My Man Jeeves

By: P. G. Wodehouse

Narrated by: David Thorn

Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Wodehouse introduces us once again to the "wonder butler" Jeeves, who, as usual is able to solve any and all of Bertie Wooster's endless problems with ease and finesse. And he also introduces us to a character not dissimilar to Bertie . . . by name of Reggie. Such fun to follow Jeeves in the hijinks!

The stories include:

1. Leave it to Jeeves

2. Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest

3. Jeeves and the Hard Boiled Egg

4. Absent Treatment

5. Helping Freddie

6. Rallying Around Old George

7. Doing Clarence a Bit of Good

8. The Aunt and the Sluggard

P.G. Wodehouse

Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, (1881–1975) was a British novelist, short story writer, journalist, playwright, poet and lyracist, immensly popular for his sense of humor and mastery of language.

Best known for his Jeeves series, Wodehouse created the most resourseful and competent servant in literature, the word "Jeeves" itself has become part of the vernacular. Wodehouse also had great success as a musical theater lyricist, making contributions to "Show Boat" and "Anything Goes".

Born in England to a noble family, Wodehouse's writings reflected his background, a truly humourous perspective on the upper class. During a stay in Manhattan, Wodehouse met his wife and settled in New York, with a brief adventure in Hollywood to write screenplays. Living into his nineties, Wodehouse enjoyed the fruits of his labor and acclaim worldwide, a happy, funny man.

Public Domain (P)2007 Alcazar AudioWorks

not a fan of this narrator

Any additional comments?

I came this close (thumb and fore finger a half an inch apart) to missing out on Wodehouseian humor due to this narrator. By chapter two, all humor was lost to the annoying rolling of the "r's". I just couldn't take it any more. I switched it off, and removed it from my smart phone. I loaded "Right Ho, Jeeves" narrated by Jonathan Cecil and became a n instant fan of Wodehouse.

After finishing "Right Ho, Jeeves", I thought I would give this one a go one more time. Same thing, except now I was spoiled by Jonathan Cecil's narration. By the time I got to the second on third rolling r, I was done or undone, as it were.

Unfortunately, Jonathan Cecil did not narrate this book, but I am sure there are others who can bring Bertie and Jeeves to life in a humorous way.

Don't let this book turn you away from Wodehouse. Pass this one by, go directly to "Right Ho, Jeeves" narrated by Jonathan Cecil and experience Bertie, Jeeves, and the whole gang as they were meant to be.

Classic Jeeves stories, good Reggie Peppers

Really, if you want to read all the Jeeves stories, you COULD give this one a miss. The Bertie Wooster tales included here are available elsewhere, so unless you are looking for the Reggie Pepper tales (a sort of pre-Bertie character), go on to book 2. The 4 Jeeves stories are great, classic stories. The Reggie stories are good, but not fantastic. David Thorn, for some strange reason, fills Bertie's speech with rolling Rs, which can be annoying. Someone should get Hugh Laurie or Stephen Fry to read these stories!

Great stories, too bad the narrator is an idiot

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Wodehouse never disappoints, but the narrator's mannerisms can be distracting. I would recommend it with that caveat. The stories are fantastic. Maybe another recording with a different narrator.

Would you be willing to try another one of David Thorn’s performances?

NO. He rolls his "r's" in his normal speech. If he was doing it to illustrate a character, that would be one thing-- but the affectation of rolling "r's" is just too distracting. And seriously annoying.

Brilliantly narrated light reading

A lovely comic light reading. The book consists of several independent episodes, ideal for when you want some short "bedtime stories".

The narrator is brilliant.

OK Story with poor narration

Having heard many PG Wodehouse recordings, I was disappointed with this narration. There are other, much better versions of this same story available.

I loved the narrator!

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

Refreshing, fun, serendipitous

What did you like best about this story?

Thorn's narration and Bertie's outlook.

Which character – as performed by David Thorn – was your favorite?

Bertie

If you could take any character from My Man Jeeves out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Bertie, he would pay and maybe Jeeves would come along and solve a problem or two.

Any additional comments?

I found Thorn's narration to be perfect. I keep bookmarking sections to play for my wife. Thorn really brings the characters to life! Couldn't be better in my view. If I was reading the book vs. listening I wouldn't like it nearly as much.

Good, but stories repeated elsewhere

The only problem I had with this is that the Jeeves stories are repeated in "Carry on Jeeves".

Odd, fair enough, but not bizarre

I think Wodehouse's stories are wonderful and shure enough, Bertie is an oddball, but I don't think it deserves a reader that theatrical.

Early version of the character with overacting reader

This is a light salad of a book, for those occasions when a full meal is too much. The collection of stories are not connected, so they can be consumed in bits and in any order. It is mildly humorous without requiring great concentration to follow. As such, it can be a good break from heavier entanglements or when you have less time or attention to devote. But it is not Wodehouse's best.

Half the stories involve Reggie, a prototype character to the familiar Bertie Wooster. I wish I knew this at the outset, as I found it confusing, at first. More problematic was the reader's accent. Though I appreciated the constantly rolling "R's", at first, it felt tiresome and affected after a while.

JEEVES TO THE RESCUE

Christopher Hitchens was a great fan of the Jeeves series written by P. G. Wodehouse, published between 1911 and 1974. Amazon shows there are 46 books written with Jeeves as a main character in the Wodehouse series. After listening to the first book, one is inclined to believe Hitchens’ high praise is partly due to the story line.

The Jeeves’ series is about an upper class English character that chooses to move to New York to live as a wealthy New Yorker. Though Hitchens was not a wealthy Englishman when he arrived in New York, he did choose to become an American citizen. With Hitchens’ upper class English education, he undoubtedly had a keen understanding of Wodehouse’s skewering of the English upper class; particularly the ridiculously privileged and wealthy.

Hitchens’ fascinating mind and skill as an essayist of life, books, and politics suggests he knows more about the value of Wodehouse than this reviewer. Listening to another Wodehouse book remains in one’s mind; maybe not soon but certainly in the future. If Mark Twain is an acquired taste, so may be Wodehouse. One supposes Hitchens would not have cared one way or another about anyone else’s opinion.

Delightful stories, shame about reader

The stories are classic delightful Wodehouse. But the reader's decision to roll his Rs is unnecessary at best and very, very irritating at worst.

Good Clean Fun

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Jeeves and Wooster are surely one of literature's best comic creations. I never tire of hearing of Bertie's mishaps and the ingenious way that Jeeves gets him out of trouble. Each chapter tells a different story so the book can be picked up and put down at your leisure....perfect for a spot of ironing or a quick laze in the garden. This is Upper Class silliness at its best and I love PG's turn of phrase. I don't know whether these books are on any exam syllabus, but if they're not, they should be!

What other book might you compare My Man Jeeves to, and why?

None - it's unique (apart from other PG Woodhouse books).

What about David Thorn’s performance did you like?

He's BRILLIANT! I love the way Bertie rolls his Rs and the way he skillfully switches between Bertie and the deadpan Jeeves.

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

I'm halfway through and have laughed out loud on several occasions - take care when listening in public, although on the plus side, it should ensure that noone sits next to you on the bus!

Any additional comments?

Good clean fun - I loved it and highly recommend it.

disappointed

only two short stories jeeves and Wooster. the other stories were very disappointing no connection at all with heaves and Wooster.

dreadful reading

As a Brit I cannot place this ludicrous accent... What's all the rrrrrrrolled rrrrrs? Nobody does this except Scots.... Stories are great though and I guess you pay for what you get in terms of delivery