A big question

[angieveep.livejournal.com]

What ho to you all! I have a question, which will test your knowledge on Wodehouse. I need to choose a topic for my bachelor thesis soon - I´ll have to translate a text from English to Czech and it has to be non-fictional text, ideally a study of some sort. And I thought it would be fun to translate something about Wodehouse (a study about his literary work, etc.) - do you know about anything that would suit this description? (and where could I possibly buy it/ download it?) Every comment will be highly appreciated, thank you!

Comments

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

I can't recommend this enough. It's pretty much exactly what you're looking for- a fantastic literary criticism. http://www.amazon.com/Wooster-Proposes-Jeeves-Disposes-Juste/dp/087008139X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299325380&sr=8-1

[trista-zevkia.livejournal.com]

There is Wodehouse at War, which has been much discussed by this comm and I would love to read. It's not about his work so much as about his actions during WW2, but I want to read it.
http://www.amazon.com/Wodehouse-At-War-Iain-Sproat/dp/0899190987/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299328507&sr=1-4

[derien.livejournal.com]

Reading the transcripts of his broadcasts, I can't see how anyone would think he was promoting the Nazis.

[trista-zevkia.livejournal.com]

I find myself agreeing, even though I've not read much about it beyond what's been on the comm, but my general feeling of Wodehouse tells me as much. But a lot went on during WWII I have trouble wrapping my head around.

[cucumbermoon.livejournal.com]

I have read Wodehouse at War and I'm convinced that he had no political intentions whatsoever. Iain Sproat suggests that he had no understanding of the political climate and no motivation beyond cheering people up. Personally, I find his lack of rigid patriotism and his understanding that all citizens of all countries suffer in wartime to be inspirational. He was not an Englishman; he was a human first. If more people had acted with his compassion at the end of World War One, we might have been completely spared World War Two.

Also, his lack of political savvy is quite endearing. When I was reading the book, I couldn't shake the conviction that PG Wodehouse just WAS Bertie Wooster. It's exactly what Bertie would have done in that situation, which is what inspired my "Wooster at War" series.

[cucumbermoon.livejournal.com]

I think that both of the recommendations that have been made are great choices, but since you didn't specify how long the work needs to be, I thought I would make another suggestion in the off chance that you need something essay-length (unlikely for a thesis, I know!). I am speaking, of course, of George Orwell's "In Defense of PG Wodehouse." http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/plum/english/e_plum

Good luck!

[trista-zevkia.livejournal.com]

I darted over and read that. Is that George Orwell of Animal Farm and such? Anyway, I have to say Plum was simply ahead of his time! Sounds like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, using humor in an insane world to point out the insanity. They are more political, sure, but can see that we're all human after all. Poor Wodehouse! Thanks for the link.

[cucumbermoon.livejournal.com]

It is indeed that Orwell! It was this essay that first got me interested in learning about Plum himself in addition to his work. I find his complete disregard for politics to be inspirational. After all, it was politically-inspired hate that started the war in the first place, and began the horrific atrocities of the holocaust. If more people had taken a cue from Wodehouse and turned a deaf ear to political posturing, they would not have been so susceptible to the poison of fear and hate that was being spread.

...

[angieveep.livejournal.com]

Thank you all for your suggestions, I really appreciate them! Now I just have to think it through and possibly discuss it with my professor. Do you know if I can find a few pages from Wodehouse proposes, Jeeves disposes somewhere on the net? Just to take a look at it? (in case it wouldn´t suit me after all I don´t want to just go and buy the whole book...) Thank you!
And thanks for the Wodehouse at War and the Orwell (but that one is really too short, I need about 30 pages of text)