The world of P.G. Wodehouse

by Herbert Warren Wind

92 pages, Hardcover

First published October 12, 1981

About the author

Herbert Warren Wind (August 11, 1916 – May 30, 2005) was an American sportswriter noted for his writings on golf

Reviews

[Jeff Crompton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a real biography, and not intended to be definitive, this book is an affectionate portrait of P.G. Wodehouse near the end of his life, illustrated with photographs from Wodehouse's own collection. It's an enjoyable little book that won't take anyone much more than an hour to read. Obviously intended for Wodehouse fans, it might even be intriguing enough to interest someone who has never read that master of English humor.

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short and breezy profile of P.G. Wodehouse, written in the subject’s 89th year. I’ll cut to the chase: For fans of Wodehouse’s work who wish to know a bit about the man, this is a good introduction. I finished it in two readings (one quite short), and I felt it hit the high points of Wodehouse’s life and work. It also has some nice snapshots, most from his later life. But it is not an in-depth study or piece of biographical research. For example, there is more about his dogs than about his marriage. The excellent biography by Robert McCrumb is the place for such things.

If you are at all intrigued by what you read in this short book, Wodehouse’s memoirs (collected in “Wodehouse on Wodehouse”) are filled with details and of course very entertaining.

So, for those who'd like to know a bit about Wodehouse's life but do not want to make a longer commitment, this is a painless way to accomplish that.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and breezy look at Plum toward the end of his life that I borrowed from the library.

Tidbit: PGW's top five mystery writers: Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Ngaio Marsh, Patricia Wentworth, and Cyril Hare. (A tad sad not to see Arthur Conan Doyle on the list.)

[LeeAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most uninspired biography I have ever picked up.

[Chet Makoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything about P.G. Wodehouse is interesting. The quality and volume of his output is staggering - more than 80 novels, over 300 short stories, around 500 essays and articles, a large amount of humorous verse, the scenarios for six films, 16 plays, lyrics for 23 musical comedies. You ask, what should I read first? I suggest: Leave it to Psmith, Heavy Weather, The Code of the Woosters, Uncle Fred in the Springtime, Joy in the Morning, The Mating Season, and Service with a Smile as a good start and among his best. Oh, to discover Blandings Castle, the Drones Club, Bertie Wooster & Jeeves, Bingo Little, Pongo Thwistleton, Freddie Widgeon, Gussie Fink-Nottle, Oofy Prosser, Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge, Madeline Bassett, Hermione Bostock, Honoria Glossop and many, many more characters.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I absolutely adore Wodehouse and appreciated learning a little more about his life and method, I wasn't a huge fan of this book, which comes across as a meandering collection of oddly-paragraphed, hagiographic essays about the author's literary hero. Hoping to get my hands on a more balanced and complete autobiography in the future.