Krishna
If you are a fan of PG Wodehouse stories, by all means read this book. It is, according to some reviewers, the best biography of the author, and since I have not read other biographies, I cannot verify that claim for myself. It is indeed a good biography, and traces the author’s life from childhood onward, in Edwardian England among the castles and butlers – a theme that animated most of his stories too.
I was intrigued enough to pick up this book because I learnt of the scandal where Wodehouse was accused to be a Nazi collaborator during the World War II years and was so vilified that he could not enter England for the rest of his life, even for a visit.
The story is very well told, and the cross references to the various novels where his life’s influence shows up is brilliant. I had not realized that there was so much of personal experience in those superb comic, idyllic world of Jeeves that we have come to know and love.
Also interesting is the description of his troubles related to the Hitler regime. The case for and against him is presented.
It is interesting to see the struggle in later years, deciding whether to continue to write about an England that was gone completely (Earls and butlers and travel by steamers in 1970s??) and it is also interesting to see the ruthlessly mercenary side of this “ideal romantic”‘ author in his personal life . His wife presents an interesting picture, being seen one way by Wodehouse and another by the rest of the world!
However, and this is the problem for those who are not interested in Wodehouse stories per se, it is a very ordinary life, all things considered, except for the brief interlude of scandal during the second world war, which threatened social ruin. In addition, it can be really boring to read all the cross references to Bertie Wooster and his truckload of aunts, Jeeves, Empress of Blandings and all the rest of the Wodehousian cast if you are not familiar with the stories beforehand.
So, my advice? Read it if you are – like me – already a Wodehouse fan; give it a miss if you are not.
I would say, a balanced 5/10 should be enough for this one.
— Krishna