Aunts aren’t gentlemenI think it is really important to have someone, a writer someone obviously, that you can turn to when the world is getting a bit out of hand. For me that someone is Mr Wodehouse and in particular his Jeeves and Wooster novels. It is hard to explain just how much I enjoy these stories. Look, I can understand that some people might find them over-the-top and even a bit silly, perhaps even a lot silly – but I love the worlds Wodehouse creates, the worlds he brings me to when I read him. In many ways the books are all very similar to one another. There is a complication (or rather, a series of complications) that generally involves a relationship between a couple on the verge of marriage. The complication is always to do with them being kept apart or a misunderstanding that leads to an argument or some other standard device from romantic comedy. Then there are some other complications – often to do with a country fair or a horse race or a stolen painting that needs to be returned or any one of a dozen such concerns. Of course, these concerns are never about anything serious – nothing like cancer for example – they are always about things that can be fixed and will be fixed by the book’s end. And that is the point and that is the joy.I was talking to a friend about the books the other day and told her that the thing I love most about them is that Wooster has one of the greatest voices in literature. It is hard to say just why that might be the case. It is a bit like Dr Watson being the right person to tell the Holmes stories. The only one told by Holmes himself simply doesn’t work, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve read some short stories that are told by Jeeves and they didn’t have the same power or humour about them either. Wooster, you see, isn’t the smartest man in the world and he generally knows this – but he is rich and so he feels that he ought to assert himself for time to time. The problem is that Jeeves is a bit like Holmes, he is insanely clever (and so leaves Wooster trailing in his dust) but Wooster still needs to assert himself and when he does this invariably leads him and the story to the point of disaster. The point being that Jeeves then needs to come to the rescue, but only after leaving poor Wooster dangling over the abyss so that he understands the full implications of his rescue. Naturally, once ‘rescued’ Wooster is both infinitely grateful and nearly dumbfounded by the simplicity with which he has been extricated from what had just seemed utter catastrophe.There are running jokes, of course. Some of my favourites involve Shakespeare and in this novel Shakespeare appears frequently and at random. The best of these jokes involve Wooster either thinking something is a quote from Shakespeare that clearly is not (‘I love little pussy, her coat is so warm…’) or thinking that a quote from Shakespeare is actually something made up on the spot by the person speaking. There are remarkably clever lines in this book, lines that I wanted to remember and quote to you here and use as witty asides – but I have forgotten them all as the next laugh comes along.This is the last of this series of novels and one with all of the best elements of a good Wodehouse about it. It is impossible to be unhappy while reading a Wodehouse. They should prescribe him rather than anti-depressants, if you ask me. And of course, you didn’t.
Except for borrowing an occasional cup of sugar from one another and hulloing when we met on the stairs we had never been really close, he being a prominent figure at the Union, where I was told he made fiery far-to-the-left speeches, while I was more the sort that is content just to exist beautifully.Nor did we get together in our hours of recreation, for his idea of a good time was to go off with a pair of binoculars and watch birds, a thing that has never appealed to me. I can't see any percentage in it. If I meet a bird, I wave a friendly hand at it, to let it know that I wish it well, but I don't want to crouch behind a bush observing its habits.____________________________________________ "I don't suppose you have ever done anything worthwhile in your life."I could have made her look pretty silly at this juncture by revealing that I had won a Scripture Knowledge prize at my private school, a handsomely bound copy of a devotional work whose name has escaped me.____________________________________________ "I'm not so sure you are good old Bertie. More like a snake who goes about the place robbing men of the women they love, if you ask me.""Certainly not," I protested, learning for the first time that this was what snakes did.____________________________________________ "You have many faults, of course. I shall be pointing some of them out when I am at leisure. For one thing," she said, not waiting till she was at leisure, "you smoke too much. You must give that up when we are married. Smoking is just a habit. Tolstoy," she said, mentioning someone I had not met, "says that just as much pleasure can be got from twirling the fingers."My impulse was to tell her Tolstoy was off his onion, but I choked down the heated words. For all I knew, the man might be a bosom pal of hers and she might resent criticism of him, however justified.____________________________________________ "Oh, you met her last night?""Shortly after I left you. She was taking a stroll preparatory to going to bed and bedewing her pillow with salt tears.""Why should she do that?""Because she thought she was going to marry you.""I see. The fate that is worse than death, you might say.""Exactly."____________________________________________ Plank was plainly shaken. He could not pale beneath his tan because he had so much tan that it was impossible to pale beneath it. I'm not sure I have put that exactly right. What I mean is that he may have paled, but you couldn't see it because of his sunburn.
