(no subject)

[closetofheroes.livejournal.com]

What ho all!

I just finished reading Ring for Jeeves, the Bertie-less novel Wodehouse wrote, and I'm wondering if the community would like a bit of information about it. I'm asking this because I suspect a lot of people in this community might not have looked over this book yet. I put off reading this one for the longest time, and only read it now because, as Jeeves might say, faute de mieux, or 'for want of anything better'. When you've read everything else, Ring for Jeeves seemed better than nothing.

I'll describe it very briefly.

This is the novel that is set post WW2, in which Jeeves is in the employ of Lord Rowcester. It's not really the joy to read that all the Bertie/Jeeves stories are, but it does have the odd laugh-out-loud moment.

Apart from the lack of Bertie, the big difference is that Jeeves is sort of the main character. At least, much closer to being the main character than he's ever been before. He's much more - I was going to say, 'developed', but that would imply that I don't think he's developed in the Bertie novels, and that wouldn't be true. I suppose the word is 'prominent'. His character is much more prominent. We're allowed to see what he's thinking once in a while, and Wodehouse devotes entire paragraphs to describing his mannerisms and actions as a means of demonstrating his aloof professionalism. And being more in the limelight, a lot of the novel's humour actually comes directly from Jeeves.

I suspect that, because the novel's not written in the first person, and because Wodehouse knew it was likely his last Jeeves novel, he allows himself to really show his personal love of the character. The description of Jeeves's first appearance is almost adulatory. In a way, I'd say he gets a bit carried away, and portrays Jeeves as being a bit more perfect than he really is, i.e. how he is in the Bertie stories. Jeeves is more selfless in his anxiety to serve, and he is also more colourful in expressing himself, less reserved. He is virtually the partner of his employer, barely subservient at all.

I'd recommend this novel for anyone wanting to see Jeeves in sharper focus than he can be seen through the Bertie stories. He might appear just a touch out of character, but I imagine those fic writers in the community would find it rather inspirational. Jeeves is a hard character to write!

Bertie Wooster is not present in the novel, but he is mentioned more than once - more than twice, in fact. These few mentions are somewhat slashy, I have to say, or at any rate, rather sweet. If anyone likes, I would be happy to transcribe the mentions of Bertie for the benefit of this community. Would that be welcome/appropriate? Let me know.

Comments

[umpteenth-gail.livejournal.com]

I didn't like this book, as it came across as a fake substitute for a Jeeves and Bertie book. To me it was a sunken souffle. It wasn't just the lack of Bertie, though that was bad enough. However, there were some funny moments, PG after all.

"Shall I kiss you, Jeeves?"

"No, miss."

LOL.