Book of the Week

Carry on, Jeeves by P G Wodehouse
Recommended by Felix Kwok

Carry on, Jeeves by P G Wodehouse is one of the earlier books in the Jeeves and Wooster series. I say earlier due to the fact that it is actually debated which book is first.

There are two parties, one that says that Carry on, Jeeves is the first, and the other saying The Inimitable Jeeves is. Really it does not matter which book one starts off with, as they are both incredibly humorous. Carry on, Jeeves, however, is actually a collection of short stories, not one stand-alone story.

Carry on, Jeeves has two main characters - one, of course, being Jeeves, and the other being Bertie Wooster. Jeeves, a peculiarly intelligent valet described as 'a gentleman's personal gentleman', stumbles upon the aristocratic bachelor Bertram Wooster one morning after seeing an advertisement in the paper. Wooster is taken by surprise, as he has forgotten this advertisement had ever been placed. Jeeves, seeing that Wooster is clearly suffering from a hangover, quickly prepares for him a cure. Although unappetizing, the drink, which Jeeves does not divulge the ingredients to, works almost instantly. Wooster is extremely impressed. The whole Jeeves and Wooster series is set in the 1930s and incorporates mostly the idle rich. These individuals enjoy spending most of their time at 'The Drones Club'.

P G Wodehouse, born in 1881, is one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century and, as Hugh Laurie says, 'the funniest writer ever to put words to paper.' His intentions were quite clear with this book: he wanted to bring across the essence of the era in which he was living but at the same time pack the book with incredibly funny jokes. Both goals have clearly been achieved in this stomper of a book.

For some readers, it might seem slightly slow, especially at the start, but bar this, there are really no negatives, and on the other hand, the list of positives and enjoyments goes on and on. The expressions and images are by far the best I have ever seen in any book. Wodehouse uses very strange metaphors that somehow fit right in: for instance, he describes how 'Jeeves shimmered out', comparing him to light, and conveying the speed and silence with which he moves.

Carry On, Jeeves is a book that appeals to everyone - they just have not realised it yet. If someone does not laugh whilst reading this book then they simply have a heart of stone. If you are amused by British humour and enjoy the 1930s setting, there is no book that you could adore more - spread out before you will be 'the finest and funniest words from the finest and funniest writer the past century ever knew.'