A Pelican at Blandings: (Blandings Castle)

Description

A Blandings novel Midsummer at the Threepwood country seat, a whole world and its pigsty is at peace. And then crisis, wearing a variety of habits, saunters in to Castle Blandings and upsets the hard-won applecart of the peace-loving thirteenth Earl. Lady Constant nee Threepwood, formerly Keeble, now Schoonmaker, arrives unheralded from New York. Alaric, Duke of Dunstable, follows soon after and settles in the Garden Suite with no forseeable indication of quitting. Before he knows where he is Beach the Butler has a house party on his hands and Lord Emsworth has made the short journey to the end of his wits - a route hedged about with alarming symptoms in the pigsty, the sinister presence of an unaccredited American, and evidence that Blandings is to be the site of manifest sharp practice in the sale of a startling modern portrait of a nude (mistaken by Lord Emsworth for a pig). It is a situation which calls for a stouter heart and a stronger hand. Galahad Threepwood is listening to a godson's tale of stricken love for a niece of the Duke of Dunstable when the call comes.The last of the Pelicans, that unparalleled cadre of the young in heart and the fleet of foot of yesteryear, is on his way at once.

P. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) is widely regarded as the greatest comic writer of the 20th century. Wodehouse wrote more than 70 novels and 200 short stories, creating numerous much-loved characters - the inimitable Jeeves and Wooster, Lord Emsworth and his beloved Empress of Blandings, Mr Mulliner, Ukridge, and Psmith. His humorous articles were published in more than 80 magazines, including Punch, over six decades. He was also a highly successful music lyricist, once with over five musicals running on Broadway simultaneously. P.G. Wodehouse was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for 'an outstanding and lasting contribution to the happiness of the world'.

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