French Leave (Paperback)

by P.G. Wodehouse (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
This trio (1922, 1956, and 1970, respectively) present a liberal dose of the signature Wodehouse wit and charm. Fans will enjoy his familiar spoofs of uppercrust British stuffiness and mismatched marriages, all with a happy ending.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Irrepressible - as well as almost irresistible - fancy free doings in two society prone French resorts have their American origin in Jo and Terry Trent's decision to spend a small windfall on a transatlantic fling. To stay within their budget means Terry will be Jo's maid the first part of the trip while Jo will reciprocate for the latter half. That their older sister, Kate, refuses to stay home adds even more respectability since she is blood kin to a dragon and when the girls find millionaires her duennaship is always showing. It takes Old Nick, the Marquis de Maufringneuse, to play hob with on and off engagements, to plant roadblocks for romancing, and to stand his son Jefferson, the Comte d'Escrignon, and assorted innocent bystanders, including local police, right on their ears, in his wonderful willingness to try to help everybody - himself first. Of course, he-gets-she after expanding circles of misunderstandings and mismanagement - with even satisfactory security for Old Nick. No need to call on Wodehousians to arise - they always do. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140124519
• ISBN-13: 978-0140124514
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,354,801 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mon-sewer Wodehouse Speaking!!, November 29, 2000

By A Customer

Why, in Heavens name, should a modern reader take the time to read the novels of P.G. Wodehouse?? Is it because he was the funniest writer of the 20th century? He was. Is it because you will marvel at his complete mastery of the English language? You will. Is it because his heroes and villians are equally likable persons?? They are. The star of every Wodehouse novel is not Bertie or Jeeves or Lord Emsworth or Psmith or even Mr. Mulliner; the star, of course, is Wodehouse himself. And when he speaks, you should listen!

French Leave is a non-saga novel (meaning no Jeeves or Uncle Fred) with very appealing characters and wonderous and hilarious misunderstandings. It is the story of three American girls and their adventures in France: a story of love at first sight, of mineral-water millionaires, of rascally French policemen, and of a breach of promise suit that never happens. And like all Wodehouse settings, France seems like Heaven on earth. Warm sunshine seems to glow from each and every page. It is almost as if Wodehouse is speaking directly to his audience saying: Wouldn't you like to be here and spend time with my friends? I think all readers of French Leave would transport themselves there in a minute.

If you've never read Wodehouse before, I cannot but strongly encourage you to join the millions who have discovered this wonderful writer. French Leave is just as good a place as any to start. Because it is a later novel (written in the mid-fifties), it will prime you for some of the even wackier masterpieces of the 20s and 30s. Read on, ladies and gentlemen, and even you may find that song lurks in the depths of your heart.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wodehouse is the best, September 13, 2003

By	Dilip S. Kumar (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've read over 100 Wodehouse stories and this one is one of my favorites. The harmless phrase "Where is the dossier Quibolle?" had me rolling off the floor (you have to read the book to find out more...). Wodehouse also weaves in French pronounciations and hilarious interactions between the French and non-French characters in the novel. This book makes you laugh right from the Preface to the last page.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wodehouse magic spans continents in a delightful farce., September 27, 1999

By	Gord Wilson "alivingdog.com" (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I came upon PGW in no systematic way, and my favorites by him may be those most easily accessible: Jeeves and Wooster, the Drones Club, the golf stories, the Mr. Mulliner tales. Taking the occasional chance to read more widely in Wodehouse, however, I came across French Leave, which is delightful in every sense and repays even more than better known Wodehouse fare in becoming more tangled, involving more cultures and sensibilities, and painting a very special picture of young love. French Leave could easily be a Doris Day movie, painting, as it does a visual travelogue in which its actresses' high spirits and light comedy can have free reign, with the unerring touch of the master.