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18th out of 52 books
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57 voters
The Man With Two Left Feet (Jeeves 0.5)
"The Man With Two Left Feet, and Other Stories" is a collection of short stories by P. G. Wodehouse, first published in the United Kingdom in 1917 by Methuen & Co., London. Many of the stories had previously appeared in the Strand in the UK and the Saturday Evening Post in the U.S.
Most of the stories concern relationships, sports and household pets. None feature any of...more
Most of the stories concern relationships, sports and household pets. None feature any of...more
Paperback, 200 pages
Published
October 11th 2007
by BiblioLife
(first published 1917)
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Wodehouse is endlessly charming in this collection of short stories. The breezy tone coupled with now-historical details makes humor writing seem somehow edifying. Look, you're being cultured!
There do seem to be a few repetitive themes here. I'm not sure if it's an indication of Wodehouse's fixations or that the editor deliberately grouped the stories together. We repeatedly examine the attraction of life onstage and the exhaustion of women whose job it is to dance with men in dance halls. One s...more
There do seem to be a few repetitive themes here. I'm not sure if it's an indication of Wodehouse's fixations or that the editor deliberately grouped the stories together. We repeatedly examine the attraction of life onstage and the exhaustion of women whose job it is to dance with men in dance halls. One s...more
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The Man with Two Left Feet is a delightful collection of 13 short stories by P.G. Wodehouse. Each is clever and witty. Two are written from a dog’s point of view, which I appreciated, since my dog Charlie blogs (http://dogblog1.blogspot.com/). I loved that the dog calls himself a “mixer,” since my dog likes people, too; and it was so funny how the mixer’s sensitivity to the “shyness” of a gentleman carried the story. The little romances were sweet. “At Geisenheimer’s” was my favorite. I was hopi...more
Available on Project Gutenberg and Librivox
A nice collection of Wodehouse short stories.
Most of the stories follow a common pattern for Wodehouse, 1) boy meets girl 2) Problem keeps them separated 3) Problem resolved in often comedic fashion. Come to think of it this is pretty much the patter for all of his books, though in the case of the Jeeves novels they contain that but also it's antithesis of Bertie running away from a romantic entanglement. Wodehouse as the master can take the simplest st...more
A nice collection of Wodehouse short stories.
Most of the stories follow a common pattern for Wodehouse, 1) boy meets girl 2) Problem keeps them separated 3) Problem resolved in often comedic fashion. Come to think of it this is pretty much the patter for all of his books, though in the case of the Jeeves novels they contain that but also it's antithesis of Bertie running away from a romantic entanglement. Wodehouse as the master can take the simplest st...more
I loved this collection of P.G. Wodehouse short stories. These thirteen short stories had originally appeared in various magazines in both the UK and US before being published in book form in 1917. The stories: "Bill The Bloodhound," "Extricating Young Gussie," Wilton's Holiday," "The Mixer: He Meets a Shy Gentleman," "The Mixer: He Moves In Society," "Crowned Heads," "At Geisenheimer's," "The Making of Mac's," "One Touch of Nature," "Black for Luck," "The Romance of an Ugly Policeman," "A Sea o...more
Some authors are wonderfully reliable. You can turn to Jane Austen for genteel romance. You can trust Edgar Allen Poe to say something macabre. Roald Dahl's stories for grownups will have a twist in them.
I turn to P.G. Wodehouse for humor, clever language, and the knowledge that everything will turn out well in the end, even if I don't know how he'll get there.
The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories did not disappoint in this regard. Clever, clever language (the man could put together a sen...more
I turn to P.G. Wodehouse for humor, clever language, and the knowledge that everything will turn out well in the end, even if I don't know how he'll get there.
The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories did not disappoint in this regard. Clever, clever language (the man could put together a sen...more
The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories by PG Wodehouse
First Published in 1917
Short Stories; Humor
4/5 stars
Source: Through Daily Lit
Summary: A collection of stories, including the first appearance in print of the characters Jeeves and Bertie Wooster.
