The humorist goes sentimental. Review on Uncollected Wodehouse, The - P.G.Wodehouse

I do not know what always draws me to Wodehouse - it may be the comfort of the Wodehousian world where there is always a silver lining inspite of the glowering and dark clouds. May be its the comforting warmth of the secluded world that Wodehouse created. There are excellent and brilliant books from the WOdehousian library. So magnetic is the charm of Wodehouse that I feel compelled to review his works for a second time. In my first review I waxed eloquent on the lyrical qualities of his works. In this review I intend to bring out the sentimental streak that sums up Wodehouse as a person.

There is a collection of short stories - LORD EMSWORTH ACTS FOR THE BEST - in which Lord Emsworth and the Girlfriend, is supposed to be one of Plum's most autobiogrpohical works to date.

All the stories are heart rending and moving, generously sprinkled with the humour that defines Wodehouse - you come across Lord Emsworth finding life difficult in America, he misses his usual e & b and is craving for his stately home back in England, where men are men. You have this demure and petite lady who comes selling books and whom he offers to help. There is a hilarious interlude when Clarence(Lord Emsowrth) delivers his sales talk. The absent minded Earl actually makes a handsome sale and All is Well. I do not intend to delve upon the plot in detail for two reasons - I cannot do justice to the Master's works and the plot should not be revealed.

You have the beautiful tale of Emsworth who actually looks his head gardener in the eye and the scene when the little girl's hands rests in the aged hands of Emsworth evokes a moving picture of the real plum enjoying a happy moment with his grand daughter - thats about the closest that you will get to Plum's actual life. You feel the tears welling up in your eyes as the scene unfolds and suddenly the tears change to tears of mirth - Vintage wodehouse - he can make you cry laughing.

Though this is a fantastic story, the real story unfolds in'CRIME WAVE AT BLANDINGS'. The introduction is superb - Wodehouse elicits an argument on what the reader wants - he poses a very relevant question that challenges the mindset of the readers. You see the beautiful rising turrets of Blandings castle, you comes across the portly figure of Beach, you comes across Angela and in general Blandings castle in its splendor and pristine glory.

But no landscape is perfect. Sounding across moors comes a revving noise when the Efficient Baxter's motorcycle bursts into the scene. Baxter who is touring the English countryside on his motorcycle makes a sudden appearance in Blandings much to the chargin of Lord Emsworth. Clarence despises Baxter and is fervently praying for Baxter to leave the place at the earliest.

Lurking around the grounds of the Blandings castle vastness is Lord Emsworth's grandson, who is out to enjoy his holidays to the core. He entertains himself with his bow and arrows and reaches the pinnacle of archery when he espies the voluptous bottom of Baxter as he bends to pick a cigarette stub.'Plonk' goes the bow string and the arrow meets Baxter as he bends - catching him in the full on his ample bottom. A yelp cuts across the air and the purple faced baxter becomes an Archer's targets. Whats more funny is that most of the archery exploits do not seem unconnected with his trouser seats.

Well, enough ois enough and I do not want to unravel the criminal events that transpire in Blandings. But as we move towards the end of the short story, you see the tougher side of Clarence. In the place of a cowering brother, Connie witnesses a towering brother. In the place of a man who always looks lost without his spectacles, Beach witnesses an employer whose eyes flash fire. You see the hard side of Emsworth. But in line with his soft character this tough streak does not last long.

The ending lines are beautiful - an Emsworth who gazes with pride at his handiwork, a butler who gazes at his employer with awe, the pest is removed and Baxter is off - Blandings castle is itself once again.

I have read and re-read the ending. The beauty and the poignancy of the situation is melancholic. The story builds up like a giant tornado, gathering momentum and engulfing our attention as it rages along its way and then it subsides, slowly and mildly. Then the wind slows down, the rain stops and the first semblance of the rainbow appears on the horizon. The pristine air smells so fresh that you know that everything is well. The Wodehousian world is back to normal.

Have you ever had the experience of walking down a staircase in the dark - you grope your way in the dark and then you tread carefully. You know that you have reached the end of the staircase and you put your foot forward in anticipation - there where the proverbial last step should be, you encounter a void and you land with a thud. The force awakens you and you know that the dream is over. I had a similar experience with this book of Wodehouse - I was lost in this book and was actually shaken and taken aghast to find that the stories had ended. As the saying goes - Nothing lasts forever.

Wodehouse, Wodehouse, wodehouse - wow, wow. I will never ever tire of Wodehouse. When you are down in the dumps or when you get the feeling of being defeated you know what the antidote is - yes you are right, its WODEHOUSE