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The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
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The Inimitable Jeeves (original 1923; edition 2011)

by P. G. Wodehouse

Series: Jeeves (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
3,359803,847 (4.01)1 / 248
I’ve said it before (in my 3/21/14 review of My Man Jeeves, to be specific), and I’ll say it again: the prose of P. G. Wodehouse is delísh … the bee’s knees … or if “hell-brew” (p. 67) is your choice for metaphor, good to the last drop! How he does it, how he nails it with every word and never grows stale or hackneyed remains a complete mystery to me. I can only imagine what it must’ve cost him to remain so piquantly original in his wit—not just line after line, but book after book.

In the vernacular peculiar to Wodehouse, people don’t just drop in for a spot of tea or a chat, they “toddle round” to the same end and “have a dash at it” (both on p. 11). They also “curvet” (p. 83); “scud off” (p. 84); “pop off” (p. 86); “whizz for” (p. 88); “pour [silently] in” (p. 89); “sally forth (p. 97); and “trickle round” (p. 210). One of Wodehouse’s characters doesn’t just look a bit down on his luck, but rather resembles “a sheep with a secret sorrow” (p. 30). When Bertie — the principal character, along with Jeeves, of almost all of Wodehouse’s books — himself runs into a little unexpected luck, the right words to express his pleasure come roiling out: “Well, then, dash it, I’m on velvet. Absolutely reclining on the good old plush!” (p. 36). And if you should happen to visit the same archly conservative Senior Liberal Club where Bingo and Bertie decide to meet one day, you may also conclude — if somewhat less colorfully — that it is indeed “the eel’s eyebrows” (p. 205).

I could easily strike up the band all day with P. G.’s metaphors and similes, but I’d prefer to leave that little surprise to you, a possible reader of The Inimitable Jeeves (just for starters). Instead, I’ll strike up that same band with the opening paragraph of Chapter 10 (“Startling Dressiness of a Lift Attendant”):

“The part which old George had written for the chump Cyril took up about two pages of typescript; bit it might have been Hamlet, the way that poor, misguided pinhead worked himself to the bone over it. I suppose, if I heard him read his lines once I did it a dozen times in the first couple of days. He seemed to think that my only feeling about the whole affair was one of enthusiastic admiration, and that he could rely on my support and sympathy. What with trying to imagine how Aunt Agatha was going to take this thing, and being woken up out of the dreamless in the small hours every other night to give my opinion of some new bit of business which Cyril had invented, I became more or less the good old shadow. And all the time Jeeves remained still pretty cold and distant about the purple socks. It’s this sort of thing that ages a chappie, don’t you know, and makes his youthful joie-de-vivre go a bit groggy in the knees” (p. 87).

If I had to venture a guess as to what it is (other than his choice of vocabulary – or ‘vocab,’ as P. G. would no doubt have it) that Wodehouse employs in the way of literary device to achieve his comedic effect, I’d have to say that it’s his peculiar combination, often in close proximity if not in precise juxtaposition, of hyperbole and typical British understatement. This combination is a source of constant titillation to whatever cluster of sympathetic ganglia rides herd from a reader’s eye, via the brain, clear down to that same reader’s funny-bone.

It takes a true master, however, to do this and not overdo it — and P. G. Wodehouse is just such a master.

And as Wodehouse would no doubt write if he were reading this claptrap that passes for a review: “‘Sorry to interrupt the feast of reason and flow of soul and so forth, but—’” (p. 88).

RRB
04/18/14
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.

( )
  RussellBittner | Dec 12, 2014 |
English (73)  French (2)  Danish (2)  Spanish (1)  Swedish (1)  All languages (79)
Showing 1-25 of 73 (next | show all)
Quality humor. Light reads. I do get tripped up with the historical vernacular / slang at times.

Why does Jeeves put up with Bertie? ( )
  wvlibrarydude | Jan 14, 2024 |
The Inimitable Jeeves is a collection of early Jeeves and Wooster short stories - all published individually between 1918 and 1922 - which form an episodic novel. (The seams are well hidden, but each story can really stand alone.)

If you're keen to read the Jeeves stories in order, I recommend the omnibus The World of Jeeves which collects all the short stories, and includes these in their "definitive" versions, which include some reworking.

It's worth noting that Wodehouse was past 40 when this collection was published - and he still had another 50 years of writing Jeeves stories to go! Bertie's narrative voice, Jeeves' exquisite manner, and the gallery of grotesques and incompetents who surround them - they're all fully formed this early in the game. It's a satisfying collection, however I strongly believe that Wodehouse is at his best in novel form. The short stories can begin to tire if read in excess - Wodehouse is, after all, like eating a packet of sweets or drinking an entire bottle of fine wine. The pitch-perfect conjunction of interlaced plots would be the hallmark of this series, once he started writing long-form versions in the 1930s.

