Eggs, Beans and Crumpets - P.G. Wodehouse

A collection of Wodehouse short stories are always a delight to read. Bingo Little, Bertie’s childhood friend stars in many of the stories in his book. He is married to a novelist named Rosie M. Banks. How he managed to pull that one off, I will never really understand. Anyways, granting that as one of those things that have to be for a story to be told – like superman can fly for all the superman stories – Bingo has developed this gambling habit (don’t remember him having that in any of Wooster/Jeeves stories) and keeps getting into trouble by betting on horses which finish last and those sort of things. Of course at times he does win, like this historic moment at the roulette table which you can read about in the book and it really makes you feel happy for him, regardless of his dog-napping antics. Eventually he does turn a good leaf and finds himself a respectable job. Wonder if he would ever publish a book that I might write.
There are some other stories featuring one time stars – or at least people who I don’t really recognize from other stories – in their romantic tangles and trust funds and inheritances. These are as rib tickling as any Wodehouse stories.
And then to top it off the book concludes by some stories of the most delightful conman, Ukridge. Corky and him make a great inseparable twosome. His “Buttercup day” day scam in the book is pure genius. Not that he is too well off after that, but what the heck, Corky will keep him afloat so no worries. Had the Ukridge-Corky stories been popularized enough they might have rivaled Laurel and Hardy in their own way. Well for now, I am fine with enjoying them in the books.

Ukridge - P.G. Wodehouse

Stanley Featherstonehaugh (it’s supposed to be pronounced as Fanshawe. I don’t know why though) Ukridge is one of the most delightful scums you will ever run into. He is a wily opportunist, whom fate never seems to favor. But he is undeterred nonetheless, and never loses his optimism in the face of stormy weather. That is, in a nutshell, Ukridge for you.

Ukridge has a friend who always holds him in good stead; a Mr. Corcoran, or as Ukridge calls him, Corky. All the stories in the book are narrated in first person by Corcoran. Corky has witnessed the blossoming of Ukridge from a little child to a shrewd man. And there are but a few changes in the character of his childhood friend over the years. And Ukridge demonstrates his flair to earn a quick buck, or get screwed trying to, in the stories in this book.

The grand plans include training pet dogs amusing tricks, being a manager of a sentimental and a moody boxer, swindling insurance companies and so on. But lest you lable him as a money hungry, corrupt, immoral swine, let me also point that there are a handful of anecdotes which highlight the nobility of this fellow. He is the kind who helps out his friends in need and damsels in distress. He therefore comes up with an ingenious plan to finance a girl 100 pounds when she needs them and goes all the long way to help his friend win an election. Now wouldn’t you call that angelic?

Accompanying Ukridge are several other characters which make this book a delight to read. Amongst them my favourite were the two other stars, Corky, and his land-lord, an ex-butler who looks upon Ukridge like the son he never had. Corky has a dry, sarcastic sense of humour that I could really relate to. And even though he is not that well off, he always has a few coins or even socks to lend to Ukridge. That is the material good friends are made of. There are other characters of course who contribute to your laughter in their own way. Tying them all up is Ukridge, whose adventures, will blow away the dark clouds wandering over your heads and lighten up your day.