Ian talks to Ujjwal Deb about the eighth P. G. Wodehouse book, "The White Feather" (1907), a public school novel set at Wrykyn School, in some ways a sequel to "The Gold Bat". Spoilers feature early and often.
Topics discussed include:
- Wodehouse's popularity in India
- Ujjwal's experience on the TV show Mastermind
- The schoolboy code of honour
- The possible real-life origin of Wrykyn
- Whether the Jackson in this book is any relation to Mike (of Mike and Psmith)
- Motor cars and motoring regulations in the Edwardian age
- Racism in boxing in the period, and in public school life and literature.
- C. S. Calverley and Thomas Babington Macaulay (both quoted in the book)
- The history and meaning of the symbol, "the white feather"
- Tom Brown's Schooldays by Thomas Hughes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
