Category: Writers & Writing

Beyond Wodehouse

P.G. Wodehouse, Society Spice, Writers15 Comments

P.G. Wodehouse in the news

Honoria Plum

Having apprised regular readers of certain facts about an upcoming Wodehouse exhibition at the British Library, the keen observer may have detected an absence of new material here at Plumtopia. But the world of Wodehouse has not suffered. Indeed, it has been buzzing along quite nicely. The P G Wodehouse Society dinner On 11 October, the P G Wodehouse Society (UK) held its biennial dinner. This is always a special occasion, and in 2018 included readings from Neil Pearson, Katy Reece, and Robert Daws. Daws is well known to Wodehouse fans for playing Tuppy Glossop in the Jeeves and Wooster … Continue reading P.G. Wodehouse in the news

Rate this:

Finding Plumtopia, P.G. Wodehouse, Writers8 Comments

Six reasons why P.G. Wodehouse is Stephen Fry’s hero

Honoria Plum

If I were to construct a Plumtopian society according to my own specifications (which, regrettably, nobody has asked me to do) BBC Radio 4 would be one of the first things I’d bung into the package. In addition to producing high quality radio, the Radio 4 website is also well worth exploring. It contains, among other things, this little gem: Six reasons why P.G. Wodehouse is Stephen Fry’s hero Fry and Wodehouse are always an irresistible combination. For a second helping try the 2017 broadcast (currently available on repeat) of Stephen Fry on PG Wodehouse, as part of the BBC … Continue reading Six reasons why P.G. Wodehouse is Stephen Fry’s hero

Rate this:

P.G. Wodehouse, Writers9 Comments

Where Jeeves meets a hard-boiled detective: P.G. Wodehouse and Raymond Chandler

Honoria Plum

One prefers, of course, on all occasions to be stainless and above reproach, but, failing that, the next best thing is unquestionably to have got rid of the body. P.G. Wodehouse (Joy in the Morning) Raymond Chandler was born on this day, 23 July 1888. Chandler wrote ‘hard-boiled’ detective fiction, including classics like The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye. His fictional detective Philip Marlowe was famously played on screen by Humphrey Bogart. P.G. Wodehouse and Raymond Chandler were both educated at Dulwich College in London’s South, which today has libraries named after both authors. David Cannadine explored the connection between them … Continue reading Where Jeeves meets a hard-boiled detective: P.G. Wodehouse and Raymond Chandler

Rate this:

Letters, P.G. Wodehouse, Wodehouse Women, Writers22 Comments

Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party for P.G. Wodehouse

Honoria Plum

Agatha Christie’s novel Hallowe’en Party, the 39th outing for Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, was first published In November 1969. Christie dedicated it: To P. G. Wodehouse — whose books and stories have brightened my life for many years. Also, to show my pleasure in his having been kind enough to tell me he enjoyed my books. In February 2015, many of Agatha Christie’s letters were published to mark the 125th anniversary of her birth. They included a letter from P.G.Wodehouse, thanking Christie for the dedication. Wodehouse and Christie were mutual admirers of each other’s work, and had begun corresponding fifteen … Continue reading Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party for P.G. Wodehouse

Rate this:

Guest Posts, Jeeves & Wooster, Writers8 Comments

Writing under the influence of Wodehouse: A Blindefellows Chronicle by Auriel Roe

Honoria Plum

P.G. Wodehouse offers us so much as readers, but he’s an inspiration for writers too. I asked Auriel Roe, author of A Blindfellows Chronicle, about Wodehouse’s influence on her writing. How did you discover Wodehouse? Probably the Richard Briers and Michael Hordern radio version of Jeeves and Wooster. Dickens always intended his work to be read aloud and Wodehouse has just the right rhythms for this too, so that led me to read Wodehouse.  Coming from a background in drama, I could tell instantly that Wodehouse’s characters and scenarios were theatrical. Do you have a favourite Wodehouse novel or story? Probably … Continue reading Writing under the influence of Wodehouse: A Blindefellows Chronicle by Auriel Roe

Rate this:

P.G. Wodehouse, War and Politics, WritersLeave a comment

On this day: George Orwell, who wrote in Defence of P.G. Wodehouse, was born (1903)

Honoria Plum

George Orwell was born on this day 1903. Best known as the author of dystopian classics 1984 and Animal Farm, Orwell also wrote a 1946 essay ‘In Defence of P.G. Wodehouse’. The background to this story has been covered in much detail elsewhere.* Before the start of the Second World War, P.G. Wodehouse was living in France. When the German Army invaded, he was among those captured and interned — in a succession of prison camps, from Belgium to Upper Silesia. He continued to write throughout his internment, and read his light-hearted camp diary aloud for the amusement of his … Continue reading On this day: George Orwell, who wrote in Defence of P.G. Wodehouse, was born (1903)

Rate this:

Blandings, Criticism, Jeeves & Wooster, Mr Mulliner, Novels, Reviews, World of Wodehouse, Writers8 Comments

Highballs for Breakfast

Honoria Plum

Highballs for Breakfast is a new compilation of P.G. Wodehouse’s writing on the subject of liquor, drinking, Dutch Courage and mornings after, compiled and edited by Richard T. Kelly. It’s a well-researched collection that delves widely into the Wodehouse canon, … Continue reading Highballs for Breakfast

Rate this:

Plumtopia, Society Spice, Writers5 Comments

Raising a glass – to Norman Murphy!

Honoria Plum

Most Wodehouse enthusiasts will now be aware of the sad news that Lt Col Norman Murphy, founder Chairman of the PG Wodehouse Society (UK), passed away in October. As the PG Wodehouse Society’s Remembrancer, Norman was generous with his time and expert knowledge, and he leaves behind a body of work that Wodehouse enthusiasts will continue to treasure for years to come. His publications include: In Search of Blandings Three Wodehouse Walks A Wodehouse Handbook (Volumes 1 and 2) The Reminiscences of the Hon. Galahad Threepwood Phrases and Notes: P G Wodehouse Notebooks 1902-1905 The P.G. Wodehouse Miscellany   Norman … Continue reading Raising a glass – to Norman Murphy!

Rate this:

Mr Mulliner, Psmith, School Stories, World of Wodehouse, Writers33 Comments

The birth of P.G. Wodehouse and Sherlock Holmes

Honoria Plum

PGW quoted this famous character from his third book up to his ninety-third and had a tremendous admiration for Arthur Conan Doyle. N.T.P. Murphy, A Wodehouse Handbook On the 15th of October, 1881, P.G. Wodehouse was born in Guildford , England. Coincidentally, 1881 was also the year in which Dr. John Watson first met Sherlock Holmes. Their meeting was recounted by Arthur Conan Doyle in the first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet (1887). Some years later, the young Wodehouse became an avid reader of these stories, and his early work is littered with Holmesian references.  In The Adventure … Continue reading The birth of P.G. Wodehouse and Sherlock Holmes

Rate this:

WritersLeave a comment

Five more favourite writers of Wodehouse readers

Honoria Plum

Originally posted on Plumtopia:
In my last piece, I revealed the top top five authors Wodehouse lovers in the ‘Fans of P G Wodehouse’ Facebook community named as their favourites (when not reading Wodehouse). No doubt you’re itching to know who else our Plum chums love to read, so I’m here to share the next five most popular authors named. As these five were almost equally popular, I’ve listed them chronologically. Follow link to image source Charles Dickens (b. 1812) ‘She dotes on poetry, sir. She adores it; I may say that her whole soul and mind are wound up,… Continue reading Five more favourite writers of Wodehouse readers

Rate this: