The Crime Wave at Blandings by P G Wodehouse
| The Crime Wave at Blandings by P G Wodehouse | |
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| Category: Literary Fiction | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: First published in 1937 but still fresh as a daisy - a short piece from P G Wodehouse which doesn't involve Jeeves. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 96 | Date: February 2011 |
| Publisher: Penguin Classics | |
| ISBN: 978-0141196282 | |
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There's a crime wave at Blandings Castle and bumbling Lord Emsworth is right at its centre. This is somewhat surprising as Emsworth (or 'Clarence!' to his sister Constance) is really only happy when he's reading his favourite book, Whiffle's The Care of the Pig. It frequently soothes where other restoratives fail. The problem began with an air rifle and an unwanted tutor, but before the afternoon was out most of the inhabitants of Blandings Castle seemed to have shot, been shot at or left. If it hadn't been written by P G Wodehouse it would all be most confusing.
As it is, it's simply hilarious as people confess their misdemeanours, offer their resignation or leave declining to be a target for target practice any longer. There's the usual Wodehousian mixture of bumbling aristocracy, efficient staff, elfin young women and dragon-like older women. There's no subtlety in the plot – if that's what you're looking for then you don't read Wodehouse – but there is glorious language and a gentle humour that's difficult to match anywhere else.
Penguin has reissued 'The Crime Wave at Blandings' in the Mini Modern Classic series. It's not a long read with just over eighty pages of text in the sort of format which fits perfectly into a bag or pocket. It's readable and rereadable and ideal to fall back on when you have time on your hands but are unable to get hold of a copy of The Care of the Pig.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
Most people associate Wodehouse with Jeeves, but he's absent from The Crime Wave at Blandings. Dare one say that it would never of happened had he been there? If you'd like to read more of Jeeves we can recommend Thank You, Jeeves.
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