The Inimitable Jeeves by PG Wodehouse

I adore Jeeves and Wooster. I also love all the other works of PG Wodehouse, the guy was a genius, but J&W are his most famous creations. Every time I read one of his books, which I did the other day, I am left wondering why I haven’t read more.

The Inimitable Jeeves is generally considered one of the best starting points for the legendary book series, and although I’d read others in the series, I had somehow skipped this one.

Wodehouse, like Evelyn Waugh, Oscar Wilde, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and others, is a classic example of sublime writing ability combined with deep intelligence and wit.

If you have seen any of the TV shows – the best being the Fry and Laurie version – you will know some of the characters and the general dynamics. Essentially, Bertie Wooster is rich, and means well but can be a bit useless. Meanwhile, Jeeves is smart, resourceful, and someone with a deep understanding of people and situations.

What is the Inimitable Jeeves about?

Being an eligible bachelor, Wooster’s family and other wealthy British aristocratic types are always trying to get him to do something meaningful with his life. Like work or – ideally – just get married. Bertie has other ideas and would rather just have fun with his mates. And a lot of them are like him – wealthy and shallow. Some are desperately seeking love, while others are avoiding commitment, but they are generally rich and up for a bit of intrigue.

The stories follow Bertie Wooster, a young man who has inherited a ludicrous amount of money and is trying to live a generally carefree life in the 1920s and 1930s. They follow his engagements (and attempts to get out of them,) frequent social mishaps, unfortunate misunderstandings, and general shenanigans that constantly beset him and his friends.

Even though he frequently has seemingly great ideas, they nearly always go tits up. And that is when Jeeves steps in. Jeeves is smart, worldly, understands people, and is rarely wrong. He has his own network of butlers, maids and other help, and with his native intelligence combined with a field-marshal level of strategy and tactics, he is always there to save the day.

This may sound like what is essentially prime sitcom fodder, and it is, but what has made Jeeves and Wooster remain incredibly popular for 100 years is the writing, wit, and superb characterisation courtesy of the legendary PG Wodehouse.

If you want great characters, writing, and people stuck in fun but absurd situations, then the Jeeves and Wooster series is well worth a read. Or anything by PG Wodehouse, really. I have read several other books in the series, but this was the collection that introduces Jeeves. It’s well worth a read.

You can check out The Inimitable Jeeves here.