeeves as a result of their many years of shared adventures--"the tie that binds".

Followers of the series know that Bertie belongs to the Drones men's club. In chapter one, we learn that Jeeves has also long belonged to a club for "gentlemen's gentlemen" (butlers and valets) known as the Junior Ganymede. The Junior Ganymede requires its members to contribute information about their employers to the club book. When this book (complete with its 11 pages of "dynamite" about poor Bertie's misadventures) is stolen by a villianous ex-valet a crisis ensues.

Friends of Bertie and Jeeves will greatly enjoy the warm, gentle humor of "Jeeves and the Tie That Binds".

'Jeeves & The Tie That Binds' was assigned reading for a college 'Humor in Lit' class. As so often happened to me in college, I managed to get through the class without doing the assigned reading.

What a mistake!

A week ago I happened to pick 'Jeeves & The Tie That Binds' up off of my bookshelf. I rarely so much as chuckle when reading, but P.G. Wodehouse's bumbling Bertie Wooster and his arch-English Butler Jeeves had me laughing out loud.

The story is a whirling cacaphony that includes Bertie's friend Ginger Winship standing for Parliment, money troubles, the Junior Ganymede club book (and it's dangerous contents), engagements, disengagements, theft, and every other manner of absurdity. Not that the plot really matters. P.G. Wodehouse's comic genius is in his wordplay and comic timing.

If you really want to delve into Wodehouse, you would find the ever present English obsession with class but you'd also be ruining a wonderfully light hearted piece of writing through over-examination. At only 208 pages, it's the perfect book for an airplane flight or a train ride.

When Bertie Wooster is invited to his Aunt Dahlia's to help his old school friend "Ginger" Winship run for Parliament he meets his enemy Roderick Spode, or Lord Sidcup, as he is now called. He also meets his two ex-fiancés Florence Craye and Madeline Basset, and ends up tangling himself up so much that only his capable valet Jeeves can help him. This is one of my favorite P.G. Wodehouse books. I thought that the dialogue and the situations the characters found themselves in were very funny.

In this installment of Wodehouse's Jeeves series we once again meet Spode, the fascist wannabe, Aunt Dahlia, the senior delinquent, Bingley, the gentleman's gentleman who's not really a gentleman and a host of other characters involved in a an election out in the countryside. With the humorous text and twists that made Wodehouse popular in his time this book is well worth checking out.

What a treat Jeeves and the Tie that Binds is to read! Of course, you know Jeeves will rescue anyone from a bad marriage - that's why he's the best! A great Wodehouse story and wonderful word play by the master. There is not a day that goes by that makes me wish I had met PG or Plum as he was known. I wonder if he was as masterful with language in person as he was with the written word? No matter, we have his over 100 books and this is one of those I like best. I love them all, but here are a few that you might also like to read:

The Man Upstairs: A British Humor Classic

The Man With Two Left Feet And Other Stories: A British Humor Classic

The Politeness Of Princes: A British Humor Classic


The Pothunters: A British Humor Classic

The Prince And Betty: A British Humor Classic


Jeeves is great morning, afternoon or evening! Just like any of PG's great books!

Frederick Davidson manages to nearly ruin what is otherwise a perfectly good Jeeves story with his sneering, supercilious delivery. Bertie Wooster should never sound like an arrogant snob, nor should Jeeves sound like John Carradine at his most sinister.

The book "Jeeves and the Tie That Binds" is Wodehouse in good form, with an interesting plot and a good handful of pithy one-liners, if a -little- too much reliance on running gags and the "if X is the word I want" bit. This one is also particularly notable in the Jeeves/Wooster canon for containing the ultimate fate of Madeline Bassett and what is probably Jeeves' highest tribute of devotion to his employer (but I won't spoil it for you).

In short, get the print edition of "Jeeves and the Tie That Binds," and avoid this unfortunate rendition. For audio presentation of Jeeves stories, you're best sticking to Jonathan Cecil for reading duties, for his fizzy and nicely-varied presentation.

The club for butlers in London, the Junior Ganymede, requires every member to provide details about their employers. Jeeves has done so, giving them information about Bertie Wooster, about 18 pages long. And the book is now in the wrong hands. Not just the wrong hands but at the worst time. The Market Snodbury Election is about to happen and the pages from that book could swing the voters. To spice up things it seems Spode and Madeline have broken up again. Add Rex Stout novels, cats and crossword puzzles and you have something for everybody.