Stick to the stories

Any fan of P.G. Wodehouse might think a book called A Brief Guide to Jeeves and Wooster (2013) would be irresistible. Yet spending more than a few minutes with Nigel Cawthorne's book is enough to find it unnecessary.

The most unnecessary chapters are those in which Cawthorne gives long and detailed summaries of every short story and every novel featuring Bertie Wooster and his gifted manservant Jeeves, but with none of the wit. If one wants to know what happens in these tales, better to read them. That would at least be amusing, while these summaries are just dull. He said this and then he did that? Who needs this?

Much better are those chapters which describe Bertie's aunts, and there are many of them; the many women Bertie becomes engaged to or nearly so (who knew he is engaged to marry Florence Craye four times and escapes each time?); his buddies, all with nicknames likes Sippy and Gussie; and the grumpy older men and policemen who always seem to block Bertie's path. These chapters help us keep the characters straight (for when we wonder, where have I seen this name before?) and, best of all, include a sampling of Wodehouse's humor, the reason for reading the stories in the first place.

This book might make a decent reference for a diehard fan. Otherwise pick up an copy of The Code of the Woosters or Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit and actually enjoy yourself.