Still, rather marvelous. ( )
  therebelprince | Oct 24, 2023 |
After hearing family members talking about this series/author for years, I finally gave it/him a try. I don’t know if I started with the right book, since this seems to be one of those kinds of series that is published in a weird order and has short stories, and novels, and I don’t know what else. It was a good introduction to Jeeves and Wooster, and though I don’t always fully get British humor, I did enjoy it for the most part. Some parts of the story made me think that sitcom writers (mostly older sitcoms) may have gotten some ideas from this author.

I decided to go with the audiobook, because I thought it would help to hear the British accent, and while at first I wasn’t sure about Kevin Theis, he grew on me, and I liked his interpretation a lot by the end. I plan to continue on with him, if I can get his versions. ( )
  Kristi_D | Sep 22, 2023 |
Bertie Wooster (30ish) is part of the titled class with inherited money, no profession and idleness. His valet is Jeeves. From what I can tell Jeeves is hired to adult sit Bertie. Jeeves dresses, feeds and looks out for Bertie's wellbeing. Bertie and his friends aren't too bright but at the end of the day Jeeves always manages to save them from themselves. I could see it as a sitcom tv show. The 1920s slang is rummy. I don't need to read anymore books in this series. It was fun while it lasted but it was starting to irk me. ( )
  debbie13410 | Jun 18, 2023 |
The very first Jeeves book. Episodic, but in parts quite funny. ( )
  themulhern | May 1, 2023 |
Some good parts, but not my favorite Jeeves & Bertie book. Kind of repetitive.

Listened to audiobook. ( )
  steve02476 | Jan 3, 2023 |
Enjoyable (so really 3.5 stars) but I understand the series gets better as the two main characters are more developed. ( )
  jimgosailing | Nov 18, 2021 |
Lovely series of short stories. Bertie Wooster, Jeeves, Bingo Little - great characters... ( )
  cbinstead | Oct 10, 2021 |
One of Wodehouse's best. Given my current knowledge of the canon, I'd say it's in his top five books. Come for the laughs, stay for the metaphors! ( )
  wyclif | Sep 22, 2021 |
One of the best Jeeves novels. ( )
  addunn3 | Apr 13, 2021 |
This is the second installment in the Jeeves series. In this volume Bertie is serving primarily as agony aunt to Bingo Little, who falls in love with a new girl every week and enlists Bertie’s aid in winning her affections. Various hijinks invariably ensue. Aunt Agatha also comes in at the beginning to terrorize Bertie, and his cousins Claude and Eustace do their bit to liven up his life in the most inconvenient way possible. Through it all, of course, the unflappable Jeeves pulls young Bertie out of the soup every time.

This was exactly what I needed to read at the moment. Because this is a Bingo-heavy volume, the stories could feel a bit repetitive, but I laughed out loud at least once per chapter, and the whole book was thoroughly enjoyable. Of course, I always picture Jeeves and Wooster as Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, which really makes it even more fun. ( )
  rabbitprincess | Feb 20, 2021 |
Largely missing Wodehouses's usual brilliant writing. I wasn't compelled to highlight much at all.

> I suppose every chappie in the world has black periods in his life to which he can't look back without the smoldering eye and the silent shudder. Some coves, if you can judge by the novels you read nowadays, have them practically all the time; but, what with enjoying a sizable private income and a topping digestion, I'm bound to say it isn't very often I find my own existence getting a flat tire. That's why this particular epoch is one that I don't think about more often than I can help. ( )
  breic | Dec 17, 2020 |
Bertie and Jeeves, what a pair! Absolutely made for each other. ( )
  AthulyaGireesan | Nov 17, 2020 |
8/10 ( )
  mark_read | Aug 13, 2020 |
One of the novels made out of a string of plots that could stand on their own as short stories, joined by a common theme. Wodehouse in good form: an ideal read for a sultry afternoon when a bit tired after work, or for improving one's mood before turning in. ( )
  Stravaiger64 | Jul 26, 2020 |
This one is lots of fun. Poor Bertie, it must be hard for such a nice guy to have such awfully demanding friends. And Jeeves, of course, is a wonder. Can his shrewd, calculating brain save Bertie again? This series’ humor is pitch perfect, and it continues to delight. ( )
  MuuMuuMousie | May 10, 2020 |
This collection of Bertie’s antics are sure to amuse readers. One wonders how Bertie managed to get out of his many fixes before Jeeves was there to rescue him from his antics. The humor in these pages never seems dated and is just as funny as when they were first penned. ( )
  Maydacat | Apr 5, 2020 |
I have read this several times since first buying a copy in Inverness in 1973, but find I do not enjoy it. My friends have suggested I am the sort of person who should like Wodehouse, hence my perseverence.
  Roarer | Nov 17, 2019 |
This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission

Title: The Inimitable Jeeves
Series: The Jeeves Omnibus #1.3
Author: P.G. Wodehouse
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Humor
Pages: 237
Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:


A collection of stories about Jeeves and Bertie that center mainly around Bertie's friend Bingo Little and his constantly falling in love and with Bertie's two younger cousins who are identical twins.

