While I can sing an ode praising this book, let me get the one negative point away at the outset. The title… is chosen completely at random. It seems that Plum just ran out of titles for his stories and picked any convenient phrase out of the book.
The story… if one has to criticize it… is based on the usual Wodehouse formula. Someone has a money problem. Someone has a love problem. And everyone’s entangled in more ways than you can imagine. So I will commence upon my favourite exercise after reading a Wodehouse book, that is, trying to summarize the plot in a paragraph. I have had my Scooby snacks. Here goes.
Sir Buckstone Abbot, the apparently rich heir of the ancestral home, Walsingford Hall, is actually hard pressed for cash. And the only way out of his cash-flow problem is to sell his palatial house, which he runs as a sort of a motel, taking in spendthrift guests who are willing to pay a sum. The problem in selling the palace is that it has been hideously renovated, and it would take someone of eccentric tastes to buy a house like that. Thankfully Buck has found a customer, Princess Dwornitzzchek, who fits the bill. All of Buck’s hopes lie in keeping her happy. But the problem is that The Princess’ son, Tubby Vanringham, who is staying at Walsingford Hall, is sued by Buck’s secretary, and if the news reaches the Princess the deal would be off. So it is in the best interest of Buck that the paper server (for those who don’t know, paper server is the person who gives the court summons to the sued party. As it turns out, it is an adventure frought occupation) away from Tubby. The twist is that the paper server, Sam Bulpitt, is Buck’s brother-in-law, and while he goes about his job, also takes a liking to his niece, Jane Abbot, daughter of Buck. So another of Bulpitt’s agenda is to straighten out the love life of Jane, who is love with this Adrian fellow, who also secretly happens to be betrothed to the aforementioned Princess! Last but not the least, is our hero, if we can call him that, who also loves Jane and, without much success, tries to woo her. Our hero Joe, also is Tubby’s brother, and the estranged step-son of the Princess! That, pretty much completes the circle!!
Love triangles are all too common in Wodehouse books. But this one was exquisite. And the dynamics entirely different. I loved the way Joe went about wooing young Jane. While no single character is as forceful as a Bertie Wooster or PSmith or Galahad, the combination gives enough food for some extremely hilarious dialogue. The plot keeps getting more and more tangled, as only Wodehouse can manage. And gives a neat solution to all the problems in the end. There have been better climaxes to Wodehhouse books, but this one’s not far from the best.
Lovely book this one. A must read for Wodehouse fans!
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