Mostly Monday – P. G. Wodehouse & Words

At Christmastime I was introduced to the writings of the incredibly prolific and very funny P. G. Wodehouse. To be honest, I have seen a Jeeves movie, Thank you, Jeeves! – and have been told I must watch the Jeeves & Wooster show – but, I had never read any of his books. I started "The Code of the Woosters" – however, it belonged to a friend of my daughter & she had to return it before I could finish it. The library's copy is on my nightstand right now.

Speaking of libraries – aren't they wonderful things? Oh, in another life I would have been a librarian!

Anyway, I just finished reading Wodehouse's "Something New."  (It's not a Jeeves & Wooster book, but it is brilliant!) And, I have to say – I absolutely loved it! Maybe because I'm currently following Downton Abbey (who isn't?! & if you aren't, you should be!) and "Something New" has quite a bit about the proper etiquette below stairs. It's fascinating!

But, one of the things that tickles me about adult books (rather, books for adults – adult books sounds, well, you know… xxx!)… sorry – back to what tickles me is… the language! As a writer, I love words. Love! Them! And, Wodehouse uses fabulous words! Words that make me pull out the dictionary! Words that make me laugh out loud! That in itself is enough to guarantee him a place on my bookshelves!

Tonight's word – the one that had me smiling and repeating it several times was… poltroon. Poltroon!

Let's hear from Webster:

"pol*troon' – (from the Italian – poltrone – lazy, dastardly) An arrent coward; a dastard; a wretch without spirit or courage"

What I love about Wodehouse's writing is that it makes absolute sense that one of his characters would call someone a poltroon. And, there is something so beautiful about that! And so fantastically funny! I do believe that Bugs Bunny has called Elmer Fudd a poltroon (or that may have been "maroon" – which I know he used!) Ah, Bugs Bunny had a really good vocabulary… including that stellar term for beauty, "pulchritude!" (Of course, he pronounced it "pul*cri*tud*y.")

I finished "Something New" and am ready to jump back into "The Code of the Woosters." I'll be reporting back on interesting words and turns of phrases!

Any words you love? Words that make you laugh out loud? Or put a smile on your face? I'd love to know!