Service with a Smile: (Blandings Castle)

Description

A Blandings novel The morning sun shone benignly down on Blandings Castle and the various inmates, their breakfasts digested, were busy with the tasks of the day. Beach the Butler was in his pantry reading an Agatha Christie; the Duke of Dunstable was spelling his way through The Times. Lady Constance, Lord Emsworth's sister, was in her boudoir writing a letter to her American friend, James Schoonmaker; and Lord Emsworth was making his way to the headquarters of the Empress of Blandings, his pre-eminent sow, three times silver medallist in the Fat Pigs Class at the Shropshire Agricultural Show. It was on this unsuspecting community that Frederick, fifth Earl of Ickenham, descended like a genial genie of the lamp. Accompanied by his young friend Bill Bailey he swept through the Castle like a cleansing fire, straightening the wayward path of love, despatching unwanted guests, and gracefully restoring to his host the wonder pig that evil men had sought to steal. And when these tasks were done his handsome face betrayed the pleasure he felt; Frederick, Earl of Ickenham, had given service with a smile.

The author of almost a hundred books and the creator of Jeeves, Blandings Castle, Psmith, Ukridge, Uncle Fred and Mr Mulliner, P.G. Wodehouse was born in 1881 and educated at Dulwich College. After two years with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank he became a full-time writer, contributing to a variety of periodicals. As well as his novels and short stories, he wrote lyrics for musical comedies, and at one stage had five shows running simultaneously on Broadway. At the age of 93, in the New Year's Honours List of 1975, he received a long-overdue Knighthood, only to die on St Valentine's Day some 45 days later.

It's dangerous to use the word genius to describe a writer, but I'll risk it with him -- John Humphrys For as long as I'm immersed in a P.G. Wodehouse book, it's possible to keep the real world at bay and live in a far, far nicer, funnier one where happy endings are the order of the day -- Marian Keyes Wodehouse always lifts your spirits, no matter how high they happen to be already -- Lynne Truss The incomparable and timeless genius - perfect for readers of all ages, shapes and sizes! -- Kate Mosse Not only the funniest English novelist who ever wrote but one of our finest stylists -- Susan Hill