Customer Reviews

A Pelican at Blandings

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't think that Wodehouse wrote a book that I would not give a 10 to. Certainly none set at Blandings Castle. Blandings is the ancestral home of Clarence, ninth Earl of Emsworth, a scatterbrained man whose only true interest is his prize pig, the Empress of Blandings. The Pelican of the title is Galahad Threepwood, Lord Emsworth's younger brother and a former member of the Pelican Club. The Efficient Baxter does not appear in this particular book, but it does feature several impostors (which are common at Blandings), Lady Constance, the Earl's imperious sister, and two enormously complicated love affairs. Although that is more or less a description of any of Wodehouse's books (some have three or four love affairs) it doesn't make any of them less worth reading. He writes with wonderful humor and doesn't bother you with anything like social commentary.

No, there are no fish-eating avians at Lord Emsworth's crenellated castle. There are, however, a plethora of plots involving two lovesick damsels and their beaux, a porcine pig-fancier, a walrus-mastachioed duke, the usual crocodilian sister, and, of course, the very obliging Galahad Treepwood. Oh, and there are numerous impostors, including a fake painting.

There are, in fact, so many subplots that the aging Wodehouse left a couple of them hanging. One character (the ferret-like Chesney) seemingly exists only to push the Duke of Dunstable and Johnny Halliday down the Earl's grand staircase. And there is the obligatory theft (actually two: one successful and one not). There's a chauffeur named Voules who tootles a harmonica -- but of all there is the Empress of Blandings, multiyear winner in the fat pig division of the Shropshire County Fair.

The story begins when the Empress, for the first time in recorded memory, refuses a potato proffered by the doting Earl. Before one knows it, Blandings Castle fills up with invited and quasi-invited guests and begins that delightfully Wodehousing grinding of the mill of the gods that leaves us all laughing, the crocodiles unsatisfied, and good to triumph over all.

There may be better Wodehouses, and there are probably worse, but even a middling Blandings story is far better, dash it all, than 99.9999% of the cripple-crapple to be found on bookshelves. And you will feel better reading it. Dead certain, in fact.

Typical of the Castle Blandings series, Wodehouse serves up a dose of wacky mahem. The story this time centers around a painting purchased by the Duke of Dusntable and a troubled romance. In the beginning, Lord Emsworth is troubled by the news that his sister Connie, a dragon of a woman, is returning to Castle Blandings for a visit. The troubled Lord Emsworth calls on his brother Gallahad Threepwood, a member of the Pelican club and the Pelican mentioned in the title, to provide him moral support in the face of his sister. Before going to the castle, Gallahad finds out that his godson is engaged to the neice of the Duke of Dunstable, which his sister Connie has invited to the castle. However, the engagement goes bad, and Gallahad must think of a way to get his godson into the castle to mend the relationship. Pure Wodehouse.

This story is a good read, but not the best of the series. However, if you're a Wodehouse fan, you probably should pick this up.

When one has read a few of Wodehouse Blandings one knows precisely what to expect: pure potiness, romance and impersonation. This book is no different. Indeed, on reading many of them in a row, I have real trouble keeping the books separate in my mind - in fact I would say it is almost impossible - each book being a variation on a theme. I suppose one would have to admit that the plots are formulaic and there is a certain sameness, but so what, you get precisely what it says on the tin. What is extraordinary though is that this book written about 50 years after the first book retains the self same atmosphere as the first and subsequent books - the seismic changes in modern history simply have no impact. In that sense the books are more akin to fantasy.

Thanks again go to Fr James V Schall for getting me back into Wodehouse after a 20 year gap.

I do not agree with some of the other reviewers that "A Pelican at Blandings" is subpar for P.G. Wodehouse. It is true that it does not have one scene, as some of Wodehouse's novels have ("Leave it to Psmith," for example), in which everything comes together in inspired mayhem. But for a carefully worked-out, complicated plot, wonderful characters, and above all, Wodehouse's inspired comic writing, this novel is right up there. Wodehouse is the only writer I have read who consistently makes me laugh out loud. This one certainly did that.

