This Valentine’s Day, it will be 39 years since the death of P.G. Wodehouse. To mark the occasion, I am hoping to post a series of pieces on love and romance in the world of P. G. Wodehouse. It’s an ambitious task and I’m eager for other Wodehouse lovers to get involved.
Specifically, I’m keen to receive pieces on the theme of Wodehouse and love. I’m especially interested in covering the great romances of Wodehouse. Who are your favourite Wodehouse couples? What makes them special? I asked Fans of P G Wodehouse on Facebook – their favourites include:
- Psmith and Eve Halliday (Leave it to Psmith)
- Bingo Little and Rosie M Banks (The Inimitable Jeeves)
- Dolly and Soapy Molloy
- Madeline Bassett and Gussie Fink Nottle*
- Madeline Bassett and Roderick Spode
- Gussie Fink Nottle and Emerald Stoker
- Stiffy Bing and Stinker Pinker
- Archie and Lucille Moffam
- Aunt Dahlia & Uncle Tom
- Sally Fairmile and Joss Weatherby
- Sally Nicholas and Lancelot ‘Ginger’ Kemp (The Adventures of Sally)
- Ashe Marson & Joan Valentine
- Ronnie Fish and Sue Brown
- Anne Benedick & Jeff Miller
- Pongo Twistleton and Sally Painter
- Aunt Constance and Jimmy Schoonmaker
- Lord Emsworth and the girlfriend
- Lord Emsworth and the Empress of Blandings
* A contentious vote, as both end up with other mates.
What do you think?
Like many of you, Eve and Psmith are a favourite of mine. I also have a soft spot for Eustace Highnet and Jane Hubbard from The Girl on the Boat (1922).
If you would like to contribute a tribute to your favourite couple, or some other aspect of the theme of Wodehouse and love, please do send it to me. By all means write at length, but even a few paragraphs would suffice. You will naturally be attributed as the author, with much thanks and gratitude. Alternatively you could write on the theme at your own blog or webpage, and paste a link in the comments so I can reblog it here at Plumtopia.
This is an ambitious undertaking, but I think even a modest response will be a wonderful way to celebrate Plum this Valentine’s Day.
HP
Plumtopia 
Great idea! Count me in…
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Terrific! I started re-reading Leave it to Psmith today as ‘research’. I’m so glad I did.
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“Lord Emsworth and the Girl Friend” is the great Wodehousian romance, most worthy of a special Valentine. My starting point is the very nature of great romances. Love must blossom, however improbably. It will be heroic, idyllic, and set in the beauty of nature, but not without the odd nettle. In the end love conquers all, as someone once noted; Jeeves, perhaps?
The easy part is to recognize in this “perfect short story” that Blandings and its gardens are the bounty of nature. The nettle, perhaps I should have said thistle, as le mot juste, is A. McAllister. The hero, was ever a hero more beset by constant woes? is Clarence. His faithful companion and supporter: Beach. His opening ire, directed at “a blameless kippered herring,” makes the appearance of love seem unlikely. But as Clarence begins his wandering (pottering seems more apt but unlyrical), love appears as the heroine saves the hero from a dog-toothed fate, but not The Fete, with a commanding “Hoy!” Was ever love introduced so startlingly? And can one recall many other Wodehousian nods to mother as sweet as merely “wizened motherliness” as Gladys, the heroine, is described?
The hero’s trials include the foreign speech of the heroine, her protective bother, Ern, the usurping, ruling goddess of the castle, Connie, and the grim beast who guards these gardens and flarze. The hero’s path is stoney, not moss covered. Indeed, in his despair and struggles, at times “[h]e feels like a man who in error has kicked a favorite dog.” But in the end there is a welcome refuge, albeit normally a humble “lounge or retiring room for cattle.” And there the hero and heroine share their grim fates. Then love, and the courage to face the world unafraid in a high summer wonderland, emerge triumphant.
There is a feast, of course. The carnal nature of love is hinted at by wanton hand-holding and the greatest gift in the hero’s power is bestowed. There are classical references to Achillea, Euphorbia, Gypsophilia, Helianthus, and Thalictrum. The ancient ancestors of the hero appear to spur his courage for the final, fateful conflict. The ogre is dashed with a departing, defeated “Hphm.” The malevolent goddess is dashed too. It is, to steal a phrase, “all sweetness and light.”
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That’s the stuff to give the troops, Ken! I am posting this separately as today’s instalment – with much thanks and admiration.
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My dear Ken. Yours has now been posted as the first instalment. Thanks so much – again.
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intend to try.& i still think Bertie & Jeeves should figure in the list.thank you for considering.empress
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Thanks wise guy. The list is a starting point. In practice I think it could include just about every couple Wodehouse ever gave us. I have no objections to including that great duo.
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You may like this one:
http://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/bertie-wooster-needs-your-opinion/
Is the Great Romances series still open for contributions? If so, I may endeavor to make an attempt, with all humility at my command.
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Thanks awfully. Short gap in the series due to illness in the family, but I very much look forward to sharing your contribution.
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Much obliged!
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My pleasure. As always.
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George Bernart Callender and Mary Vaugham from the short story ” Deep waters”
George Albert Balmer and Julia Waveney from the short story ” The tupenny Millionare”
I like the best his short stories 🙂
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Pipicz Veronika – I’m so glad. He was a master of the short story. I think people often forget that. I’m going to re-read your favourites to refresh my memory.
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Just posted my little tribute on Tuppy Glossop’s great love affair. Better late than never!
http://fictionfanblog.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/tuppy-glossops-one-true-love/
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Eve and Psmith are my favourites too. I was sold on Eve when I first read the description of her dress, and the fact that she’s neither simpering nor terrifying, but cheerful and resourceful make her a perfect match for the sublimely debonair Psmith.
I also totally love Jill Mariner and Wally Mason. His New York apartment sounds like the stuff of dreams.
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Ahhhh… Jill. I need to re-read that one.
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Where’s Lord Yaxley (George, Piggie) and Mrs. Wilberforce (of the East Dulwich Wilbutforces, barmaid, and “of the people”). THEY actually got married!
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Quite right. They’re a wonderful couple and you will (hopefully) be pleased to note they appear v. high up on this list of favourite romances.
https://honoriaplum.wordpress.com/2019/03/02/top-50-p-g-wodehouse-romances-voted-by-readers/
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