Leave it to Psmith – P G Wodehouse
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Arrow (1 May 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 009951379X
ISBN-13: 978-0099513797
Published in 1923, this is the second Blandings novel and he fourth and final Psmith book. It seems that Wodehouse stopped writing Psmith novels because he couldn’t think of more stories for the character. Fortunately he didn’t take that view of Blamdings, and carried on writing the same story for another sixty years.
Apart from Psmith (the P is silent, I will refrain from the ancient joke) the book also features the Efficient Baxter, the Earl’s secretary, and the bane of his life. I always feel the peril is more real when Baxter is about.
Psmith enters the castle masquerading as a poet with plans to help Freddie Threepwood (heir of the Earl of Emsworth) in a plot to purloin a valuable necklace which he needs…
Let’s just say that it’s complicated.
Baxter is judged to be mad by Emsworth after a scene involving plantpots and pyjamas (which will be mentioned in subsequent books) and Psmith foils a second plot to steal the necklace before all the romances are rounded off and Freddie Threepwood gets the money he needs to set up as a bookmaker.
I doubt I’m giving any secrets away here, as this is what you would expect. That’s really what you read the Blandings books for – romance, mild peril and everlasting summer.
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I love the names Wodehouse came up with in the Wooster and Jeeves stories. Sounds like he is in good form here. 🙂
He is. I always think Blandings should be better known.
Absolutely. At least you’re spreading the word!
🙂
My favourite Psmith is ‘Psmith, journalist’ (I think that that is the title.)
Not one I’ve read. I read “Mike and Psmith” about 1968 and this was the next time I read him.
Romance, mild peril, and everlasting summer. Yes!
It does the trick for me, but I’m just an old softie!
I have never heard of these stories, but will definitely be looking for them!
Well worth the effort, I promise. 🙂
Nice
🙂