Thoughts: I decided to give this a read because I've never read any Wodehouse and I wanted to try Daily Lit through my google reader. Unfortunately for me, it is not a method that seems to work well. Some days I wouldn't have time to read it so...more
First Published in 1917
Short Stories; Humor
4/5 stars
Source: Through Daily Lit
Summary: A collection of stories, including the first appearance in print of the characters Jeeves and Bertie Wooster.
Thoughts: I decided to give this a read because I've never read any Wodehouse and I wanted to try Daily Lit through my google reader. Unfortunately for me, it is not a method that seems to work well. Some days I wouldn't have time to read it so...more
Jan 21, 2009
Natalia
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone with a sense of humor
Shelves:
read-by-email,
2009
This was my first introduction to P.G. Wodehouse, and I am kicking myself for not having sought out his books earlier. This collection of short stories is a little uneven when it comes to the quality of each individual story, but I was consistently delighted by the wordplay and turns of phrase throughout the entire collection.
Over and over, Wodehouse is able to sum up something like someone's appearance, dancing ability or state of mind in a single pithy, colorful, and unexpected simile.
Many of...more
Over and over, Wodehouse is able to sum up something like someone's appearance, dancing ability or state of mind in a single pithy, colorful, and unexpected simile.
Many of...more
These stories are early gems from the Master, P. G. Wodehouse. As such, they show flashes of his later charm and humor, but are of mixed quality. I think Wodehouse is at his best in the long form, the novel, not the short. His plots feel a little too pat and simple in short fiction. In the novels, you get an interweaving of plot lines and a resolution at the end which is satisfying precisely because it's improbable. How will P G pull it off is the question you ask yourself.....In the short ficti...more
Jun 14, 2011
Alina
added it
Why haven't I read more P.G. Wodehouse?? He first graced my life last year when I dipped into the Jeeves novels (why yes, it was because of the Hugh Laurie/Stephen Fry tv show (so much win my computer exploded upon watching)) but why didn't someone tell me his short stories were BRILLIANT. Hilarious, but also surprisingly sentimental; they are the kind of thing that have you laughing throughout and then end with a happy smile. Bonus: he was quite prolific, and most of his writings I can get fo'...more
I had picked this book up primarily to read 'Extracting Young Gussie', the story where the beloved Jeeves and Bertie Wooster duo are first introduced. Jeeves, however, isn't quite himself and serving tea is about all the action that he gets in this story. Bertie, who is a Mannering-Phipps and not a Wooster, still refers to Jeeves as "my man", but otherwise there is no sign that Jeeves is going to be something special. (Perhaps Wodehouse was still formulating his idea of a genius valet.)
Anyhow, t...more
Anyhow, t...more
I had often been enticed by the colourful Wodehouse books at the various bookstores; but never did I muster the courage to get a copy. I do regret not reading Wodehouse earlier. A day when office morphed into something extremely close to a cage of boredom and the devil was triumphing over my idle mind, I came across Wodehouse and I knew that there will be no stopping hence. Indeed unadulterated humour!
The book “The Man with Two Left Feet: And other stories” is a collection of 12 short stories, m...more
The book “The Man with Two Left Feet: And other stories” is a collection of 12 short stories, m...more
I first heard about P.G. Wodehouse in an interview of Hugh Laurie's in which he claimed that reading Wodehouse novels saved his life. I was intrigued. Who was this Wodehouse, and what about him made his novels special?
My curiosity (and my overwhelming fannish love for Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry) led me to watch all of Jeeves and Wooster, loving every minute of it. I read several Jeeves and Wooster books as well as one or two about Psmith and Blandings Castle. I love that the characters are all...more
My curiosity (and my overwhelming fannish love for Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry) led me to watch all of Jeeves and Wooster, loving every minute of it. I read several Jeeves and Wooster books as well as one or two about Psmith and Blandings Castle. I love that the characters are all...more
I started reading this short story collection for the Jeeves story, "Extricating Young Gussie", but I really enjoyed all of the stories. My favorites were "Bill the Bloodhound" (Henry and Alice, awww), "Wilton's Holiday", "The Mixer" (Part 1), "At Geisenheimer's" (nice twist ending), and "The Man with Two Left Feet" (Henry and Minnie, awww).
