Jeeves

Joy in the Morning (Dramatisation)

By: P. G. Wodehouse

Narrated by: Michael Hordern, Richard Briers

Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Michael Hordern stars as Jeeves with Richard Briers as Bertie in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation. The rural beauty of Steeple Bumpleigh holds no attractions for Bertie, containing (as it does) the appalling Aunt Agatha. But there is man's work to do and, with Jeeves at his side, how can Bertie fail?

©1998, 2006 BBC Audiobooks Ltd. (P)1998, 2006 BBC Audiobooks Ltd.

A fantastic adaptation of a wonderful story

Would you consider the audio edition of Jeeves to be better than the print version?

Of course not! However, this audiobook is dominated by Richard Briers' brilliant narration as Bertie Wooster, and does a great job of adapting Wodehouse's wondrous prose to audio.

What did you like best about this story?

In this novel, unlike most other Jeeves stories, the famous gentleman's gentleman frequently finds himself short on ideas, making Bertie's problems seem graver than usual.

Which character – as performed by Michael Hordern and Richard Briers – was your favorite?

Richard Briers is easily my favourite Bertie Wooster: he nails the breezy, brilliant, sparkling speech patterns filled with Woosterisms that makes this character so much fun. Michael Hordern is a very good Jeeves, but it's hard for me not to imagine that Stephen Fry might have done it better.

Richard Briers Nails Bertie Wooster

I have listened to many Wodehouse performances and I think Richard Briers is the best Bertie Wooster. He is earnest, good hearted, and brings Wodehouse’s delicious words to life. I prefer Martin Jarvis’ Jeeves, but Michael Hordren’s more reserved Jeeves subordinates him to Wooster.

Loved it

Wodehouse is enough all on his own, but this cast gets it just right. Amazing voice actors and some parts are just sublime. This is the audible recording I go back to over and over again when others disappoint. Never fails to bring me to laughter.

paid for title, but can't access

I paid for this title, but I can't access it. What gives with that bull!?

Typical English

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

Clever, intelligent and patient

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jeeves because he was able to solve any problem presented to him.

What about Michael Hordern and Richard Briers ’s performance did you like?

I love the typical over the top English accents and could picture Richard Brier in this role which made the performance doubly enjoyable. It suited him to a tee.

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

It was very amusing and I look forward to listening to it often.

Any additional comments?

I will certainly obtain other books in this series particularly the dramatizations as I enjoy this droll type of humour.

Almost perfect

Most of the dialogue was great. Snappy and fun. But the voice of Uncle Percy was actually painful to listen to. just overacted

Delightful from beginning to end

Can there be a more respected, versatile, talented English actor than Richard Briers? For him to shine above this excellent cast shows how truly singular he is. There's not a weak moment in this entire performance. It is clear that all of the actors involved know exactly how to coax every nuance out of their characters, and the result is a thoroughly enjoyable radio play that amazes and amuses me each time I listen...which is quite often. No one does this sort of comedy like the Brits. If you are, like me, an Anglophile, of if you simply want to experience something delightful, this is for you.

Very entertaining and lively

As someone who don't usually read or listen to this type of work...I found it easy to stay tuned in to listen from start to finish. I'm no literature expert but I felt cultured after listening to this audible book.

Do not pass go, get Jonathan Cecil instead

Joy in the Morning is a wonderful story, one of my favourites in the Wodehouse canon. But while this dramatization is amusing in spots and the performances are enjoyable enough, the adaptation is disappointing. I don't know if the BBC original was a serial, but there are multiple "chapters" that begin with repetitive exposition of what's already happened.

This was pretty disappointing. Wodehouse is meant to be read, not played. And that's why recommend you check out Jonathan Cecil's reading of the book instead of this abridged adaptation.