Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves is a novel by P. G. Wodehouse, published in the United States on March 22, 1963 by Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, and in...
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May 06, 2008
Trevor
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This book was first published in the same month I was born. In fact, in the UK only two days before I was born, though five months earlier in the US – which surprised me somewhat. I really like the idea that there might have been someone quickly reading this over the weekend that I was born and laughing away cheerfully at it all. Yes, I like that idea very much.
Wooster is truly one of the great narrative voices in English Literature. There are moments when it is nearly dangerous More...
Wooster is truly one of the great narrative voices in English Literature. There are moments when it is nearly dangerous More...
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Feb 17, 2009
Lizzy
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Bertie and Jeeves are at it again, getting into more hilarious scrapes as their saga continues. This time, Bertie is forced to return to the dreaded Totleigh Towers, home of the severe magistrate Sir Watkyn Bassett (who is convinced that Bertie is a no-good thief), and his fluff-headed daughter, Madeline (who goes on about fairies and elves and sunsets to anyone who will listen). Only the most dire of circumstances could have lured Bertie back into this nest of vipers, but for the sake of preser
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Nov 08, 2009
Tony
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Wodehouse, P. G. STIFF UPPER LIP, JEEVES. (1963). ***. In this installment, Bertie Wooster, the feather-brained master of malapropism, complicates his life by interceding with the predatory Madeline Bassett on behalf of his friend Gussie Fink-Nottle and finds himself entangled in terrifying misunderstandings. All of these misadventures take place at Totleigh Towers, owned by Sir Watkyn Bassett, a retired prosecuting judge with whom Bertie has had run-ins before. Bertie was once sentenced b
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Sep 06, 2011
Pelham Grenville Wodehouse era una persona inguaribilmente ottimista e con uno spiccato "Sense of Humour". Questa sua indole, però, gli ha causato spesso un mare di guai, dovuto anche al fatto che il suo fine umorismo non era capito da tutti.
Il numero infinito di opere da lui composte sono lo specchio fedele dell'animo di questo autore e "Teniamo duro, Jeeves" non fa eccezione. Il libro in questione è il classico romanzo umoristico "alla Wodehouse", con un' a More...
Il numero infinito di opere da lui composte sono lo specchio fedele dell'animo di questo autore e "Teniamo duro, Jeeves" non fa eccezione. Il libro in questione è il classico romanzo umoristico "alla Wodehouse", con un' a More...
Dec 28, 2008
Julia
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The first I've read of the Jeeves franchise. I read a book in another flavor of Wodehouse a couple years back (or maybe two books I've since run together in my head?) that I liked well enough; but this one not so much. The irony works better in third person, I think. Wodehouse does pretty well at giving one a picture of Wooster at a distance from Wooster's own narration, but it's a bit in and out; the distance isn't consistent.
Interesting for its picture of Britain at a certain ti More...
Interesting for its picture of Britain at a certain ti More...
Oct 24, 2010
Sammy
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A satisfactory read - but... "Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves" is consistently funny, and actually moves along the plots of the wealth of recurring characters. However, it feels a little bit like we're on autopilot. Nothing is quite as outrageous as in the earlier novels, and indeed often chapters will end with situations being salvaged rather than worsened! That's not to say that Wodehouse is straying from the formula: instead he's using the regular 'Jeeves' formula but seems to have removed
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Jan 02, 2011
Margaret
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P.G. Wodehouse's books, especially those featuring Bertie Wooster and his man servant Jeeves, are such a tonic and are just so darn funny, words fail me. This romp includes the usual incredibly clever and witty ridiculousness, splendidly narrated by Jonathan Cecil. His voices for each character are amazing - to us 'mericans, that's part of the fun - with the exception of the spoken voice of the one American (minor) character - the American accent fails Mr. Cecil, but this is a tiny nuisance.
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Dec 03, 2007
Caitlin
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Have you ever read something so funny that you fell of the couch and sucked dust bunnies into your lungs? No? You've never read Wodehouse.
