Carry on, Jeeves!. Review on Carry On, Jeeves! - P.G.Wodehouse

I visited Crossword book store a Saturday evening last month(my favourite weekend hang out) and after spending (or should I say investing) a good couple of hours there, requested the guy at the counter to gift wrap a few books that I had carefully picked from the P.G. Wodehouse treasure!

It was my birthday last month, and I gifted this collection to myself. :P

Carry on, Jeeves

If there is a more frabjous pairing of master and butler than Bertie and Jeeves, I can't imagine it. Carry on, Jeeves is a memorable collection of ten short stories comprising of this duo in full form by the one and only Sir P.G. Wodehouse!

A few words on the short stories-

Jeeves takes charge- The first story of this impeccable collection presents an account of how Jeeves came into Bertram Wooster's life. Jeeves offers a unique drink to Bertie that gets sleepy heads into their senses in a jiffy and he gets instantly appointed! This is the scene depicted on the cover of this book. Then follows a nightmare for Bertie when his fiancée wants him to pinch a manuscript written by Bertie's uncle Willoughby and destroy it, if he has to prove his love for her. What follows is a hilarious series of events when Bertie sneaks into his uncle's room and eventually lands on the verge of being labeled as a kleptomaniac. The first assignment for Jeeves!

The artistic career of Corky- Corky, Bertie's chum is a painter of sorts. He loves lady Muriel who is a stage artist, and is in a fix on how to break the news to uncle Worple whom he is dependent on for his pocket money. This uncle is hell- bent on persuading Corky to join him in his jute business and would definitely disapprove of any choice for bride from Corky.

Jeeves and the unbidden guest-

A hilarious story where Bertie is forced to take care of the nerdy 23 year old, Motty, for a couple of months. Motty is the son of lady Malvern, an authoress and a good friend of aunt Agatha. So Bertie hasn't much choice but to accept being the 'baby sitter' lest he invokes aunt Agatha's wrath “who becomes a wolf during full moons”. This lady Malvern's healthiness is depicted in Bertie's words thus, “She fitted into my biggest arm-chair as if it had been built round her by someone who knew they were wearing arm-chairs tight about the hips that season.”! She needs to go on a tour for a research on American prisons. Hell breaks loose when the nerdy looking Motty turns into a devil the moment his mom is out of sight! How will poor Bertie handle him? Ask Jeeves.

Jeeves and the hard boiled egg-

Just like scores of Bertie's friends who are dependent on some ancestor for pocket money, Bicky relies on his uncle, the Duke of Chiswick for his monthly allowance. This remittance pours in only because the Duke thinks that Bicky has started some business in New York, whereas he is doing nothing at all. The Duke is now to pay a visit to Bicky to check on how he is doing. The bewildered bloke reaches Bertie's doorstep for help and Jeeves glides in to suggest that the uncle could be given the impression that this was Bicky's home and Bertie was a temporary guest!

The rummy affair of Biffy-

Biffy, Bertie's absent minded friend, is heart-broken. He has lost his beloved because he has forgotten her full name and is not able to not trace her. Biffy is so forgetful that he ventures out of his hotel to search for her and realizing that he has forgotten his wallet, tries to board a cab back and then realizes that he has forgotten the name of his hotel! Too many realizations! Will Jeeves' eccentric grudge against Biffy make matters worse?

Without the option

Sippy has been convicted of a violent assault on the police. Bertie is, in a way, responsible for Sippy's plight. Pandemonium breaks out when Sip's aunt expresses a sudden desire to see him after a long span of around 20 years. Little does she know that her dear nephew has to serve his sentence in prison. Jeeves suggests that since the aunt has not seen Sippy after the age of ten, Bertie could impersonate himself as Sippy. (This story's my favourite.)

This book has been published by Arrow publications in 2008. Arrow Books has taken over 43 P.G. Wodehouse titles in paperback upon the expiration of the Penguin's publication licenses in 2008. This collection of new editions is a real treat to the eye. So Wodehouse fans, indulge in the world of the literary genius - P.G. Wodehouse. Pip Pip!!