The reading by the late Frederick Davidson (also known as David Case) is superb. Davidson was so good at all types of books, but had a wry manner ideal for Wodehouse. And as usual for him, he animated each character with a distinctive voice and accent. The opposite gender provides the greatest difficulty for most readers, but Davidson did women extremely well. His only weakness was Americans, and there are two in this novel. But that is a very minor blemish on an audio experience you are bound to enjoy if you are one of those lucky few whose funnybone is perfectly within the sights of P.G. Wodehouse.

What a treat A Pelican at Blandings is to read! 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 A Pelican is one of those I like best. I love them all, but here is a few that you might also like to read:

Jill The Reckless: A British Humor Classic
Leave It To Psmith: A British Humor Classic
Love Among The Chickens: A British Humor Classic
Psmith In The City: A British Humor Classic
My Man Jeeves: A British Humor Classic

Keep reading - hope to see you at Blandings soon!

The ninth of Wodehouse's "Blandings" series is pretty much exactly what you would expect from the master of the light comic novel. Once again, we meet the mild and much put-upon pig fancier Lord Emsworth, as his 52-room ancestral abode is descended upon by all manner of family, pushy neighbors, mountebanks, and assorted hangers-on. The titular pelican is Lord Emsworth's younger brother Galahad, whose membership in London's Pelican Club propels him into all manner of misadventures, often involving various godsons. That's the case here, as one of these godsons prevails upon him to advance his case for marriage to the niece of another guest, an odious Duke. Galahad is also involved in a complicated scheme to swap a painting in the gallery before the Duke can sell it to a lovelorn American. The usual Wodehousian complications are unleashed on two sets of young lovers, and Galahad is prevailed upon to sort out all the imposters and guide events to a happy conclusion. As usual, an entirely enjoyable bit of fun.

Blandings Castle, Shropshire, England, is the setting for many of Wodehouse's comic extravaganzas. Accommodated in many of its 52 bedrooms is a varied collection of dotty relatives of Clarence, ninth Earl of Emsworth. Clarence himself, dottier than any of them, dotes on the Empress of Blandings, an enormous prize-winning sow, and is usually to be seen, day or night, leaning over the wall of her sty. Nagged by his sister Connie, bewildered by his many American visitors and in-laws, and dazed by the complicated comings and goings of the many moon-faced young men and dizzy young damsels whom he encounters in the castle and its grounds, he is steered safely through life by a dedicated butler.

Of course it all means nothing at all, and the characters are no more than comic cartoon figures, but the quality of the writing is superb. Metaphors, similes, classical allusions, sparkling dialogue - you'll find every component of stylish writing on display here.

If you are lucky enough to be able to buy, beg, borrow or download Nigel Lambert's reading of the text in audio book form, you'll find every component of the art of book reading on display also. All this makes an ideal entrée into the world of P G Wodehouse, in particular to many entertaining hours at Blandings Castle.

Blandings Castle in Shropshire is known for two things. First, Clarence, the ninth earl of Emsworth, has a prize pig, the Empress of Blandings, upon whom he devotes all of his limited skills and attention. Second, imposters are always trying to sneak into Blandings Castle to further either their romantic adventures or their wallets. In both cases, Clarence's very proper sister, Constance (Connie to the family), is on the lookout to thwart both activities. Things usually sort themselves out, but that sorting out usually requires the skill and tact of Clarence's brother, the Honorable Galahad (Gally) Threepwood, who learned how to have fun and get the most out of life as a young man when he belonged to the old Pelican Club.

In A Pelican at Blandings, Clarence has been living peacefully with his pig for two years after Connie married an American and moved to New York. Suddenly, Connie is back and begins ordering Clarence around and filling Blandings Castle with her guests. Along the way, she plans a little matchmaking that goes awry. One of the guests has a niece who wants to marry Gally's God son while the uncle is opposed. Before the book ends, there are wedding bells and Clarence is able to go back to his pig.

But in the meantime, there are the sorts of misunderstandings, plots and counterplots of the sort that make Wodehouse reading so enjoyable in their parlor comedy way. Unfortunately, this book pales in comparison with other books about Blandings Castle so I graded it down accordingly. If you only read one of these books, I recommend Pigs Have Wings instead.

I listened to the audio version by Frederick Davidson and enjoyed his reading. It was a five stars effort!

This book is a retitled "No Nudes is Good Nudes" which is not pointed out by Amazon.com. I now have two copies of the same book and am not real pleased about that. The book itself is typical good Wodehouse stuff but the 3 stars is mean for Amazon.com.