Somewhat surprisingly, given that it was all about children’s books, Lucy Mangan’s Bookworm had me heading straight to the bookshelf for a P.G. Wodehouse. She wrote a very convincing comparison of Richmal Crompton’s WIlliam books and P.G. Wodehouse’s novels – if you like one, you’ll almost certainly like the other – and I went to my many unread PWGs. The only one that fit an unclaimed ACOB year, though, was Bill the Conqueror (1924).
I don’t think this is one of Wodehouse’s better-known novels – it’s not part of the Jeeves and Wooster series, or the Blandings series, though apparently some of the characters in it do pop up in other books. And what a dizzying number of characters it has, spread over both sides of the Atlantic. It’s apparently a matter of comparative ease to pop from one side to the other, and I got rather confused about who was where. But let me give a try at working out who is who and what is what…
In England, Flick is engaged to Roderick, the weak son of a newspaper magnate, but she is still in love with Bill (who lives in the US, and once saved her life). He’s besotted with his friend Judson’s sister (Alice), and also has a brainwave to start earning his own living – which happens just as his uncle disinherits the family, as he’s just adopted an uninspiring child. Bill and Judson sail off to London so Bill can work for the family pulping firm, which is in the midst of fraud. I feel like there are other subplots too, but I can’t remember all of them – even for Wodehouse, there’s a lot going on. Potentially a bit too much. Usually he winds everything together brilliantly at the end – here, there was nothing left unresolved, but some of it felt a bit extraneous.
I don’t think anybody reads Wodehouse because they’re desperate for a couple to find love. Indeed, there is quite a contrast between Bertie Wooster (who is forever getting engaged by accident, and then trying to extricate himself) and the heroes of PGW’s stand-alone novels, who are usually starry-eyed lovers who’ve fallen in love at first sight. And, yes, I didn’t really care which woman’s heart Bill conquered – I’m here for Wodehouse’s hilarious writing.
And the writing is very good in Bill the Conqueror. It has Wodehouse’s usual winning combination of litotes and hyperbole – I particularly like it when he makes an unnecessary and over-the-top reference to Greek myth, making ordinary situations jolt into the extremely dramatic, but only for the span of a sentence. But there weren’t any so-amazingly-funny-I-have-to-write-them-down moments. And his humour was a bit more intermittent than when he’s on his finest form.
It was lovely to go back to Wodehouse after too long a break, and this was an engaging, funny delight. If it had been by any other author, I’d be shouting my discovery from the rooftops. But Wodehouse is SO brilliant that I think it’s worth starting somewhere else – probably one of the Jeeves books. And it’s good to know that there are any number of books where Wodehouse will provide reliable fun – plenty of them still on my shelves.
That is an interesting book to be sent to by Bookworm – I’m itching to go back all the way through Noel Streatfeild at the moment myself!
This sounds fun, I’ve loved Wodehouse since I watched the Jeeves & Wooster series back in the 1990s. And now I really want to read Bookworm, to see how you got there from Richmal Crompton!
Sounds like a great read and one I’ve heard very little about! will watch out for it as I love to find old ‘classics’
I do love Wodehouse. Even when he’s not at his best he’s still delightful!
It is years since I read any Wodehouse. The only ones I have read (there aren’t many) are some of the better known Jeeves books. The idea of getting back to Wodehouse definitely appeals.
Wodehouse is so much fun!
I love Wodehouse! My favorites of what I’ve read so far have been The Mating Season and Something Fresh (Something New). Both had me belly laughing out loud. I can still recall lines and scenes from both that make me chuckle as I write.
I haven’t read any Wodehouse for years, though I did go through a massive Jeeves phase. Those books made me laugh like a drain so I guess there’s a reason they’re his best-loved books! 😁
I’ve read (and own) many many PGW’s books over the years (starting ca 1968) but never came across Bill the Conqueror.
I’ve also read his multiple memoirs (just as much fun) and yes, in real life he and his friends were certainly hopping back and forth across the Atlantic all the time. Until, of course, the Horrible Betrayal in WWII, after which he went straight from France to New York and stayed there. (Betrayal by the British public, I mean. What rot!)
I would not recommend starting Wodehouse with this book. It’s neither one of his best nor typical of what he’s noted for. It’s a good read, but something you read after you’ve sample his best.
His best? (There’s a lot of stuff on Wikipedia, including an extensive bibliography with links.) The first four Jeeves-Wooster novels, the first four Blandings beginning with Leave It to Psmith, and some standalones like Sam the Sudden, Summer Moonshine, Quick Service, and The Luck of the Bodkins.