Some quotes I bookmarked:
"Spencer was one of those slack-jawed youths who are constitutionally incapable of preserving a secret."
"Gussie is making a perfect...more
Some quotes I bookmarked:
"Spencer was one of those slack-jawed youths who are constitutionally incapable of preserving a secret."
"Gussie is making a perfect...more
Whenever I hear someone made a reference to P.G Wodehouse, they always go 'oh he's the best', 'I found his style quite amusing' ... Hugh Laurie even said Wodehouse's writings saved his life. Never a bad word.
Or maybe I wasn't looking too hard for it.
One Touch of Nature is definitely my favorite story in this collection.
JW Birdsey, a big baseball fan, went to see a game in Chelsea stadium. Giants vs White Sox. There he met two men, Waterall and Johnson. He asked them to join him for dinner, wher...more
Or maybe I wasn't looking too hard for it.
One Touch of Nature is definitely my favorite story in this collection.
JW Birdsey, a big baseball fan, went to see a game in Chelsea stadium. Giants vs White Sox. There he met two men, Waterall and Johnson. He asked them to join him for dinner, wher...more
Sep 28, 2007
Ian Wood
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone wanting to read Wodehouse finding his feet
Shelves:
p-g-wodehouse
The Man with Two Left feet is Wodehouse’s second collection of short stories after graduating from the school stories and carries on in much the same fashion as its predecessor The Man Upstairs. The Quality does again vary from story to story but the good far outweighs the poor and the Wodehouse genius is definitely making its presence felt although still not as pronounced as it would later become.
In the Title story the man with two left feet is concerned that his wife is bored due to his inabil...more
In the Title story the man with two left feet is concerned that his wife is bored due to his inabil...more
Jan 15, 2013
Ashishg
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
free-book,
own-digital
I picked up this classic from P G Wodehouse purely based on his authorship and he has stood true to his reputation. Book is collection of interesting, humorous and sensitive stories from various angles - all somehow connected to theatrical circle. BILL THE BLOODHOUND is by far the most hilarious story in the collection where a below-average detective falls in love with a drama girl. MIXER stories are unique by nature of being narrated from point of view of a dog. AT GEISENHEIMER is very sensitiv...more
Wodehouse described his writing as musical theater without the music, and that's what this set of short stories is. It's delightful, delicious, and charming, but also silly, whimsical, and light. But I haven't laughed so much at an adult book in a long time. And what a vocabulary! So fun to see his wizardry with words. It was refreshing to read such clean, profanity/sex/violence free stories. Maybe that's why I like the classics so much. I need to read more by this guy!
A collection of humorous short stories by the master of subtle comedy, Sir P.G. Wodehouse!
This collection is of the kind of stories which start off well, become good in the middle, and by the end become exceptional. Twists and turns are a given for any book by Wodehouse, and this one doesn't disappoint, with each story ending in a manner which leaves the reader with a wide smile on his face, either because of the humour, or because of the warm and fuzzy feeling that a happy ending always brings...more
This collection is of the kind of stories which start off well, become good in the middle, and by the end become exceptional. Twists and turns are a given for any book by Wodehouse, and this one doesn't disappoint, with each story ending in a manner which leaves the reader with a wide smile on his face, either because of the humour, or because of the warm and fuzzy feeling that a happy ending always brings...more
Not Wodehouse's best work. I loved Bertie Wooster's caper in Extricating Young Gussie (the only Jeeves and Wooster story in this collection), and I enjoyed both At Geisenheimer's and The Mixer despite their complete predictability.
The rest of the stories are mostly forgettable, though I appreciate the way Wodehouse is able to characterize very below-average people as likable protagonists.
The rest of the stories are mostly forgettable, though I appreciate the way Wodehouse is able to characterize very below-average people as likable protagonists.
Some of these stories are charming or touching or surprising. But the experience is irrecoverably marred by the judicious application of old-timey prejudices of a number of types, most notably of gender relations and marriage. The talented woman dutifully giving up all her aspirations to follow her hack of an abuser to his ethically tainted inheritance is supposed to be an unambiguously happy ending.
