Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen (1974)

Paperback

Language: English

Author: P G Wodehouse

It was first published in the UK in October 1974. It incidentally is the last novel by Wodehouse to feature the famed combination of Bertie Wooster & his butler Jeeves. And my third Wodehouse novel !!

Bertie Wooster gets into situations at the throw of a hat and you have Jeeves to his rescue. This episode is enabled by a doctor who advises Bertie to take a countryside vacation to mind his health. Which according to his assessment is on the edge thanks to Bertie’s smoking and drinking routine. So Bertie and Jeeves go to this little town near Somerset where his favorite Aunt Dahlia is also vacationing.

And then you have a girl who rejected Bertie’s advances, her villainous dad, a college mate who is now this girls love interest, a certain Major Plank who is of the opinion that Bertie is one dangerous crook called Alpine foe, the Briscoe’s who host Wooster and a cat which would be kidnapped to force a result in a horse race. All characters result in one classic comic-drama.

There are many who feel that “Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen” is not the best of Wodehouse, not as comical as some of his other works. But I felt this one has a nice plot, super story and multiple comic knots. Wodehouse’s writing style and his storytelling ability comes to the fore in this one as well.

A Super R. Time well S. Highly R !!