Tag: feminist

Guest Posts, Hidden Gems, Novels, The Great Romances, Wodehouse Women7 Comments

Mostly Sally (The Adventures of Sally)

Honoria Plum

Sally stopped and drew a deep breath. Ginger Kemp did not reply for a moment. He seemed greatly impressed. “When you talk quick,” he said at length, in a serious meditative voice, “your nose sort of goes all squiggly. Ripping, it looks!” Sally uttered an indignant cry. “Do you mean to say you haven’t been listening to a word I’ve been saying,” she demanded. “Oh, rather! Oh, by Jove, yes.” “Well, what did I say?” “You… er… And your eyes sort of shine, too.” “Never mind my eyes. What did I say?” “You told me,” said Ginger, on reflection, “to … Continue reading Mostly Sally (The Adventures of Sally)

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Novels, Wodehouse Women, World of Wodehouse5 Comments

Wodehouse’s Women: Doctor Sally

Honoria Plum

As Doctor Sally begins, we meet Sir Hugo Drake, a nerve specialist and keen golfer who is impressed by the sight of a golf ball in flight that plops superbly upon the green of the devilish eighteenth hole. I say impressed. What Wodehouse says is: ‘The stout man congealed like one who has seen a vision.’ Sir Hugo toddles off in admiration to find the golfer responsible, to congratulate him on a magnificent shot. It was not the pro. It was not a man at all. It was a girl – and a small girl, at that. That she was also … Continue reading Wodehouse’s Women: Doctor Sally

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Criticism, P.G. Wodehouse, Wodehouse Women, World of Wodehouse22 Comments

Wodehouse’s women: in the eye of the beholder

Honoria Plum

Wodehouse offers so much more to female readers than he is usually given credit for. A few months ago, I responded to criticism of Indian Summer of an Uncle by Janet Cameron (see my case for the defence). I feel sad that Cameron’s cursory appraisal of perceived gender issues has blinded her to the exquisite joys of his work. So today, I want to talk about why Wodehouse is a great writer of, and for, women. First, Wodehouse presents readers with heroines who are full of pep and ginger;  independent, sometimes feisty, characters who frequently outsmart the men. What a … Continue reading Wodehouse’s women: in the eye of the beholder

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Criticism, P.G. Wodehouse, Wodehouse Women, World of Wodehouse12 Comments

Wodehouse on women: Bachelors Anonymous

Honoria Plum

Last week, I began a series exploring ‘Wodehouse on Women’ in response to criticism of Indian Summer of an Uncle by Janet Cameron. In Part 1, I opened the case for the defence by demonstrating that Wodehouse did not specifically exclude women as complex characters in his work. One Wodehouse expert has added further evidence, noting that several Wodehouse novels featured well-developed female central characters. The Adventures of Sally (1922) is a good example. Today, I address the next item on the charge sheet. ‘Men are portrayed as being in league against women’ Cameron writes: ‘the male characters (are shown … Continue reading Wodehouse on women: Bachelors Anonymous

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