This book is a collection of stories written by Wodehouse. In fact, The Man with Two Left Feet is the very last story in the book. All the stories have that Wodehouse touch of humor and I for one, found it quite hilarious. All are stories are situational based which is Wodehouse's specialty. If you are planning on reading the book, look out for the ugly policeman who falls in love and the baseball fan who ditches his wife and ends up in hot stew.
I read it for the first Jeeves and Wooster, but thoroughly enjoyed the whole. Isn't it funny how all the stories' protagonists have the same names? I think that, like Bertie, tommorow I may be in need of a Lighting Whizzer. 3.25am
I also like that Wodehouse continuously reuses the same names for his characters, most often Henry and Kate. Economy of name choice adds a certain something to the collection of stories. 7.45 07.24.11
I also like that Wodehouse continuously reuses the same names for his characters, most often Henry and Kate. Economy of name choice adds a certain something to the collection of stories. 7.45 07.24.11
P.G. Wodehouse has been a life-long fascination for me. Every year or two I "remember" him and read some of his work. Many readers only know Jeeves and Bertie, but he wrote many other novels and stories. I've recently been reading the early stories and they are almost as entertaining as those of Jeeves. Very funny, and well-told at the same time.
I was never satisfied with the definition of irony in my high school literature classes. "The opposite of what you would expect to happen." In the late 20th century, irony IS what you expect. How refreshing then, to read Wodehouse; a very good writer who predates the Irony Age. The end result - well written stories with happy endings. Hallelujah.
This was a very early collection of short stories by Wodehouse. They are not as good as some of his older ones, but good nonetheless. There were some odd stories in here too -- a couple told from the perspective of a dog, one about a black cat stood out in this area. But some of the more notable stories were one of the first Wooster and Jeeves stories, though Jeeves plays a minor role, and The Man With Two Left Feet. These two were well worth the whole book.
For a life-long admirer of Wodehouse, it is painful to award only two stars. However, it has to be said that this collection of early short stories falls a long way short of the much-loved major works.
There are barely embellished romances with just the occasional felicitous phrase to hint at the later works, and there is a longish story told in the first person by a dog which is simply unworthy.
There are barely embellished romances with just the occasional felicitous phrase to hint at the later works, and there is a longish story told in the first person by a dog which is simply unworthy.
I just finish reading a long with the audio book of a same name from web site called www.librivox.org and the web site , www.gutenberg.org a free e-book in the public domain.
I have really enjoyed listen to the audio-book while I am reading along to it. It have make me more comprehenion of the book and the arthur.
I have really enjoyed listen to the audio-book while I am reading along to it. It have make me more comprehenion of the book and the arthur.
Apr 02, 2012
Cassandra
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
secular-fiction,
classics
My father in law is a fan of Wodehouse and I can see why! I really enjoyed this book and read through it quickly. I'm usually not a fan of short stories as I prefer the character development to be stretched through a novel. However, these stories were fun, quick, and entertaining. I can't wait to read the next set of stories.
Another collection of short stories by P.G Wodehouse. Two lovely stories written from the point of view of a dog are included, as well as one Bertie Wooster story, 'Extricating Young Gussie'. A few of the more romantic stories set in the United States read a little like O. Henry's short stories.
It's hard to believe that this collection of short stories was first published in 1917 as it remains incredibly fresh.
The stories themselves are perhaps a little formulaic in a boy meets girl, adversity intervenes but it's all right in the end sort of way. But Wodehouse's writing is such that they pull you along and take you into their world.
The stories themselves are perhaps a little formulaic in a boy meets girl, adversity intervenes but it's all right in the end sort of way. But Wodehouse's writing is such that they pull you along and take you into their world.
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Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE, was a comic writer who enjoyed enormous popular success during a career of more than seventy years and continues to be widely read over 30 years after his death. Despite the political and social upheavals that occurred during his life, much of which was spent in France and the United States, Wodehouse's main canvas remained that of prewar English upper-class so...more
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“It's a funny thing about looking for things. If you hunt for a needle in a haystack you don't find it. If you don't give a darn whether you ever see the needle or not it runs into you the first time you lean against the stack.”
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“He was one of those earnest, persevering dancers--the kind that have taken twelve correspondence lessons.”
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