Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Uncle Dynamite  By  cover art

Uncle Dynamite

By: P. G. Wodehouse
Narrated by: Jonathan Cecil
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.22

Buy for $13.22

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

A chance meeting on a train brought together Lord Ickenham and Bill Oakshott - although being told that the love of his life, Hermione, was engaged to none other than Pongo, Lord Ickenham's nephew, did make Bill feel like he'd been struck behind the ear.

©2012 The Trustees of the Wodehouse Estate (P)2012 AudioGO

What listeners say about Uncle Dynamite

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    255
  • 4 Stars
    48
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    261
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    230
  • 4 Stars
    46
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hermione...Herold Potter...Hmmm.

Has anyone else thought that Jo Rowling was inspired for her Harry Potter series by Uncle Dynamite?

Characters named: Hermione...Herold Potter...Reginald (sounds so close to Ronald) Reading tea leaves----Owls----an irascible uncle and a horse-faced aunt. Fred the trickster. I could go on and on. Marauders. Billius. Okay. I'll stop now ---- but seriously!

I am positive with the muffins bit and the heavy use of Gorgon ---- that Wodehouse was much inspired by Wilde as well.

And let me be clear ---- I love Sir Pelham's books! He is My favorite humorist of all-time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Uncle Fred Fixes All!

If you could sum up Uncle Dynamite in three words, what would they be?

Wodehouse Willfully Rushed

What other book might you compare Uncle Dynamite to and why?

Blandings Castle stories, some including Uncle Fred, others Galahad

What three words best describe Jonathan Cecil’s voice?

Rich, flexible, hurried

Who was the most memorable character of Uncle Dynamite and why?

Mugsy, the aging tyrannical father and freeloader

Any additional comments?

Jonathan Cecil has the chops to carry Wodehouse off, but his delivery is oddly rushed in Uncle Dynamite. Part of the sublime charm of Wodehouse is the juxtaposition of the lazy, idling summer days of the feckless rich, with madcap, antic pratfalls and verbal parrying. At once dreamlike and lilting and screwball farce. But for some reason, the editors or Cecil rush one line of dialog after another, almost into an unbroken string, as if a rapid-fire delivery might add to the story. I don't think it does, and robs the tale of its momentum, which, if rendered at a human pace, would have built to a cacophonous crescendo by its culmination. Still, an immensely enjoyable listen, even if not quite reaching the heights.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of Jonathan Cecil’s Best Outings

Take the enjoyment of the book itself for granted. With very few exceptions, the Wodehouse bookshelf can be relied upon for unfailing entertainment. This is particularly true when Uncle Fred gets involved. When the book is served up as audio, it's the reading that makes or breaks that enjoyment. And in this case, our reader does not disappoint. Cecil’s performance here stands comparison to his Uncle Fred in the Springtime, Code of the Woosters, Big Money, A Few Quick Ones and Love Among the Chickens.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wodehouse at his best.

I have listened to this story at least 6 times over the years. An absolute magnificent performance by Jonathan Cecil in reading Wodehouse at his best.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

More fun with Uncle Fred

What made the experience of listening to Uncle Dynamite the most enjoyable?

Without question, Jonathan Cecil's reading is what makes listening to this story great. It's a fun story (though not quite as great as the Uncle Fred story Cocktail Time), with all of the loopiness and goofiness we expect of a classic Wodehouse story. And Jonathan Cecil's reading makes it shine.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Uncle Dynamite?

Without revealing one of the amusing plot twists...at the end of the story, I was delighted as Uncle Fred put Sir Aylmer Bostock in his place.

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Cecil – was your favorite?

Jonathan Cecil is one of those rare readers who goes beyond being a good reader and becomes the embodiment of the author's work. Jonathan Cecil's reading of all the characters is excellent, but his portrayal of Uncle Fred is just perfect.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Uncle Dynamite makes me smile, laugh, and guffaw in many places. Uncle Fred is just a treasure as he goes about "spreading sweetness and light", cajoling, threatening, and blackmailing people all in the name of increasing happiness for everyone around him.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

More Wonderful tThan I Could Ever Dream

Beautiful book, beautifully read. Thank you.

Beautiful book, beautifully read. Thank you.

Beautiful book, beautifully read. Thank you.

Beautiful book, beautifully read. Thank you.

Beautiful book, beautifully read. Thank you.

Beautiful book, beautifully read. Thank you.

What more can one say about the combination of PG Wodehouse and Jonathan Cecil.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Slimm-o for Hypertrophy of the Trouser Seat

How do you keep separate in memory the many Wodehouse impostor books? As with Gilligan’s Island episodes, variations in plot are insufficient to differentiate. We have the non-unique situation where Pongo is mis-engaged to the MaryAnn (to push the analogy a bit) character who is better suited to Bill Oakshott. But we don’t have the engagement-switch trope set up by contrived jealousy. In its stead is the need to switch busts. The other motivation is desire to avoid judging a Bonny-Baby contest. Primarily Lord Ickenham (Uncle Fred) has an unbounded need to embed himself as an impostor.

We have Bill and Pongo as paired childhood friends and have Uncle Fred paired with a schoolboy rival and Sally vs Hermione as love interests. We have the local bobby churning the plot forward with combined buffoonery and eagerness. We’re at Ashenden Manor rather than Blandings. Aunts and desperate impoverishment are fortunately not major motivators this time out.
Uncle Fred’s inventiveness, and specifically his dialogue, are the highlights of this book. Otherwise, this 1948 mid-season episode will seem friendly and familiar but not uniquely inspired.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous

A wonderful tale, performed by my favorite interpreter of Wodehouse. Well worth the time and money.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good old Wodehouse Fun!

Jonathan Cecil is one of my most favorite Wodehouse narrators! love it! I'd listen to these three Uncle Fred books in order, but they're just great fun. Great for when you just want something light and fun!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Can't Beat a Wodehouse

What a pleasure it is to listen to Jonathan Cecil bring a P.G. Wodehouse book to life with its hilarious antics of the British upper class. It's a great way to enjoy a cup of tea and escape into another bygone world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!