Customer Reviews

Ring for Jeeves (Everyman Wodehouse S.)

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

 

 

Sometimes when you read a novel, you want a searing look at the human condition or a sprawling epic crossing generations. At other times, you want complete fluff, light entertainment that makes you feel good while offering little real substance. In this field of whimsical words, few can outshine P.G. Wodehouse, and rarely is Wodehouse better than when he writes of Bertie Wooster, the dim but well-meaning member of the idle rich, and his omniscient valet Jeeves.

Ring for Jeeves is the only Jeeves and Wooster story without Bertie (who is off getting an education in independence and is only referred to occasionally). Instead, Jeeves is temporarily attending to William Belfry, a poor member of the nobility who has landed himself in the soup. In an effort to raise funds to properly marry his fiancée Jill, he has adopted a second identity as a bookie; this works great until an erstwhile great white hunter Biggar wins a long shot; Bill welshes on the bet (intending to pay when he has the funds) and flees to his estate, Biggar in hot pursuit.

There is hope, however, with a beautiful, wealthy widow who wants to buy the estate and give Bill more than enough money. But with this hope comes complications. She is secretly in love with Biggar, who is in turn secretly in love with her; as he is also impoverished, he feels it wrong to marry her when it would be assumed he was after her money. She is also Bill's ex-lover, causing a potential rift with Jill. There are also complications regarding a diamond pendant and an upcoming horse race. In the middle of all this is Jeeves, the calm port in the storm of troubles, who offers various solutions, some of which are more effective than others.

This is in many ways an atypical novel, hampered by Bertie's absence. Told in the third person instead of with Bertie's usually delightful narration, something is lost. In addition, Jeeves is at his best when he is at his most all-knowing; here, he seems less brilliant than usual, although still clever enough. These problems are sufficient to reduce this to a four-star effort. This is still a good book, but not a good introduction to Wodehouse or the Jeeves & Wooster stories; I recommend reading others in the series first (such as Right Ho, Jeeves; Carry On, Jeeves or Thank You, Jeeves).

It seems impossible, but here is Jeeves serving the young lord and master, and .... it's not Bertie Wooster! Instead it's Lord Rowcester -- Jeeves has been lent out while Bertie is off to school learning to be more self reliant.

The plot is typical Wodehouse, fast and convoluted, but it's the wonderful reading by Nigel Lambert that prompts me to write this review. I consider myself a most excellent reader, but now I know I'm not worthy to fill the great man's water glass. He is superb! I didn't realize anyone could 'voice' characters that way, even the female ones! Nigel makes the book come alive, and I suspect, though I'm loathe to admit it, that it's better having Nigel read a book to you than to read it for yourself.

Thirty years or so ago, I wandered into a pharmacy in Peabody, Massachusets during a lunch break from a new job. I picked up Full Moon by Wodehouse for a dollar and began reading. That was one of those small turning points in life which can change and enrich all that comes afterwards.

According to the Wodehouse website, "Plum" has written 99 books. That is about 2 to read per year for your adult life. They can come to resemble each other so closely that after 50 or so, you begin to suspect that you have already read the one you are about to finish sometime 5 or 10 years earlier. But it doesn't matter. What is important is the immersion into the world of Wodehouse characterized by quiet contentment, eccentric but likeable people, harmless foils and genuinely absurd twists of plot. Above all is the Wodehouse use of language. No one writes or ever will write humorous dialogue better. I don't ordinarily read books of humor because, due to a likely but undetectable character defect, I do not find them funny. (The reviewer on the back cover describes knee-slapping hilarity. I work to muster a smile.) But I find the best of Wodehouse universally funny and the worst of Wodehouse forgiveable and still worth the time.

Ring for Jeeves is missing Wooster but it is fun to see Jeeves as the straight man to someone else. The humor is often provided by the red faced Captain Biggar who can't quite make the transition from equatorial African safari to English country house. In this post Victorian world of England in decline but seemingly untouched by continental wars, the ninth Earl of Rowcester is trying to sell his crumbling castle to a rich American. The path to inevitable happiness is less than smooth.

If you have finished most of the Jeeves and Blandings books but have yet to wade into earlier Wodehouse efforts, pick up this book. Written in 1953 (his 74th effort) near the height of his powers, Ring for Jeeves is unlikely to disappoint.

I concur with mrliteral (below) that this isn't top-tier Jeeves, due to his estrangement from Bertie in this tale. It's full of the typical Wodehousery and wordplay, and you're sure to enjoy, but it's not quite up to the heights of the very best. Another question: was this written as a theatre piece? With the exception of an opening at a pub, the entire narrative takes place at Bill's mansion, and frequently in one room. I imagine this may have been written for the stage and then retrofitted as a novel. No matter-- still much fun. As always, Wodehouse satisfies.

The plot and characters are pleasant enough. Grossly obvious and slapstick, but that's one of the things we love about Wodehouse.

The big problem for me, though, is the portrayal of Jeeves. In this book he seems much more garrulous and pretentious (classical quotes in almost every scene). He abets the bookmaking of the main character, wearing a disguise and a false moustache. Now, does that really sound like Jeeves? I think not. It should have been done with a new character.

I have this book in my library only it is called "The Return of Jeeves". It is maddening to think that one has found a new Jeeves book only to discover that it is an old book masquerading under a new title