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Book Review of Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves

Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves
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P G Wodehouse wrote quite a series of stories about wealthy-but-lazy-London-inhabitant Bertie Wooster and his gentleman's gentleman Jeeves. Wodehouse makes wild fun of upper-crust British society. The names of some of the characters are wildly crazy: Gussie Fink-Nottle. Fortunately for us, Gussie is Bertie's best friend. Gussie is engaged to the dim-witted Madeline Bassett. Bertie must encourage this engagement because if Gussie doesn't marry Madeline, Bertie may be coerced into that marriage.

The satire and gentle humor are delicious. Knowing about English country house visits (sometimes they are for a long weekend and sometimes for weeks at a time) and habits of the aristocracy help in understanding the jokes the author makes about his fumbling characters. In this story, vegetarianism is hoisted on Bertie's petard for skewering. At that time, vegetarianism would have been a new concept, with lots of misconceptions and bias against the idea. Thus, Bertie has a fine time with the concept.

Jeeves & Wooster
12. How Right YouAre, Jeeves (1960)
â 13. Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves(1963)
14. Much Obliged, Jeeves (1971)
15. Aunts Aren'tGentlemen (1974)