Jeeves and the Wedding Bells

By: Sebastian Faulks

Narrated by: Julian Rhind-Tutt

Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Bertie Wooster (a young man about town) and his butler Jeeves (the very model of the modern manservant)—return in their first new novel in nearly forty years: Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks.

P.G. Wodehouse documented the lives of the inimitable Jeeves and Wooster for nearly sixty years, from their first appearance in 1915 ("Extricating Young Gussie") to his final completed novel (Aunts Aren't Gentlemen) in 1974. These two were the finest creations of a novelist widely proclaimed to be the finest comic English writer by critics and fans alike.

Now, forty years later, Bertie and Jeeves return in a hilarious affair of mix-ups and mishaps. With the approval of the Wodehouse estate, acclaimed novelist Sebastian Faulks brings these two back to life for their legion of fans. Bertie, nursing a bit of heartbreak over the recent engagement of one Georgina Meadowes to someone not named Wooster, agrees to "help" his old friend Peregrine "Woody" Beeching, whose own romance is foundering. That this means an outing to Dorset, away from an impending visit from Aunt Agatha, is merely an extra benefit. Almost immediately, things go awry and the simple plan quickly becomes complicated. Jeeves ends up impersonating one Lord Etringham, while Bertie pretends to be Jeeves' manservant "Wilberforce,"—and this all happens under the same roof as the now affianced Ms. Meadowes. From there the plot becomes even more hilarious and convoluted, in a brilliantly conceived, seamlessly written comic work worthy of the master himself.

A Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction Book of 2013

©2012 Sebastien Faulks (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Narrator Rhind-Tutt enthuses, confuses, and expostulates with a gusto worthy of any of his predecessors. Treat yourself and pass many happy hours with a silly smile on your face.” —AudioFile

“Wodehouse is the greatest comic writer ever.” —Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

“[Wodehouse is] a brilliantly funny writer—perhaps the most consistently funny the English language has yet produced.” —The London Times

'Oh abolutely, said Bertie...'

...And Mr S. Faulks meant this literary homage to sing in Wodeehousian...It did, and it does, and no doubt Sir P.G., -- nicknamed 'Plum' -- now offers a standing ovation apropos -- if you can stand and clap and hoot huzzahs in heaven. I suppose you can or what's the point of the old el cielo?...I mean to say, what?
...oh, ABSOLUTELY!..
~ Anthony Royka

Lovely!

I really enjoyed this book. What an incredible undertaking! The author should be very proud of his effort. It does read differently than the original Jeeves books but that’s completely understandable.
I didn’t find it as funny as the originals but I will say I was moved to tears a couple times, especially by the ending, which was a new experience.
I wish the author every success in achieving his goal of introducing the Jeeves books to a new generation of readers.
I’m so glad there are others out there who love them as much as I do!

Not Quite Wodehouse, but Close!

A pleasurable romp in the Wodehouse manner. Recommended! Narrator and story are great fun.

Can't wait!!!

I loved it. Can't wait for the next Jeeves story. I hope the author has already started on another one. I believe I have listened to most of the originals and I was hoping to find more. I have so please keep it going.

An absolute tribute to P.G Woodehouse

I was thrilled with this resurrection of Jeeves and Wooster excellently written and performed fans will not be disappointed.

Excellent

This was a great, light, funny story with excellent narration. I can’t speak for it’s comparison with the original Jeeves books because this is the first Jeeves book I have encountered but I will definitely be looking into the originals. Julian Rhind-Tutt is a fantastic narrator for comedies!

An honest effort

Charming in its way. I was content to get both Bertie and Jeeves safely down the aisle at last, and didn't assume anyone could actually come close to Plum's rat's-nest plots and zany zingers. What bothered me most were the anachronisms that were definitely not Edwardian in manners or morals, and made me think Mr Foulks should have done basic research, or at least reread some of Wodehouse's work written in the 1920's (cf. references to recently fashionable bobs and dropped waists) for guidance on what was expected of women and men. The fact that Wodehouse wrote about J&W well past the 1920's I could have let go of, though maybe Foulks should have set this post-WW II to get away with some of the more disturbing anachronisms.

If you're a Plum fan but no historian, this is probably good fun.

A good effort

Perhaps if I hadn’t just re-listened to Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen I wouldn’t have noticed it so much, but the Plummy sparkle just wasn’t there. A good story to end the run though.

Fun!

Good audio book
I could see The old Jeeves And Wooster series as I was listening made me want to watch again

A Worthy homage to Woodhouse

True to the characterizations of Bertie and Jeeves with a touch of Mr. Mulliner's romanticism.