020 - Chapter 20

Uneasy Money is a delightful romantic comedy penned by P.G. Wodehouse amidst the backdrop of the First World War, offering a charming escape from reality. This story leans more towards romance, with just a hint less humor than his later works, as it chronicles the misadventures of the hapless Lord Dawlish. After inheriting a staggering five million dollars, he finds himself entangled in a series of romantic and logistical mishaps. The tale begins with Bill (Lord Dawlish, a genuinely amiable fellow) engaged to a demanding actress, and his immediate concern upon receiving the unexpected windfall is the disappointment of distant relatives. His journey to the USA, aiming to return the fortune, spirals into chaos filled with misunderstandings, firearms, and burglaries. Originally serialized in the Saturday Evening Post in the USA from December 1915 and in the UK in Strand Magazine beginning December 1916, Uneasy Money was published in book form on March 17, 1916, by D. Appleton & Co., New York, with a UK release following on October 4, 1917, by Methuen & Co., London. A silent, black-and-white film adaptation graced the screen in 1918. Summary by Tim Bulkeley based on data from Wikipedia.