Author(s): N. T. P. Murphy

Humour

Explores the life and works of Wodehouse, and examines how his wonderful creations were based on real places and people

P. G. Wodehouse saw his first article published when still at school, and he went on to become a leading humor writer of 20th century. He created characters famous across the English-speaking world, such as Rupert Psmith, Stanley Ukridge, Uncle Fred, the inhabitants of the Drones Club, Bertie Wooster and Jeeves, and Lord Emsworth and his beloved Empress, all of whom remain as popular today as they were when they first appeared all those years ago. But behind all the brilliant metaphors that make us laugh out loud, there is a surprising background of reality. Wodehouse didn't create his stories from scratch; he used real settings and exaggerated the characteristics of people he knew. With examples of Wodehouse's unique imagery, this book follows the development and progress of his legendary characters, tells us where Wodehouse got his ideas from, and demonstrates why his admirers included Bertrand Russell, Berthold Brecht, George Orwell, Rudyard Kipling, and the Kaiser.