The Prince and Betty may come as a bit of a revelation to those who know P.G. Wodehouse mainly through the escapades of Jeeves, Wooster & Co. It's unquestionably humor, but it's humor with heart. The romance is sweet, and the principal characters' subsequent brushes with difficulty and heartbreak are very genuine. Wodehouse was a master of the English language, and he could turn his gift with words to more serious purpose, too, when he wanted.

The fact that this was originally two stories woven together can certainly be felt a little, in the way that character of Smith seems to take over the narrative at times, and how decisively Mervo and its inhabitants are left behind after the first section of the book for the streets of New York. But with P.G. Wodehouse as a guide, plenty of fun is guaranteed in any location. I particularly loved the scenes of the royal arrival and the "revolution" in Mervo. Wodehouse also seems to have a more natural touch with American characters than other British authors I've read. I've read a bit more of his early work besides The Prince and Betty, too, and I certainly enjoyed the slightly different style enough to look forward to reading more of the same.