Aunts Aren't Gentlemen

By: P. G. Wodehouse

Narrated by: Jonathan Cecil

Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

On doctor's orders, Bertie Wooster retires to sample the bucolic delights of Maiden Eggesford. But his idyll is rudely shattered by Aunt Dahlia who wants him to nobble a racehorse. Similar blots on Bertie's horizon come in the shape of Major Plank, the African explorer, Vanessa Cook, proud beauty and 'moulder of men', and Orlo Porter, who seems to have nothing else to do but to think of sundering Bertie's head from his body.

©2014 P.G. Wodehouse (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Brilliant comedy!

Expertly narrated by the inimitable J. Cecil. At the same time it highlights the hypocrisy of high society who do exactly what suits them.

Golden age of narration

Where does Aunts Aren't Gentlemen rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Everything I've read by Wodhouse is superior comic fiction. Aunts ranks with the others. Excellence is the mean.

What other book might you compare Aunts Aren't Gentlemen to and why?

At opposite extremes of genre, 'On The Road' by Kerouac is comparable for richness of language and simile

What about Jonathan Cecil’s performance did you like?

Cecil is one of the master performers in a golden age of naration. The ability to jump about among characters of different sexes, ages, ethnicities and backgrounds at a speed near that of silent reading is astounding.

If you could take any character from Aunts Aren't Gentlemen out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Bertie, because he could be bullied into picking up the tab.

Any additional comments?

American narrators seem to be a sort of second string who couldn't make it on television and settled for second best. British narrators appear to be specialists who love their art. If I am wrong then show me an American who can compete with Mr. Cecil, Miss May or Mr. Davidson. I am a patriotic American writing without prejudice.

Jonathan Cecil is always good reading Wodehouse

Would you consider the audio edition of Aunts Aren't Gentlemen to be better than the print version?

No - I love the print version, but it is so wondeful to be able to listen to a good book while doing boring chores.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Cecil’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes - he's consistenlty excellent.

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

If you can listen to Wodehouse without laughing, go to the doctor - your funny bone is broken

The Best Wodehouse Narrator

I enjoy P.G. Wodehouse and Wooster and Jeeves for a light humorous listen. Some narrators are not suited to these characters. But Jonathan Cecil is very good. I highly recommend his version of these books.

Another triumph

PG Wodehouse and Jonathan Cecil score another hit. Bertie Wooster once again gets himself tangled in a ghastly mess, this time involving a cat-loving horse and and aunt who, not being a gentleman, can't tell the difference between right and wrong (according to Hoyle). My face hurt from grinning so much.

With this audiobook, I've gone through all the Jeeves and Wooster stories - at least all the ones that are available from Audible. A number of gifted narrators have contributed to this collection: besides Cecil, who ranks as my favorite, there have been performances by Martin Jarvis, Ian Carmichael, and Dinsdale Landen. Smiles, chuckles, and congratulations all around. I can't wait to start all over again.

Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen; Cecil Isn’t Davidson

Yes, I enjoyed it. And I’ve reveled in Jonathan Cecil’s Wodehouse recordings for years. But with audiobooks a kind of Lorenzian imprinting takes place: the reader who introduced you to a particular story is usually the reader you prefer. And most of my early Wodehouse listening (including this one, under its American title, “The Cat-Nappers”) had Frederick Davidson at the mic.

Unfortunately, many of Davidson’s recordings are, like this one, unavailable as downloads. Nevertheless, pining for some fresh Bertie and Jeeves, I finally broke down. The problem is, I can’t forget how Davidson put more sarcasm into Aunt Dalia’s put-downs of Bertie, more knowing irony into Bertie’s responses to Herbert (“Billy”) Graham, Maiden Eggesford’s local poacher, and gave Dr. E. Jimson Murgatroyd a rich Scottish accent.

Nevertheless, this is the best available recording of this story. Being one of the first audiobooks I ever owned (on cassettes, so you know how long ago that was), I’ve always been partial to it. Being the last book the Master saw through the press, it may not be as good as Full Moon, Uncle Fred in the Springtime, or The Code of the Woosters, but well worth the price of admission. By the way, Cecil's performances of those last two titles (both available through Audible) are superb.

too short?

I can't put my finger on why this has been one of my least favs... Maybe that it is 2 hrs shorter? PGW's skill is word crafting. And anything ornate takes more work and time not less. That's my guess as to what was lacking... embellishment...

What a fine recording!

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

Yes, it is great fun and the narrator is terrific! He brings an extra bit of whimsy to the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All of them are fabulous and it is hard to pick only one.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Cecil’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes I have listened to other Jonathan Cecil recordings before and he is brilliant.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

British humor at it's finest!

Simply Brilliant

Virtuoso performance. Narrator understands the humour and delivers with perfect timing. I look forward to hearing any other book he performs.

A Belly-Laugh Book

Thoroughly enjoyable listening with many laughs. Found myself using some of Bertie's expressions - unintentionally - but what an entertaining writer Wodehouse was.