Product Description

A tome of well-mannered high comedy, from the "unrivaled master of the comedy of manners" (Entertainment Weekly)

In Aunts Aren't Gentlemen Bertie Wooster withdraws to the village of Maiden Eggesford on doctor's orders to "sleep the sleep of the just and lead the quiet Martini-less life." Only the presence of the irrepressible Aunt Dahlia shatters the rustic peace. A classic-the last book written by Woodhouse featuring Bertie and Jeeves.

With each volume edited and reset and printed on Scottish cream-wove, acid-free paper, sewn and bound in cloth, Aunts Aren't Gentlemen and the rest of the Wodehouse novels published by the Overlook Press are elegant additions to any Wodehouse fan's library.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47234 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 178 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781590201657
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"Could a P.G. Wodehouse revival be more timely? Overlook Press, which is reissuing Wodehouse's comic novels, clearly has its finger on America's pulse....With its sumptuously bound editions, Overlook Press has done the master proud." -Los Angeles Times

"All one can do is read [the Wodehouse books] is read them and laugh like an idiot. To assist you in this, the Overlook Press is publishing a set of clothbound collector's editions of the master's work. They're beautiful books, much welcome." -Bookforum

About the Author
P.G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) was born in Surrey, educated in London, and spent much of his time in Southampton, Long Island, becoming an American citizen in 1955. In a literary career spanning more than seventy years, he published more than ninety books, twenty film scripts, and collaborated on more than thirty plays and musical comedies.

Customer Reviews

Final Visit from Jeeves and Bertie
Aunts Aren't Gentlemen is P.G. Wodehouse's very last story about Bertie Wooster and his stoically brilliant gentleman's personal gentleman, Jeeves. In fact, when the original book, under the title "The Catnappers," was published in the USA in 1975, the cover noted that the author had very recently "died in his sleep." He was 93 and never retired from writing his non-scathing satire of the British leisure class.

This gentle book opens with a fairly jarring scene as Bertie, motoring to a Dr. Murgatroyd to have a suspicious rash diagnosed, finds himself trapped in a near-riotous demonstration -- this is the 70's, you know -- and thus begins the set-up of the complications that will ensue as Bertie makes his way to a vacation spot to cure the spots.

Things settle down, a complicated but easy to follow plot unfolds, Jeeves ties up the many loose ends, and there are laughs aplenty as comeupances come up and young (though less attractive than usual) love triumphs.

As the final appearance of Jeeves and Bertie makes this a bittersweet but historic volume, I give it 5 stars. It would otherwise have gotten 4 since characterizations are not Wodehouse strong, and a little laziness creeps into the narrative in spots.

This novel was published almost simultaneously with the terrific BBC TV series Jeeves and Wooster starring the fabulous team of Hugh Laurie (now Dr. House!) and Stephen Fry (see him in 2009's "Bones"). The book hit No. 1 in England and was popular in the US as well. It stands as a lovely memorial to an inspired fictional creation by the inspiring P.G. Wodehouse.Your Voice Is Your Business

The Cat-nappers!
P.G. Wodehouse's best stories are invariably those that involve the butler Jeeves helping the scatterbrained and easy-living Bertie Wooster escape from the fickle hand of fate and his own pranks. Aunts Aren't Gentlemen focuses on Bertie being at the wrong place at the wrong time and being constantly in the soup because of what others do. He valiantly launches forward and needs less help than usual to remain the carefree bachelor about town.

The Cat-nappers starts off innocently enough as Bertie finds himself with disturbing pink spots on his chest. Seeking out a physician's counsel, Bertie gets more than he bargained for when he bumps into Vanessa Cook (who had turned down his marriage proposal the year before) and O.J. (Orlo) Porter (former dorm mate at Oxford who favored left-wing causes) as they lead a protest march that stalls Bertie's car. Porter hops in the car to escape the Bobbies and sells Bertie some life insurance. Porter turns out to be in love with Ms. Cook and is very jealous of anyone who might have an interest in her. At the doctor's office, Bertie runs into Major Plank who had once tried to have Bertie arrested. Fortunately, Plank cannot remember who he is . . . but it's a narrow escape. The doctor tells Bertie the spots will go away, but Bertie's health needs are not being met. He suggests a trip to someplace quiet in the country.

Naturally, Bertie thinks of his Aunt Dahlia and the wonderful meals he always enjoys when he visits her. But she's off visiting elsewhere. She does offer to take a cottage for Bertie so he can visit with her.

Once there, things go badly downhill. Naturally, Bertie does it to himself to some extent. Ignoring Jeeves's advice, he takes a wrong turn and ends up with a nasty scare. From there, the complications build to their humorous conclusion as cat thieves, bettors, lovers, churchmen and angry horsemen blunder about in silly circles that provide much delight to the reader. Naturally, Bertie's always at the wrong place at the wrong time . . . but at the right place at the right time to make us laugh!

One of the special charms of this story is that Bertie tries very hard to do the right thing . . . and finds it exceptionally difficult to do so.

As the book ends, Bertie notes that the problems with the world boil down to the comment that "Aunts Aren't Gentlemen."

Peace is what you carry with you.