Shows
WodehousekeepingSomething Fresh with Tania AgnihotriIan is joined by Tania Agnihotri to look at Something Fresh, AKA Something New, the first Blandings novel, published 1915. The book introduces the immortal Lord Emsworth, Freddie Threepwood, Beach the butler and the Efficient Baxter, though much of the focus is on this month's imposters at the castle. Content note: bad American accents.You can e-mail me at wodehousekeeping@gmail.commake a donation at ko-fi.com/wodehousekeepingor follow or contact me on Bluesky or FacebookOther works by Wodehouse mentioned:The Mr Mulliner Stories2025-08-012h 03
WodehousekeepingThe Man Upstairs and Other Stories (Part Two) with Gwen SheldonI am rejoined by Gwen Sheldon to peruse the first collection of Wodehouse short stories for a general audience, The Man Upstairs and Other Stories (1914), a bumper crop of nineteen stories and a favourite of both of us. Because there is so much to discuss, we have split it into two parts. In the second part we look at the remaining eleven stories, including the two stories whose success persuaded Wodehouse to move to America, "Archibald's Benefit" (his first golf short story) and "The Good Angel" (the first Keggs story, and first mention of a Lord Emsworth). Also in...2025-07-091h 36
WodehousekeepingThe Man Upstairs and Other Stories (Part One) with Gwen SheldonI am rejoined by Gwen Sheldon to peruse the first collection of Wodehouse short stories for a general audience, The Man Upstairs and Other Stories (1914), a bumper crop of nineteen stories and a favourite of both of us. Because there is so much to discuss, we have split the episode into two parts. In the first part we look at the background of the book and Wodehouse's life when he wrote them (living cheaply in New York), and discuss the first eight stories. There will be spoilers.Content note: mention in "Rough-Hew Them How We Will"...2025-07-091h 26
WodehousekeepingThe Kid Brady Stories and A Man of MeansA solo episode. Ian delves into two short story cycles, The Kid Brady stories (1905-7) and A Man Of Means (1914, with C. H. Bovill) which posthumously were collected into a single volume. The Kid Brady stories are boxing tales set in New York, while A Man of Means is a quasi-novella wherein a hapless clerk from Bury St Edmonds inadvertently keeps getting richer and richer. There will be spoilers.CN: brief discussion of racismOther Wodehouse works mentionedOver SeventyPsmith JournalistThe Prince and Betty 2025-06-171h 37
WodehousekeepingThe Little Nugget with Nigel TownshendIan Cockburn is joined by his old friend Nigel Townshend to dissect Agatha Christie's favourite Wodehouse novel The Little Nugget (1913). A tale of kipnapping at an English private preparatory school, presumably inspired by Wodehouse's time as a guest at Emsworth House school. There will be spoilers.Other Wodehouse works mentionedPiccadilly JimFull MoonThank You, JeevesThe Luck StoneThe Eighteen-Carat Kid (variant version of The Little Nugget)The Indiscretions of ArchieMuch Obliged, JeevesPsmith Journalist2025-05-011h 09
WodehousekeepingThe Prince and Betty (UK Version) with Alexander RennieIan is joined by Alexander Rennie once more to look at the UK version of the novel The Prince and Betty (1912). The US version has a very different plot closely based on the earlier novel Psmith, Journalist (serialised 1909-1910, book version 1915). We touch lightly on the US version but the main discussion of it will follow in the episode on Psmith, Journalist.Alexander's own podcast is Forgotten TownsOther Wodehouse works mentionedPsmith, JournalistThe Swoop"The Good Angel" (AKA "The Matrimonial Sweepstakes")A Gentleman...2025-04-011h 42
WodehousekeepingTales of Wrykyn and ElsewhereIan looks at the 1997 posthumous collection of Wodehouse short school stories, Tales of Wrykyn and Elsewhere, featuring stories that first appeared in magazines from 1901-1911. No plot spoilers for once, except one that comes with an advance warning.WIkipedia page for the bookMadame Eulalie's Rare Plums links:List of Doyle/Holmes references in Wodehouse's early worksIndex to school stories viewable at Madame EulalieGuide to early series characters, and an attempted explanation of which Jackson is whichOther Wodehouse works mentioned2025-03-011h 10
