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Summer Lightning  By  cover art

Summer Lightning

By: P. G. Wodehouse
Narrated by: John Wells
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Publisher's summary

While Blandings Castle sleeps in the summer sun, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, brother of the Earl of Emsworth, is busily engaged in writing his Reminiscences, and they look set to be as warm as the weather, if not warmer. For Galahad has led a thoroughly misspent life, and his acquaintances can all too easily recall their past follies in his company.

Reputations are at stake and even the nobility and gentry are beginning to panic. And while various attempts are made to prevent his stories seeing the light of day, none are more curious than the sensational kidnapping of Lord Emsworth’s prize-winning sow, the Empress of Blandings...

©2011 The Trustees of the Wodehouse Estate (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Summer Lightning

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  • Overall
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Funny book, well read.

My favorite book by a Wodehouse that I’ve read so far. Great reader—which makes all the difference.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Lightning strikes again thanks to Wodehouse!

Galahad's memoirs are the big threat and the big draw of this story. You need to get through the first few chapters where the characters are introduced to be able to fully enjoy the plot in full swing. Well worth the time at the front end for the marvelous pay off from the middle to the end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Best Narrator Ever!

Another wacky Wodhouse story with a resourceful butler, bullying aunts, and clueless young blue bloods trying to marry. This narrator John Wells is a master of comedic voices, making me laugh out loud as much at his inflections, accents, and characterizations as at Wodehouse's witticisms and plot twists. Lots of fun.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Another enjoyable Wodehouse work

This is set in the Jeeves universe, but does not involve Bertie Wooster or Jeeves. Instead of a series of short stories, it's a novel that sets up, as usual, a complicated set of relationships and unlikely occurrences that somehow all resolve in the end, with humorous events and clever writing. Recommended!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Painfully Funny

In an earlier review I described Jonathan Cecil as the best Wodehouse narrator, but John Wells is every bit as good in Summer Lightning, sadly the only one he has recorded, as far as I know. Every character is perfect and this is Wodehouse at his best, side-splitting.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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John Wells Gives a Fantastic Play

Story is your classic Wodehouse noblesse chikanry at its best - what makes this production rise above others is John Wells' peerless performance - double excellent and simply delicious!

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Great story, amazing narration

The narrator was amazing! The characters just came alive and I laughed out loud many, many times! A most enjoyable listen!

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Too hilarious

It is Monty Python without the visuals. John Wells’ voices for the characters are perfect.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Narration is wonderful!

This story is very similar to another about "The emperess of Blandings Castle", but the narration is excellent! Very enjoyable

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not good enough to continue listening.

Well, this audiobook proves that a narrator can make or break a story. I am a big fan of Wodehouse and I feel like I would have enjoyed this novel, but now I can't even bring myself to read the book because I keep hearing the narrator's version, pedantic and difficult. Listening to this took more effort than it took for the narrator to read it.

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4 people found this helpful