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A review by book_concierge
Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
3.0
Book on CD performed by Jonathan Cecil
In this full-length novel, Jeeves gives notice after yet another nearby resident complains of Bertie Wooster’s incessant banjolele playing. It seems that while Jeeves has somewhat smoothed relations with the neighbor, he cannot stand listening to the instrument any longer himself. Just as Bertie has agreed to go to the country estate of his school friend Baron Chuffnell, he learns that Jeeves has taken a position in Chuffy’s household. Say what?! Good thing Jeeves is still nearby, because an American millionaire and his lovely daughter are also staying in the vicinity of the country estate aboard their yacht. Bertie had become briefly engaged to Pauline Stoker when visiting America but they parted when her father objected to the match. Now she is engaged to Chuffy, but one misunderstanding after another puts everything in a twist. Until Jeeves calmly and capably sorts it all out.
This was a delightful romp. Lighthearted, fun, entertaining and extremely visual. I will warn modern readers, however, Bertie and another character don blackface for much of the second half of the novel. The dialogue includes one particular racist slur that would never be used so casually today; the book was originally written in 1934 and the audio edition I had did not edit the words for modern sensitivity. Had someone been able to rewrite these scenes to use a different device that was not so racially demeaning I would probably rate it higher.
Jonathan Cecil does a marvelous job narrating the audio version. His pacing is very good and his skill with voices breathes life into the laid-back Bertie, the blustering Mr Stoker, and the inimitable Jeeves.
In this full-length novel, Jeeves gives notice after yet another nearby resident complains of Bertie Wooster’s incessant banjolele playing. It seems that while Jeeves has somewhat smoothed relations with the neighbor, he cannot stand listening to the instrument any longer himself. Just as Bertie has agreed to go to the country estate of his school friend Baron Chuffnell, he learns that Jeeves has taken a position in Chuffy’s household. Say what?! Good thing Jeeves is still nearby, because an American millionaire and his lovely daughter are also staying in the vicinity of the country estate aboard their yacht. Bertie had become briefly engaged to Pauline Stoker when visiting America but they parted when her father objected to the match. Now she is engaged to Chuffy, but one misunderstanding after another puts everything in a twist. Until Jeeves calmly and capably sorts it all out.
This was a delightful romp. Lighthearted, fun, entertaining and extremely visual. I will warn modern readers, however, Bertie and another character don blackface for much of the second half of the novel. The dialogue includes one particular racist slur that would never be used so casually today; the book was originally written in 1934 and the audio edition I had did not edit the words for modern sensitivity. Had someone been able to rewrite these scenes to use a different device that was not so racially demeaning I would probably rate it higher.
Jonathan Cecil does a marvelous job narrating the audio version. His pacing is very good and his skill with voices breathes life into the laid-back Bertie, the blustering Mr Stoker, and the inimitable Jeeves.