WodehousekeepingPsmith in the City with Josh CockburnIan is rejoined by his brother Josh to scrutinise "Psmith in the City" AKA "The New Fold", the second Psmith novel, serialised in 1908-9 and collected in book form in 1910. It is a highly autobiographical account of reluctantly working in a London bank. Mike and Psmith's schooldays are behind them, but Mike is still fixated on cricket and Psmith is still out to cause disruption wherever possible. There will be spoilers and a soupçon of politics. Special thanks to the website Madam Eulalie's Rare Plums.Article mentioned in the show that helped explain the reference t...2025-02-0158 min
WodehousekeepingA Gentleman of Leisure with Gavin BradburyIan is joined by former teenage Wodehouse obsessive Gavin Bradbury to look at Plum's first country house novel, A Gentleman of Leisure AKA The Intrusion of Jimmy from 1910. The book is at once a light romantic story, an exposé of the corruption in the New York police force, a satire of "gentleman criminal" style stories, and a precurser to the Blandings novels. Ian is unable to be impartial about one of the first Wodehouse novels he ever read, whereas Gavin is more critical.We discuss the differences between the novel and the related novella "The Gem C...2025-01-201h 21
WodehousekeepingThe Luck StoneIan looks at the final public school novel by Wodehouse, a lurid adventure story called The Luck Stone, first published in Chums magazine from 1908 to 1909 under the pseudonym "Basil Windham". It was first published in book form posthumously in 1997. There will be spoilers.The story can be read hereContent note: national stereotyping, imperialism, racism.Other Wodehouse works mentioned:Performing FleaMike at WrykynMike and PsmithThe Head of KaysLittle NuggetPsmith Journalist"The...2024-12-2454 min
WodehousekeepingMike And Psmith with Matthew BellwoodIan is joined by storyteller Matthew Bellwood to discuss Mike and Psmith, the second half of the double novel Mike, published in 1909. This is the debut of the beloved character Psmith, and the final public school novel by Wodehouse published in his lifetime.There will be spoilers. May contain knuts.Mike and Psmith at Project GutenbergThe Lost Lambs (magazine version) at Madame EulalieOther Wodehouse works referenced:Mike at WrykynPsmith in the CityPsmith, JournalistLeave it to...2024-11-181h 12
WodehousekeepingMike At Wrykyn with Alexander RennieIan is rejoined by Alexander Rennie of the "Forgotten Towns" podcast to discuss Mike at Wrykyn, the first half of the double novel Mike, published in 1909. It's a public school story focused on cricket and introduces a new series character. Other Wodehouse books mentionedMike and PsmithPsmith in the CityPsmith JournalistLeave it to PsmithVery Good JeevesRing For Jeeves (the novel where Jeeves appears without Bertie Wooster)Laughing GasThe Mating SeasonA Gentleman...2024-10-011h 56
WodehousekeepingThe Swoop with Peter FalconerIan is joined by composer Peter Falconer, of the How I Hobby podcast, to look at The Swoop! or, How Clarence Saved England: A Tale of the Great Invasion (1909) a spoof of three separate Edwardian trends: invasion literature, the boy scout movement, and the music hall. Thanks again to madameeulalie.org. There will be spoilers.Content note: racismOther Wodehouse works mentioned:The Military Invasion of America (US version of the story)The Next InvasionEggs, Beans and CrumpetsThe Man UpstairsDo...2024-09-021h 13
WodehousekeepingThe Globe By The Way Book with Gwen SheldonI am joined by Gwen Sheldon to look at extracts from The Globe By The Way Book — A Literary Quick-Lunch for People Who Have Only Got Five Minutes to Spare (1908) in particular the spoof serial "Women, Wine and Song". We also look at "For Love or Honour" (1907) a serial from the Globe By the Way daily newspaper column. Both works were written with Herbert Westbrook, the Prince of Slackers. Thanks to Madame Eulalie's Rare Plums website for sharing these out-of-print delights!https://www.madameulalie.org/articles/Deconstructing_The_Globe_By_the_Way_Book.htmlhttps://ww...2024-08-011h 12
WodehousekeepingNot George Washington with MoraIan Cockburn talks to Mora about the first of two collaborations with Herbert Westbrook, Not George Washington (1907), a semi-autobiographical novel about life in Edwardian London as a struggling writer. There will be spoilers.Free eBook of Not George Washington at Project GutenbergNot George Washington public domain audiobook at LibriVox(NB the book is not public domain in all countries)Also mentioned in the podcast:Reference books and resources:Norman Murphy's A Wodehouse HandbookSophie Ratcliffe's P.G. Wodehouse: A Life...2024-07-081h 19