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Jun 21, 2010
Laetitia
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Because it's British humor & I'm not familiar with a lot of it, it was hard to fully enjoy, but I could tell it was witty & I would have liked it more if I got the expressions. The characters names were a bit confusing & I disliked how he kept abbreviating words by just their first letter, which made it impossible for me figure out what the word was. I wasn't THAT impressed for most of the book, & thought I wouldn't read another. After all, the English humor/wittiness is 90% of what makes this b
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May 24, 2008
Ian
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‘Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves’ carries on the saga starting with ‘Right Ho, Jeeves’ and continuing through ‘The Code of the Woosters’, ‘The Mating Season’ and ‘Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit’. The same cast of characters are reassembled at TotleighTowers the ancestral home of Sir Watkyn Bassett father of Madeline Basset whom is yet again estranged to her fiancé Gussie Fink-Nottle. Once the engagement is under the cosh, Bertie and Jeeves are summand to restore the larch to the thorn and God to the heave
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Mar 02, 2008
Chris
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I read about two Wodehouse books a year, and whenever I'm reading them, I wonder why I don't just sit down and read through everything he's written in about a week. Reading Wodehouse is an act of such unmitigated pleasure. Consider the high wire act of the following sentences: "There was plenty and to spare of the Rev. H.P. Pinker. Even as a boy, I imagine, he must have burst seams and broken try-your-weight machines, and grown to man's estate he might have been Roderick Spode's twin brothe
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Apr 13, 2009
Emma
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I hadn't read a Jeeves book in a year or so when I got this one at the library, and good God, I forgot how much I loved them. It's just so cheerful and funny, and though I wouldn't reccomend reading as your first Jeeves book (it has so many characters that you need to have known from previous books, or at the very least, the TV show) and, like some of the latter books, it's a little formulaic, you don't really find yourself caring about that, because the book is just so much fun and entertaining
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Jan 10, 2009
Eric
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The writing in this book is top-notch. I'd heard that Wodehouse labored over every phrase and that he was a master of the English language. I give my endorsement to his abilities. Like many books, the writing started out fun and interesting. And unlike most books, the writing stayed that way across every page to the end. There was so much originality to the language. I was frequently chuckling and occasionally hooting with laughter. One gets the sense that Wodehouse simply adored writing in Bert
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Dec 17, 2008
Tamra
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HILARIOUS. This is all you really need know. However, I have written more if you wish to read more.
I just finished reading this as book 1 of 3 in The Jeeves Omnibus. I didn't know Wodehouse existed until I read that it was James Herriot's favorite book, and now I'm wondering why everyone in the world doesn't know about Wodehouse and Jeeves! Hilarious literature. And it is literature. It's very clever and well written. Some books that are funny aren't good lit as well, but Wode More...
I just finished reading this as book 1 of 3 in The Jeeves Omnibus. I didn't know Wodehouse existed until I read that it was James Herriot's favorite book, and now I'm wondering why everyone in the world doesn't know about Wodehouse and Jeeves! Hilarious literature. And it is literature. It's very clever and well written. Some books that are funny aren't good lit as well, but Wode More...
May 01, 2010
Sun
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Coming to this from the unnatural language flow and plodding pace of the Millenium trilogy, it hit me just how fast Wodehouse works his sentences and how much concentration (comparatively) is required to pick up and enjoy the almost non-stop wordplay. I've never heard vegetarianism or Aberdeen terriers described more hilariously.
Jan 11, 2012
Louise
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Tophole!
The very first line shows how brilliant PG is with language: 'I marmaladed a slide of toast with something of a flourish'.
Why don't we marmalade toast? We butter it, after all. And the choice of marmalade rather than jam, chocolate spread or Marmite. So British, so redolent of weekend breakfasts and holidays, so perfect in every way.
Lie down, relax, let yourself go into the hands of the master...
Cracking plot as well.
The very first line shows how brilliant PG is with language: 'I marmaladed a slide of toast with something of a flourish'.
Why don't we marmalade toast? We butter it, after all. And the choice of marmalade rather than jam, chocolate spread or Marmite. So British, so redolent of weekend breakfasts and holidays, so perfect in every way.
Lie down, relax, let yourself go into the hands of the master...
Cracking plot as well.
Dec 31, 2011
Nicky
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A refreshing dip into the world of Jeeves and Wooster is a welcome relief from any newer book where you don't know what you'll get. Here there are always gentlemen, civility, visits to country houses, antics, plans, and marriage to someone or other to be gotten out of. Bertie's stay at Totley Towers is filled with Stiffy's outrage over an amber statuette, Stinker Pinker's quest for a vicarage, and Gussy's forced vegetarianism.
Sep 29, 2010
Storey
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P.G. Wodehouse is a truly hilarious British author! I'm a new convert. My husband has been telling me to read his stuff for years, but I was strangely resistant. Now I need to go out and read all his stuff (luckily my husband owns most of his collection already!) I just love his dry humor. His character Bertie Wooster is so funny because he is narrating his own life and can't see what a cad he is, but of course we all can.
Oct 02, 2011
Megan
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Quite amusing and dearly enjoyable, but it suffers in comparison to The Code of the Woosters. As much as I loved the idea of a return to Totleigh Towers (cue horror music), I didn't find the execution as hilarious as I've oft encountered in other Wodehouse books. The prose, however, was in top form.
