In Search of Blandings

by N.T.P. Murphy

Investigates the autobiographical background P.G. Wodehouse's comic novels and identifies individuals and places that served as models for his fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Peter Caddick-Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful work of art for fans of P.G. Wodehouse. Ever wished to know where his characters came from, the Psmiths, Ukridges, Threepwoods, Jeeves and Wooster, the headmasters and vicars, London clubs, country houses, towns, villages and aristocratic titles? Nick Murphy's book is real life detection. He has read every one of Plum's (the affectionate nickname for PGW) 97 novels, 3 auto biographies and numerous period memoirs to pin point the inspirations for Wodehouse's props, and some of his turns of phrase. Eventually he even identifies the elusive Blandings Castle (once referred to by Evelyn Waugh as a literary Garden of Eden), also. Lots of little bite-size chapters for easy reading that will stimulate the minds of all Wodehousian devotees. Highly, highly recommended.

[Gavin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange book: labour of love tracing the historical bases of Wodehouse's fantasies, e.g. the huge number of family in-jokes he included, which club was the Drones.

But the reason we are still reading P.G. en masse is his unreality, his ahistorical escapism. Nice history of vaudeville and music hall too. For obsessives, which despite appearances I am apparently not.

[Derek Finnigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book represents a labour of love by the author, and one has to acknowledge the incredible amount of work and detail that has resulted in an invaluable resource for Wodehouse lovers. Compelling cases are made with regards to the inspiration for a wealth of Wodehouse influences, characters and places. For someone wishing to visit the locations behind many of the novels, this book will provide detailed clues to finding them. It's also a very generous book, with an appendix by a different author providing detail of the golf course that provided the setting for the wonderful golf stories. Thoroughly recommended for lovers of the master's work.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murphy's thesis is that P. G. Wodehouse scrupulously followed the advice to "write what you know". It follows that there are actual originals for nearly all the people and places appearing in his works. We follow Murphy around England as he seeks to identify all the stately houses in the canon, illuminates Plum's relationship with his butler who was the "author's model" for Jeeves, and searches for the "originals" of Bertie Wooster and Blandings Castle.