What do You think about Aunts Aren't Gentlemen (1977)?
I listened to the audio book and the narrator - using different voices and accents for the various characters - added even more fun to this humorous book. The story: Bertie Wooster, advised by his doctor to get a rest, rents a cottage in the country. As it turns out, all manner of Bertie's former acquaintances, most of whom he'd rather not see, are in the area. These include: Vanessa Cook - a strong-minded girl who turned down Bertie's marriage proposal; Orlo Porter, Vanessa's current boyfriend - who's ready to throttle Bertie over Vanessa; Captain Plank - a hot-tempered hunter who thinks Bertie is the notorious thief Alpine Joe; and more. Bertie's Aunt Dahlia is also vacationing in the area and - having received a tip on a horse race - bet every cent she has on Simla. Too late, Aunt Dahlia learns that Simla has a worthy opponent named Potato Chip. As it happens Potato Chip has fallen in love with a local cat who sleeps in his stall, and the consensus is that Potato Chip will lose the race if the cat disappears. So Aunt Dahlia and other interested parties hatch up a scheme to kidnap and hide the cat until the race is over. Bertie, against his moral code and better judgement, is drawn into this scheme. Of course the various attempts at cat-napping and then cat-returning cause all manner of hilarious problems. Through it all Bertie's valet/butler Jeeves - who barely raises an eyebrow even when he finds Bertie tied up and gagged - keeps a straight face and a stiff upper lip.This is a fun story filled with cases of mistaken identity, misunderstood intentions, shifting marriage engagements, and a cat with a mind of his own. Wodehouse has a gift for comedic writing and every scene in the book draws at least a smile. Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster/Jeeves books are just what you need when you're in the mood for a light read. Highly recommended.
—Barbara
A case of pink spots on Bertie's chest (maybe it's a touch of malaria, who's to say?) sends him to the country on doctor's orders to rest and relax. Rest and relax? If you've ever read a Wodehouse, you know that's not bloody likely.Troublesome aunts, daffy explorers, strong-willed dames along with their ardent suitors, crusty landlords, and charming cats all conspire against poor old Bertie Wooster. His butler Jeeves seems to be his only ally in this perpetually-yet-vaguely 1920s, god-help-us world. Wodehouse did it again! Well into his Jeeves & Wooster series, the insanely prolific writer of the early-to-mid 20th century churned out another quality book replete with a finely paced plot, delightfully nutty characters and enough laughs to fill The Laugh Factory with wall-to-wall guffaws. At this point, I'm predisposed to enjoy anything by Wodehouse, so perhaps The Cat-Nappers has received a gratuitous star in the ratings from me. If you're already a fan, this will crank your chucklebox. If you're new to Wodehouse, I might suggest -NAY!- I would suggest starting with something else. Go ahead, ask me. I'm full of suggestions!READER'S NOTE: The Cat-Nappers is alternately titled Aunts Aren't Gentlemen.
—Jason Koivu
"Aunt Dahlia is as good a sort as ever said 'Tally Ho' to a fox, which she frequently did in her younger days when out with the Quorn or Pytchley. If she ever turned into a werewolf, it would be one of those jolly breezy werewolves whom it is a pleasure to know." (27)" 'What asses horse are, Jeeves.'" 'Certainly their mentality is open to criticism, sir.' " (49)"So stung was the Wooster pride by the thought of being slung out at her bidding from my personal cottage that it is not too much to say that my blood boiled, and I would probably have said something biting like 'Oh,yes?', only I felt that a pieux chevalier, which I always aim to be, ought not to crush the gentler sex beneath the iron heel, no matter what the provocation." (69)
—Kellyann