Through it all Jeeves must put up with Bertie's poor sartorial choices.

My Thoughts:

Chronologically, and in order of publication too I believe, this was the first Jeeves & Wooster book. I found the short story format much easier to deal with than the longer novel length. Also, while Wodehouse's writing wasn't quite as polished, I enjoyed Bertie more as a person, as he wasn't always shortening things to their initials. This was Bertie in the raw and I enjoyed it.

Bertie's cousins, who's names I can't even remember, are young scaliwags who end up getting kicked out of college and sent off to South Africa to serve in the British Government there. The hopes being that responsibility will straighten them out. This is all Aunt Agatha's doing, as is much in this book. We learn, through one sentence, that Bertie's parents are dead and he is immensely independently wealthy, which makes Aunt Agatha's power over him all the more puzzling.

Then you have Bingo Little. My goodness, that man was falling in love and having problems in every story. In one story he fell in love with a communist for goodness sake! He does finally get hitched in the end. Bertie's aversion to marriage is made plain throughout these stories and along with Aunt Agatha, is a building block of the whole series.

Jeeves plays a very small part in all of this. He's simply the deux ex machina that solves things, except when Bertie refuses to listen to him in regards to style and fashion. But once Bertie relents, Jeeves simply solves everything. I'm not sure if it is amazing or just how pathetic everyone else is.

In any case, I found this very amusing and liked the short story aspect much more to my taste. I remain confused about the order of the books, as there seems to be no rhyme or reason to why they are so mixed up.

★★★★☆ ( )
  BookstoogeLT | Sep 12, 2018 |
I enjoy the narration as much, if not more, than the story itself.

I've been listening to these wildly out of order - it was fun to hear the backstory for some of the shenanigans in books I'd already heard :) ( )
  hopeevey | May 20, 2018 |
I can't believe this but I must be the only person in the WORLD (well maybe there is one more person) who doesn't like P.G. Wodehouse. This is the second one I have read and I just find them dull. Wish I liked them! ( )
  krazy4katz | Sep 24, 2017 |
I usually read Wodehouse's Wooster and Jeeves when I'm in a reading slump. The warm, sunny prose sets me right after a chapter and then I go off and read whatever I fancy.

This time, however, I decided to finish the entire book. And I did enjoy it! It was so witty and if there's ever a man to write proper British banter, it would be Wodehouse. However, after some time, I found Bertie Wooster to be seriously irritating. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot at his general incompetence, which I know is the point, but some of the chapters were difficult to finish.

I did appreciate the writing and how neatly Jeeves managed to wrap up everyone's loose ends by the end of each chapter but I need a little break from Wooster's gentlemanly exploits, bets and trifles.

I think I'll save my next Wodehouse for a rainy day, when I don't know what to read. But I'll probably only read a chapter at a time. c:

3.5 stars ( )
  lydia1879 | Aug 31, 2016 |
Once again, Bertie Wooster's bacon is saved by his valet Jeeves.

Due to a healthy inheritance, Bertie is able to enjoy the good life, spending time at the clubs or various country homes or just going about town to all the good places. That is unless his Aunt Agatha commands he appearance/participation in some sort of event while trying to marry this confirmed bachelor off. Or when his good friend Bingo needs help with his latest love, which are ever changing. Or when Claude and Eustace, the twins, need watching.

Jeeves' connections and talent for creative solutions come into play to resolve the current fix that has bound his master up. Even if Jeeves doesn't approve of the purple socks or the old Etonian Spats that Bertie has added to his sartorial style. Jeeves also prefers the quiet life.

Good for smiles and laughs in the style of 1923 when Wodehouse wrote the series. A good, fun read. ( )
  ChazziFrazz | Jun 23, 2016 |
The Inimitable Jeeves – Woodhouse
Audio version performed by Jonathan Cecil
4 stars
This is the second Jeeves book in the series. Each chapter is like a short story organized around recurring characters and returning several times to the romances of Bingo Little. Bertie takes a brief trip to New York City which allows Woodhouse to direct some wonderful word play and satire at Americans. Jonathan Cecil provides six hours of entertaining ear candy.
( )
  msjudy | May 30, 2016 |
Jeeves is arguably P. G. Wodehouse’s greatest character creation. In this volume Jeeves hovers around in the background until brought forth by Bertie Wooster to help him or a friend out of a tight spot.

This isn’t a novel in the strictest sense but more of a chronology of short stories with running themes and reoccurring characters. Some chapters work better than others. The best ones feature some top quality humour.

A dashed good read. ( )
  PhilSyphe | Apr 13, 2016 |
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