Plum Sauce: A P.G. Wodehouse Companion

by Richard Usborne

In Plum Sauce, Richard Usborne—long regarded as the world’s leading authority on P.G. Wodehouse—brings together the best of his much admired commentary on the great man’s words to form the perfect companion to the nearly 100 novels of "the most consistently funny writer the English language has yet produced." (The Times) Plum Sauce also contains snippets of Wodehouse’s most outrageously hilarious prose, organized in categories from Animals ("Beach’s bullfinch continued to chirp reflectively to itself, like a man trying to remember a tune in his bath.") to Menservants ("Jeeves lugged my purple socks out of the drawer as if he were a vegetarian fishing a caterpillar out of a salad.") Usborne introduces in depth all the beloved major characters—Jeeves and Wooster, Psmith, Ukridge, Uncle Fred, Lord Emsworth, and the Blandings circle—and sketches the rest of the Wodehouse cast—from Gussie Fink Nottle to the chorus of Aunts and Drones. Lavishly illustrated with original dust jacket artwork and sketches from the Strand Magazine, Plum Sauce is the ultimate source for both aficionados and novices just beginning to "scratch the old lemon."

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Books About Books, Biography

Paperback

First published November 7, 2002

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great overview of most all of Mr. Wodehouse works. A great reference edition.

[Peter Krol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book rocked.

I simply love Wodehouse, and this was a perfect coffee table book on his writings. If you don't like Wodehouse, or if you've never read him, then you wouldn't enjoy this.

Erin gave this book to me for our first anniversary in 2005, and I've been slowly reading it since then. It sat on our coffee table, and I'd pick it up when I had 5 minutes here or there.

The best parts were the sections where Usborne lists numerous quotes on various topics from Wodehouse's novels. My favorite one was "Insulting the Wodehouse Way."

"Forget that I called you a dish-faced moron."
"You didn't."
"Well, I meant to."

Also, the book had chapters on various characters, including Bertie Wooster, Jeeves, Lord Emsworth and others. Also, he has a half-page plot summary of all 92 novels!

All in all, much, much fun. Almost too much for a mortal to have.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a book a dedicated PG Wodehouse fan should own. I looked into buying it but not easy to acquire and not cheap!

It is NOT a very good "read it straight through book," as it is quite detailed and covers ALL his books. Would be a great reference to have and drag out whenever one starts a particular book.

Having said that, it's lots of fun, as there are many sections that highlight certain topics or characters or characteristic. My favorite section of them all was INSULTS -- should have copied and kept that.

I'm putting it down as "read" even though I didn't read every word. But I didn't abandon it . . . just ran out of library time.

[Paul Doody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guide to the life and works of the great P.G. Wodehouse. An account of all the books, all the characters, and the background to the glorious world of Jeeves, Wooster, Lord Emsworth and all the other wonderful creations of this great man.

[Monique Boodram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for anyone interested in Wodehouse, whether they be new to his work or just need a refresher on the stuff he has to offer. A bit of biography on him, as well as all the main characters of the Blandings, Jeeves and Wooster, Uncle Fred, Sally and other collections which account for the hundreds of things Plum has written in his life-time.

[Ken Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indispensable.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reference book for any Wodehouse fan

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Wodehouse you will want to read this companion. It is just as hilarious as his novels while giving you insight into the man and his work.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read this in its entirety, but I'm going to call it done. It's more of a reference or companion book, not the sort of thing one reads cover to cover. Features sections on the major characters, collections of quotes on specific topics, shorter who's who entries on lesser characters and plot summaries for all the novels. Good for refreshing your memory on some character mentioned in passing, or remember which book it was that xyz.