Ian is rejoined by his brother Josh to scrutinise "Psmith in the City" AKA "The New Fold", the second Psmith novel, serialised in 1908-9 and collected in book form in 1910. It is a highly autobiographical account of reluctantly working in a London bank. Mike and Psmith's schooldays are behind them, but Mike is still fixated on cricket and Psmith is still out to cause disruption wherever possible. There will be spoilers and a soupçon of politics. Special thanks to the website Madam Eulalie's Rare Plums.Article mentioned in the show that helped explain the reference to the Unionist partyBradshaw's interview with Wodehouse, quoted in the episodeMark Hodson's annotations of the novel Other Wodehouse books and stories mentionedThe Gold BatMike at Wrykyn (Jackson Junior)Mike and Psmith (The Lost Lambs)Psmith JournalistLeave it to PsmithBig MoneyNot George WashingtonOver Seventy (Autobiography)The Luck StoneThe SwoopMoney in the Bank"The Goalkeeper and the Plutocrat""L'affaire Uncle John""Comrade Bingo"Wodehouse reference books mentioned and/or consultedRichard Usborne, Wodehouse at Work to the EndRobert McCrum, Wodehouse: A LifeNorman Murphy, A Wodehouse HandbookSophie Ratcliffe, P. G. Wodehouse: A Life in LettersAlso mentionedThe Fosters of WorcestershireSir Arthur Conan DoyleLeslie Havergal BradshawHall CaineManchester UnitedJimmy and Tom TurnbullJerome K Jerome, Three Men in a BoatGeorge AdeJack HobbsThe Marx Brothers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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58:12
A Gentleman of Leisure with Gavin Bradbury
Ian is joined by former teenage Wodehouse obsessive Gavin Bradbury to look at Plum's first country house novel, A Gentleman of Leisure AKA The Intrusion of Jimmy from 1910. The book is at once a light romantic story, an exposé of the corruption in the New York police force, a satire of "gentleman criminal" style stories, and a precurser to the Blandings novels. Ian is unable to be impartial about one of the first Wodehouse novels he ever read, whereas Gavin is more critical.We discuss the differences between the novel and the related novella "The Gem Collector", why this book was such a hit on stage and screen, changing mores in acceptable morality in early twentieth century entertainment, how Jimmy Pitt differs from our ideal Wodehouse leading man, and what's still missing from the later classic formula.Other Wodehouse books mentioned:The World of Mr MullinerThe Coming of BillSomething FreshThe Man UpstairsThe Heart of a GoofPsmith in the CityPsmith, JournalistThe Luck of the BodkinsAlso mentioned:Fawlty TowersThe Young OnesThe Kenny Everett ShowCoronation StreetA Sharp Intake of BreathThe Lennie and Jerry ShowTony HancockJames CagneyPhiladelphia StoryBringing Up BabyCary GrantWodehouse TV adaptationsJohn StapletonDouglas FairbanksJohn BarrymoreTim KeyE.W. Hornung, Raffles(The real) Spike MullinsTrading PlacesAlan BennettSteve CooganMiguel de Cervantes, Don QuixoteCharles Dickens, Pickwick PapersSir Walter Scott, "Marmion"The Seven Inches, "Stop Pestering Me" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1:21:19
The Luck Stone
Ian looks at the final public school novel by Wodehouse, a lurid adventure story called The Luck Stone, first published in Chums magazine from 1908 to 1909 under the pseudonym "Basil Windham". It was first published in book form posthumously in 1997. There will be spoilers.The story can be read hereContent note: national stereotyping, imperialism, racism.Other Wodehouse works mentioned:Performing FleaMike at WrykynMike and PsmithThe Head of KaysLittle NuggetPsmith Journalist"The Man Who Disliked Cats""Sir Roderick Comes to Lunch""The Metropolitan Touch"The Mating SeasonNot George WashingtonOther books mentionedSophie Ratcliffe, ed., P. G. Wodehouse: A Life in LettersRichard Usbourne, Wodehouse at Work to the endWilkie Collins, The MoonstoneSir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sign of the FourRudyard Kipling, KimF. Anstey, Baboo JabberjeeFrank Richards, The Greyfriars storiesAlso mentioned:Dennis the Menace/The Bash Street Kids (The Beano)William TownendHerbert WestbrookAnthony HomeLord Roberts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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54:32
Mike And Psmith with Matthew Bellwood
Ian is joined by storyteller Matthew Bellwood to discuss Mike and Psmith, the second half of the double novel Mike, published in 1909. This is the debut of the beloved character Psmith, and the final public school novel by Wodehouse published in his lifetime.There will be spoilers. May contain knuts.Mike and Psmith at Project GutenbergThe Lost Lambs (magazine version) at Madame EulalieOther Wodehouse works referenced:Mike at WrykynPsmith in the CityPsmith, JournalistLeave it to PsmithSomething NewJoy in the Morning (Preface)The Globe By The Way Book"The Reformation of Study Sixteen""The Stone and the Weed""Society Gossip"Also referenced:Richard Usborne, Wodehouse At Work To The EndNorman Murphy, A Wodehouse HandbookDoris Buckler, "Thanks to Psmith"Terry PratchettDouglas AdamsJane Austen, Pride and PrejudiceStella Gibbons, Cold Comfort FarmKen Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestRupert D'Oyly-Carte (the inspiration for Psmith)Sir Kreemy Knut (Sharp's Toffee mascot)E C Segar, Thimble TheaterSir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sherlock Holmes storiesF Anstey, Babboo JabberjeeCharles Dickens, David CopperfieldRudyard Kipling, Stalky and CoE W Hornung, the Raffles storiesC. J. Cutcliffe Hyne, the Captain Kettle storiesArthur Ransome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1:12:56
Mike At Wrykyn with Alexander Rennie
Ian is rejoined by Alexander Rennie of the "Forgotten Towns" podcast to discuss Mike at Wrykyn, the first half of the double novel Mike, published in 1909. It's a public school story focused on cricket and introduces a new series character. Other Wodehouse books mentionedMike and PsmithPsmith in the CityPsmith JournalistLeave it to PsmithVery Good JeevesRing For Jeeves (the novel where Jeeves appears without Bertie Wooster)Laughing GasThe Mating SeasonA Gentleman of LeisureAlso referenced:Norman Murphy, A Wodehouse Handbook (copiously)Richard Usborne, Wodehouse at Work To The EndSophie Ratcliffe, P. G. Wodehouse, A Life in Letters (source of all the letters quoted)Alec WaughMalcolm MuggeridgeGeorge OrwellThe Foster family of WorcestershireThe Haileybury walkoutClement AtleeVarious cricketersVictoria Wood Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland