Overview
Pelham Grenville Wodehouse reigned supreme as the king of comedic prose in the 20th century. His meticulously crafted worlds, overflowing with eccentric aristocrats, bewildered gentlemen, and witty servants, offered refuge and laughter to millions.
Wodehouse’s genius lay in his mastery of language, weaving elaborate puns, hilarious metaphors and droll observations into every sentence. His characters, from the ever-flustered Bertie Wooster and his unflappable valet Jeeves to the pompous Lord Emsworth and the loquacious Psmith, remain timeless icons of absurdity, their misadventures guaranteed to raise a chuckle. Beyond the silliness, Wodehouse’s stories touched on themes of friendship, loyalty and the inherent ridiculousness of social customs. His sharp wit and gentle satire poked fun at societal hierarchies, offering an escape from the anxieties of the real world.
Wodehouse’s prolific career spanned seven decades and included about 90 novels and countless short stories. His influence on comedic writing is undeniable, inspiring generations of humorists and earning him the title of “the greatest English comic novelist of the 20th century.” So if you seek a world of witty wordplay, charmingly bumbling heroes, and guaranteed comic relief, step into the pages of P. G. Wodehouse and prepare to be thoroughly tickled.
Years when active: 1909-1974
Wiki site: Visit
SunilsLists link: Visit
Recurring Characters
Jeeves and Bertie Wooster (plus many supporting characters)
Blandings Castle (with Lord Emsworth and his clan)
Psmith (and his friend Mike)
Mr. Mulliner (and his huge circle of relatives)
Uncle Fred
Drones Club (various members)
Oldest Member (golf stories)
Monty Bodkin
Ukridge
Notable Works
Jeeves series (15 books)
Blandings Castle series (13 books)
Psmith series (4 novels)
Mr. Mulliner series (3 books of short stories)
A Gentleman of Leisure (1910)
Uneasy Money (1917)
The Adventures of Sally (1922)
The Girl on the Boat (1922)
Note: Wodehouse’s early writings (starting in 1902) are not as well-written or enjoyable as his later work, so I have not included them on this website. Wodehouse himself described his early writing career as a ‘period of apprenticeship’.
Did you know?
Wodehouse was affectionately known by his nickname “Plum” to his family and friends.
P. G. Wodehouse was knighted just 45 days before he died. Because of his ill health, he could not receive the accolade in person.
For much of his life (1946-1975), Wodehouse lived as an exile in the U.S.A. The reason was that he had became a persona non grata in England, his home country, because of having made broadcasts under coercion while under detention in Germany during World War II.
Additional Information
A great infobook about Wodehouse and his works is Plum Sauce: A P. G. Wodehouse Companion, by Richard Usborne (2003)
