Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, P G Wodehouse

Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves is one of a number of books written about Bertie Wooster and his “gentleman’s gentleman” Jeeves. It was written by P G Wodehouse and was published in 1963. The books start with Bertie in jovial spirits. Jeeves is back from a stint at Bertie’s aunt Dahlia and “God, as I once heard Jeeve’s put it, was in His Heaven and all was right with the world.” Of course this is not going to last. As Bertie leaves his flat Jeeves shows disdain for his new hat. This, of course, will also not last.

Bertie embarks on a mission to help his aunt at Totleigh Towers. Soon he is out of his depth and drowning. He finds himself on the edge of matrimony to Madeline Bassett, who should be in the arms of Gussie Finknottle. Finknottle’s in the doghouse over some steak and kidney pie. Add into that Stiffy Byng is trying to get her fiancé, the Reverent “Stinker” a vicarage. Pour in a bit of Sir Watkyn Bassett and you have all the ingredients of a right old caper.

Open up this book and let the idyllic world of Bertie Wooster blow your worries away. It is full of beautifully spun capers. Jeeves is there to save his hapless master, putting his superior brain to the task. I consider this a classic. Some may not think so as comedy is sometime not considered on the same level as other genres of literature. To create such a witty and flowing narrative is no mean achievement.

P G Wodehouse By Unlisted photographer for Screenland – Screenland, August 1930 (Vol XXI, No 4); p. 20, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40891112