Jeeves and the King of Clubs

By: Ben Schott

Narrated by: James Lance

Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Jeeves and the King of Clubs, written by Ben Schott and read by James Lance. 

Storm clouds loom over Europe. Treason is afoot in the highest social circles. The very security of the nation is in peril. Jeeves, it transpires, has long been an agent of British Intelligence, but now His Majesty's government must turn to the one man who can help...Bertie Wooster.

In this magnificent new homage to P. G. Wodehouse, Ben Schott leads Jeeves and Wooster on an uproarious adventure of espionage through the secret corridors of Whitehall, the sunlit lawns of Brinkley Court and the private clubs of St James'.

We encounter an unforgettable cast of characters - old and new - including outraged chefs and exasperated aunts, disreputable politicians and gambling bankers, slushy debs and Cockney cabbies, sphinx-like tailors and sylph-like spies.

There is treachery to be foiled, naturally, but also horses to be backed, auctions to be fixed, engagements to be escaped, madmen to be blackballed and a new variety of condiment to be cooked up.

Jeeves & the King of Clubs is essential listening for aficionados of The Master and a perfect introduction to the joys of Jeeves and Wooster for those who have never before dipped their toe.

©2018 Ben Schott (P)2018 Random House Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"Impossible to read without grinning idiotically." (Mark Sanderson, Evening Standard) 

A Good Homage

This is a good homage.
Familiar characters, references to Jeeves and Wooster stories and the use of language believably make this feel like Wodehouse.
The author must have done a lot of research to get the minutiae correct.
The narrator does a good Hugh Laurie voice for Bertie Wooster and his Stephen Fry voice for Jeeves improved as the story progressed. He struggled a bit differentiating the male/female Scottish voices but this is a small thing given the number of characters.
Like Oliver, I wanted more which is always a good sign.
All in all, a worthy addition.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Well-written but get someone else to read the next one.

I really appreciated some of the clever lines in this book which, on occasion, I thought extremely good and very witty indeed.
However, the narrator let the author and the book down. His Bertie Wooster was pretty good - no complaints there and his Aunt Dahlia was excellent.
However, his interpretation of Jeeves was flat and dull. I can only think it was a conscious choice because I’m sure he’s capable of a much more appropriate voice but this rendition was totally uninspired and detracted from the story. We want a supercilious, ‘Sir?’ said in a soupy fashion that irks the young master and which calls into question the proper feudal spirit.
If this narrator does another one please correct his failing. His Spode was good but his Madeleine Basset was not acceptable. For me she will forever speak like Elizabeth Morton’s portrayal.
Other than that, I think the author tried to shoehorn too many of the characters into the story and it ended oddly without resolving the plot adequately to my mind.
Overall, I would say the author has great promise at this and should write another one maybe set abroad with fewer characters.
Sorry for the relatively poor review but there is hope for a really good Jeeves and Wooster book from this author.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

wonderful entertainment

Faultless J&W writing with just the occasional sense of being 21st century creation. Brilliantly read with perfect timing, nuance and intonation.
Excellently produced. (Although why does the author's post script run on without a breath from the final sentence of the book?).

More please!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Jeeves and the King of Clubs

An extremely witty and entertaining book
Found myself smiling, even laughing out loud
Excellent narration
So nice to find a clever, funny read

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great fun!

I really enjoyed this book. It captures the spirit of Plum brilliantly. As well as old friends, we’re introduced to new characters who are equally funny.
I enjoyed the narration and really hope that either Mr Schott, Sebastian Faulke or other authors will take us back into the world of Wodehouse in the near future

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great fun

A witty homage and yet different enough not to be poor pastiche. Enjoyed it a lot.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful