Classic Wodehouse Illustrations, Part 11: "The Purity of the Turf"

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Continuing the "Bertie and his friends bet on weird stuff" theme, I give you "The Purity of the Turf", also illustrated by Mills and Skidmore!




Oh look, Bertie's in bed again:



Wearing his monocle, of course (although at least this time he has the excuse of actually being awake and doing things). Also, taken out of context, the activities described in the caption box sound like some kind of incredibly kinky roleplay.

Bertie meets his annoying little companion Prudence Baxter:


He looks rather different here from Skidmore's usual Bertie. Still not at all Bertie-like, but younger and livelier. Maybe it's just the hat, I don't know.

Harold the choir boy demonstrates his prowess!



Here, of course, he's being chased by the fellow that Jeeves set up, but I'd kind of like to see Jeeves himself going after the little guy. If anyone could strike terror into the heart of an errant choir boy, it's Mills!Jeeves.

The egg and spoon race is split over two pages in Skidmore's version:





And Skidmore!Bertie is back to looking like his regular sad, pruny self. :(

Mills chose to compress the action into a single scene. You can see Bertie in the background, the tall chap with the ever-present monocle:



Well, no wonder she won! Her feet aren't even touching the ground. She apparently has Jeeves' gliding powers.

Oh no, it's Steggles:



Ooh, even if Jeeves weren't on Bertie's side already, that outfit would probably put him over the edge.

Other entries:
"Comrade Bingo"
"Bertie Changes His Mind"
"Leave It to Jeeves"
Right Ho, Jeeves
"The Delayed Exit of Claude and Eustace"
"Aunt Agatha Takes the Count"
"Jeeves in the Springtime"
"Scoring Off Jeeves" and "Sir Roderick Comes to Lunch"
"Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest"
"The Great Sermon Handicap"

Comments

[cosmosmariner.livejournal.com]

I had hopes, with that one illo of Skidmore!Bertie looking about 40 instead of 50, but then back to the Bertie we know and loathe. *sad sigh* Will Skidmore never learn?

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Is Steggles hitting on Eleanor Roosevelt?

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Ha, she does look kind of like Eleanor Roosevelt! Now that would make for some interesting crack fic . . .