Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves

"Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves" is an example of Wodehouse at his best - to paraphrase Evelyn Waugh, cramming three original similes onto every page. The book continues the saga of the Wooster / Bassett / Fink-Nottle "love triangle", and Wodehouse as ever handles the problem of filling in new readers with aplomb (though it is undoubtedly better to have read the preceding volumes - after all, why wouldn't you want to read the preceding volumes?). Bertie is once again at Totleigh Towers where "only man is vile", desperately trying to avoid imprisonment, dismemberment at the hands of Spode (now under the alias of Lord Sidcup) while failing spectacularly to act as raisonneur to the Madeleine / Gussie relationship -which now appears to be floundering on the insurmountable obstacle of vegetarianism. Bertie gets some good one-liners, and the dialogue is excellent as always. Though writen post-war, after what many consider the Wodehouse golden-age of the 1930s, this remains an example of Wodehouse at his best.

Previous: How Right You Are, Jeeves (Jeeves in the Offing)
This volume of the series sees young Bertram Wooster deeper in the soup than ever before, when his desperate measures to salvage the floundering Fink-Nottle/Bassett romance fail utterly. Although Jeeves's solutions are always brilliant, this one is probably the most ingenious (and for a moment, shocking) of them all. While the plot is beginning to feel a bit contrived (it is, after all, basically the same as all the others), there are always enough eccentric characters (notably Captain Plank, who has Bertie nailed as a villain named Alpine Joe), lively interaction between the two principals (this time over a blue alpine hat with a pink feather), and wonderful, Woosterian language to keep us laughing along the way. Not the best of the lot, but certainly good enough!
Next: Jeeves and the Tie that Binds (Much Obliged, Jeeves)

Number three in the series of four books commonly referred to as the "Totleigh Towers series" by Wodehouse fans, Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves is filled with fantastic characters and hilarious story lines. Make sure to also get "Code Of The Woosters (#1) in the series), The Mating SDeason (#2), and Much Obliged, Jeeves (#4). Your life will be greatly enriched by these very entertaining books!

I love anything written by P.G. Wodehouse. His style and turns of phrase guarantee hearty guffaws and unexpected snorts of laughter. I have read and re-read many of his stories and they never fail to entertain or make me laugh. His description of the inhabitants of Totleigh Towers brings them to life and makes you wish you lived in the neighborhood, just to be privvy to the goings on!

In need of a pick-me-up? Pick up any P.G. Wodehouse story about Bertie Wooster and his gentleman's gentleman Jeeves. I dare you to frown even once as you frolic in English countryside with the likes of Stiffy Byng, Gussie Fink-Nottle, and Stinker Pinker, the local curate. Just reading their names brings a smile to my face.

If you've read (or seen on TV) any of the ten or more Jeeves & Wooster stories, you know that ingenious Jeeves must rescue scatterbrained Wooster from awkward pickles. In Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, Bertie must be rescued from a series of pickles, including repeatedly being mistaken for a thief and being threatened with an unwanted betrothal to the demanding daughter of the very man who detests him most, ex-magistrate Sir Watkyn Bassett. Hilarity ensues.

I could picture the silliness of most of the scenes, and my favorite was one in which Bertie and Watkyn bump into each other in the hallway in the middle of the night. "...as I felt my way along the wall I collided with what turned out to be a grandfather clock, for the existence of which I had not budgeted, and it toppled over with a sound like the delivery of several tons of coal through the roof of a conservatory. Glass crashed, pulleys and things parted from their moorings, and as I stood trying to separate my heart from the front teeth in which it had become entangled, the lights flashed on and I beheld Sir Watkyn Bassett." Moments later both men leap onto a large chest to avoid being bitten by a dog. Wodehouse unfolds this scene over seven pages with perfect pacing, droll observations, and funny dialog. Not to mention Watkyn's dressing gown of yellow frogs on bright purple fabric.

Wodehouse's clever wordplay, colorful descriptions, and understated British humor always delight me.

Bertie Wooster is off to Totleigh Towers, to try and soothe matters between Madeline Basset and his friend Gussie Fink-Nottle. Why would Wooster attempt to visit Totleigh Towers once again (not very warm reception in previous visit)? If the two lovebirds don't see eye to eye soon, Madeline will marry her second choice: Bertram Wooster, something he dreads very very much.

Pop Basset, a collector like Bertie's Uncle Travis loathes Bertie, and is convinced Wooster is visiting only to get his hands on his newest addition to his collection: a black statuette.

Pop Basset's niece, Stiffy, is also at Totleigh - along with Spode (Lord Sidcup) who is in love with Madeline; Stinker, a curator, and an old friend of Bertie's (also Stiffy's fiance); Jeeves, of course, who happens to be working for Basset Senior; and a certain Alpine hat that Jeeves disproves off and Wooster loves.

You'd think people would get tired with old Wooster getting in trouble with ex fiances on the loose and then having Jeeves' grey matter fishing him out, but it never gets old. Laugh out loud dialogue as usual, crisp, and refreshing. Another Jeeves and Wooster book that I'm glad I read.

I love Wodehouse and reading of Bertie Wooster's exploits (and Jeeves' ability to extract him from the soup) always brings a smile and chuckle - so much fun! In Wodehouse's lovely, mythical England between the wars, the sun is always shining, Bertie is always well-meaning, snarky and put-upon by turns, and his biggest concern is usually avoiding falling into a disastrous engagement to a long line of spoiled, flaky women! He and Jeeves are surrounded by a hilarious, goofy and charmingly quirky cast of family, friends and servants that provide endless fodder for ridiculous, farcical situations - in this case, Bertie is afraid his old pal Gussie Fink-Nottle is tiring of his engagement to the beautiful but drippy Madeline Bassett, and if he backs out, Bertie will be forced to marry Madeline. Silly and barely enough to hang a story on, and yet in the hands of the master, I found myself laughing out loud - delightful and highly recommended for a read or re-read if it's been too long since you've had a good laugh.

Another extraordinary comic achievement from the great Wodehouse, this time written in the post-war period. Jeeves and Bertie are stuck in Totleigh Towers again and Spode is on to them. This little gem includes many of Wodehouse's best characters-the Bassetts, Gussie, and of course Stiffy. The prose shines with the same creativity and playfulness as always. Classic Wodehouse.

Wodehouse wrote a LOT of stories, books and even screen plays (the musical "Anything Goes" is Cole Porter setting a Wodehouse story to music- but Wodehouse also contributed to "Showboat" and other Hollywood classics). He is beyond doubt the ultimate writer if one wants to read for amusement.

What a treat Stiff upper lip, Jeeves is to read! Of course, we know he always is calm and collected which is why he's the best! A great Wodehouse story and wonderful word play by the master. There is not a day that goes by that makes me wish I had met PG or Plum as he was known. I wonder if he was as masterful with language in person as he was with the written word? No matter, we have his over 100 books and this is one of those I like best. I love them all, but here are a few that you might also like to read:

[[ASIN:1441495908 The Gem Collector: A British Humor Classic]]

[[ASIN:1441496416 The Gold Bat: A British Humor Classic]]

[[ASIN:1441496203 The Head Of Kay's: A British Humor Classic]]

[[ASIN:1441496033 The Intrusion Of Jimmy: A British Humor Classic]]

[[ASIN:1441496270 The Little Nugget: A British Humor Classic]]

Jeeves is great morning, afternoon or evening! Just like any of PG's great books!