WodehousekeepingThe White Feather with Ujjwal DebIan 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 IndiaUjjwal's experience on the TV show MastermindThe schoolboy code of honourThe possible real-life origin of WrykynWhether the Jackson in this book is any relation to Mike (of Mike and Psmith)Motor cars and motoring regulations in the Edwardian ageRacism in boxing in the period, and in public school life and literature.C...2024-03-011h 13
WodehousekeepingLove Among the Chickens with Thom RobinsonIan talks to writer Thom Robinson about the seventh Wodehouse book, "Love Among the Chickens". There will be spoilers.Among Wodehouse's books, this is: The first intended for a general audience, as opposed to schoolboys or young children The first to involve a love story The first to introduce a major recurring character, which is Ukridge The first with golf as a major element. The first to be properly published in the USAIt exists in two versions (four versions actually, but two book versio...2024-01-211h 16
WodehousekeepingLove Among the Chickens with Thom RobinsonIan talks to writer Thom Robinson about the seventh Wodehouse book, "Love Among the Chickens". There will be spoilers.Among Wodehouse's books, this is:The first intended for a general audience, as opposed to schoolboys or young childrenThe first to involve a love storyThe first to introduce a major recurring character, which is UkridgeThe first with golf as a major element.The first to be properly published in the USAIt exists in two versions (four versions actually, but two book versions): The original 1906 book and the 1921 rewrite. We look at...2024-01-201h 16
WodehousekeepingThe Head of Kay's with Josh CockburnIan talks to his brother Josh about the sixth Wodehouse book, "The Head of Kay's". It's yet another school story. There will be spoilers.Also discussed or referencedSummer MoonshinePsmith in the CityJeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian FaulksThe Boys of Castle Cliff School by R. A. H. GoodyearToddy Scores Again by Alfred JuddA Wodehouse Handbook by N. T. P. MurphyLet's Do It: The Birth of Pop by Bob StanleyN.A.Knox2023-11-0755 min
Wodehousekeeping5: William Tell Told AgainIan looks at P.G. Wodehouse's only book for younger children, "William Tell Told Again". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-10-2018 min
Wodehousekeeping4: The Gold Bat with Alexander RennieIan talks to Alexander Rennie about the third Wodehouse novel, "The Gold Bat". It's another school story. Despite the title, there is no cricket this time but plenty of rugby and a bit of boxing, ferret-keeping and shadowy secret societies.There will be spoilers.Alexander's podcast is called "Forgotten Towns". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-09-251h 16
Wodehousekeeping3: Tales of St Austin'sI talk about the third book by P.G. Wodehouse, his first short story collection, "Tales of St Austin's", again with a public school theme. There will be spoilers.Also mentioned in the podcast: Norman Murphy's "A Wodehouse Handbook".There is a wealth of material at Madame Eulalie including the original magazine versions of these stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-08-2241 min
Wodehousekeeping2: A Prefect's Uncle with Alexander RennieIan talks to Alexander Rennie about the second Wodehouse novel, "A Prefect's Uncle". It's another school story, with a lot of cricket. There will be spoilers.Alexander's podcast is called "Forgotten Towns". There is a wealth of material at Madame Eulalie available as always.Also mentioned in the podcast: Sophie Ratcliffe's "P.G. Wodehouse: A Life in Letters" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-07-251h 39
Wodehousekeeping1: The Pothunters with Julia EdigerIn our first episode we discuss Wodehouse's first book, "The Pothunters" (1902), a public school novel.There is a wealth of material at Madame Eulalie including annotations of the novel, the serialised version and relevant articles by Wodehouse on school stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-07-161h 01