Mike and Psmith by P.G. Wodehouse

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


PG Wodehouse was one of the most famous authors of humorous novels during the Twentieth Century. He was also one of the most prolific. During the early part of his writing career, he was know for his Public School stories; tales based on his own experiences at the preparatory schools of England

PG Wodehouse introduced the characters Mike and Psmith to the world ten years before the appearance of the more famous characters Jeeves and Wooster. “Mike and Psmith” is the first appearance for the tall and stylish Psmith, and the second for the cricket-playing ace Mike. The novel was published in 1909, a scant 110 years ago.

Mike is the good-hearted sportsman, simple and straightforward. Psmith is wise beyond his years, fearless, and the devil’s own trouble maker when it comes to authorities. The young duo are set against school bullies, nasty headmasters, and conflicted loyalties. The plot seems relatively simple, right up until the point where the reader realizes that it is not simple at all. Which brings us to the ‘Wodehouse Method.’

PG Wodehouse had an interesting way of writing. When asked about the nuts and bolts of writing, he claimed that the devil was in the plot. When crafting a novel, he would first write a short plot outline. The second step in his method was a bare-bones novel, without dialogue or descriptions. These would typically run from twenty to thirty thousand words. This ‘pilot’ novel might take a year or more to complete. Once he was satisfied as to the lack of plot holes and whatnot, he would dash the thing off in short order. He often had three of four of these ‘pilot’ novels going simultaneously.

I feel I must add a caution at this point: There is a great deal of cricket in these novels. Readers from the Left Side of the Pond (The USA) may struggle a bit. Read on, read on, it is only a game. One will pick up some great cricket slang which may come in handy at a party or gathering. It is well to keep in mind that, even to this day, there are lands where cricket is closer to a religion than a sport. Try to do any sort of actual business in India or Pakistan when the national teams are playing and you will quickly find out the truth of it.

I wanted to broaden my horizons with regard to PG Wodehouse’s work and this novel did not disappoint. I admit that I could not stick it with “Mike,” simply because it was almost entirely devoted to cricket. Wodehouse himself mentions that in the preface to this volume. I have rollicked on with the second volume of Psmith, and I find them as engrossing and entertaining as the Jeeves and Wooster series. If a reader is interested in some of the other members of the Wodehouse menagerie, this is a very good place to start.

Brew up a nice pot of tea, settle in, and enjoy a well-crafted bit of time travel courtesy of this lovely novel. I am willing to bet most readers will be tempted to venture on into the next volume. Tally-ho!

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