Feb 19, 2010
Alexander
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The family enjoyed this one, but it was not as funny as The Crime Wave at Blandings. But that doesn't have Jeeves or Bertie, and this has both in fine fettle. Some of what Wodehouse finds funny does nothing for me-- such as abbreviating random words with a single letter-- but there is still plenty to make me smile. The children followed the plot pretty well, and got the humor, but one book is enough for now. We moved on to the Prisoner of Zenda, and Jonny immediately remarked that it was nic
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Feb 08, 2011
I picked up Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by Wodehouse after reading Jonathan Ames.. Throughout Jonathan Ames stories he brings up Wodehouse and I figured that since I really enjoyed Ames, I would probably enjoy Wodehouse.. This was false!! I read 50% of this book and gave up. Wodehouse is a light and fluffy writer--take Wake Up, Sir! by Jonathan Ames and take away all the mischief and the entertaining story lines and boom--you have Wodehouse. That's all I got anyways, I wouldn't recommend
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Dec 09, 2010
Aswathy
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I chose this book to read in bed the night i returned home after my root canal. A little while later my mom came to check on me and had to put away the book cuz my gums were bleeding from laughing so hard. I didn't mind though. Partly due to the local anaesthetic and mostly cuz it was such a good read. The whole Jeeves series is a must read.
Feb 03, 2012
Nathan
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It's hard to imagine getting tired of reading Jeeves. I suppose people make the case that the books are very similar, and they are right. You always encounter the same scenario: Bertie getting shoe-horned into illegal and/or awkward deeds while trying to avoid getting married, Bertie's aunts bullying him around, the regular cast of flat characters, and, of course, Jeeves coming to the rescue at the end.
I don't care. I love it all. Who cares if the jokes are similar if they're all fun More...
I don't care. I love it all. Who cares if the jokes are similar if they're all fun More...
Apr 08, 2009
Melissa
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"You remember the day I lunched at the Ritz?"
"Yes, sir. You were wearing the Alpine hat."
"There is no need to dwell on the Alpine hat, Jeeves."
"No, sir."
"If you really want to know, several fellows at the Drones asked me where I had got it."
"No doubt with a view to avoiding your hatter, sir."
"Yes, sir. You were wearing the Alpine hat."
"There is no need to dwell on the Alpine hat, Jeeves."
"No, sir."
"If you really want to know, several fellows at the Drones asked me where I had got it."
"No doubt with a view to avoiding your hatter, sir."
Jan 30, 2012
Nicolas
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Une lecture courte (moins de 200 pages) agréable mais sans plus. J'en attendais sans doute un peu trop.
L'humour est présent, mais par petites touches, tout comme la relation entre Wooster et Jeeves, son majordome. J'attendais un peu plus de cette relation, même si sur la fin, Jeeves prend un peu plus d'importance.
Pour ce qui est de l'histoire, les péripéties s'enchaînent bien, et les personnages sont assez succulents dans leurs défauts. Wooster est bien un incapable, mais conscient More...
L'humour est présent, mais par petites touches, tout comme la relation entre Wooster et Jeeves, son majordome. J'attendais un peu plus de cette relation, même si sur la fin, Jeeves prend un peu plus d'importance.
Pour ce qui est de l'histoire, les péripéties s'enchaînent bien, et les personnages sont assez succulents dans leurs défauts. Wooster est bien un incapable, mais conscient More...
Sep 01, 2009
Patty
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Jeeves and Bertie are off to Totleigh Towers in order to keep Madeline Basset engaged to Gussie. If the engagement ends Bertie stands a good chance to be the replacement. But nothing is simple, misunderstandings are everywhere and Jeeves needs to get Bertie out of a few jams.
May 30, 2011
Jennifer
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Oh my goodness! I kept saying I was going to read Wodehouse but kept putting it off. Now I recognize this for a true tragedy. Bertie and Jeeves are such an adorable pair and the tale is so fun and amusing. I can't wait to finish so I can pick up another Wodehouse!
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Dec 22, 2008
Ian
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Another classic Wooster, Jeeves, Totleigh Towers, Sir Watkin Basset, Madeline Basset, Stiffy Byng, Roderick Spode (now Lord Sidcup) tale. Follows on from The Code of the Woosters, and just as good, notwithstanding the 25 year gap between the two.
Oct 21, 2008
Libbeth
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I will use this "review" for all the P. G. Wodehouse I have read. I read them all so long ago and enjoyed them so much that I have given them all 5 stars. As I re-read them I will adjust the stars accordingly, if necessary, and add a proper review.
When I first discovered P. G. Wodehouse I devoured every book I could find in the local library, throughout the eighties and early nineties. Alas, this means that I have read most of them and stumbling across one I have not read is a ra More...
When I first discovered P. G. Wodehouse I devoured every book I could find in the local library, throughout the eighties and early nineties. Alas, this means that I have read most of them and stumbling across one I have not read is a ra More...
May 08, 2011
Donna
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Very much like the first P.G. Wodehouse book I read in characters and plot. You have to be in the right mood for this and I'm not sure exactly what mood that would be. Glad I read them but it will be awhile, if ever, if I read Wodehouse again.
