Reminiscing the life and legacy of humorist P.G. Wodehouse, half a century following his demise.
In the heart of Surrey, England, a literary legend was born. P.G. Wodehouse, the creator of the beloved Jeeves and Wooster, and Blandings Castle series, was born in Guildford in 1881. His parents lived in Hong Kong, where his father worked, and he was returned to England at the age of two, hardly seeing his parents until he was 15.
Wodehouse's literary career began in the world of musical theatre, with his involvement in over 50 dramatic works, mostly in collaboration. However, it was his novels that would make him a household name. Known for his intricate and detailed structures, Wodehouse often spent as much as one-third of the length of his novels planning and outlining.
One of his most admired works, Lord Emsworth and the Girl Friend, was praised by Rudyard Kipling as 'one of the most perfect short stories'. His writing was also appreciated by Bernard Levin, who described him as 'one of the finest and purest writers of English prose'. Evelyn Waugh even went so far as to say, 'one has to regard a man as a Master who can produce on average three uniquely brilliant and entirely original similes to every page.'
Despite his success, Wodehouse faced adversity. After his release from an internment camp during World War II, he faced a vituperative and dishonest campaign in Britain, denouncing him as a traitor and a Nazi. The British Government never officially exonerated Wodehouse, and the Cussen Report was not released in his lifetime.
Wodehouse's work was not without controversy. He was often suggested as the inventor of phrases like 'down to earth' and 'pain in the neck'. However, it is now widely accepted that these phrases predate his works and are generally considered idiomatic expressions in English. While Wodehouse is known for his creative and humorous use of language, including coining some novel words and phrases for literary effect, there is no precise count or authoritative source stating how many phrases he might have coined.
The family moved to Le Touquet in 1934 to escape double taxation. Despite this, Wodehouse often resorted to adapting or buying other's plots for his works outside the 'Jeeves & Wooster' and 'Blandings Castle' series. Even in the internment camp, Wodehouse gave well-received talks to his fellow internees.
Wodehouse was given a knighthood in the 1975 New Year's Honours, but he was too frail to attend the ceremony. He passed away on Valentine's Day 50 years ago, aged 93, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and literary brilliance that continues to be celebrated today.
[1] Sources: - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/aug/05/p-g-wodehouse-idiom-inventor - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22650700 - https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/98feb/9802wodehous/wodehous.htm - https://www.biography.com/writer/p-g-wodehouse - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/06/p-g-wodehouse-and-the-great-british-betrayal - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/03/p-g-wodehouse-the-man-who-loved-clotted-cream - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/mar/09/fiction.obituaries - https://www.britannica.com/biography/P-G-Wodehouse - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/interactive/10516844/P-G-Wodehouse-The-facts-of-his-life.html
- Despite the controversy over certain phrases attributed to him, Wodehouse's creative and humorous use of language, alongside coining novel words and phrases, remains an integral aspect of his literary brilliance.
- Wodehouse's knighthood in the 1975 New Year's Honours served as a recognition of the enduring legacy of laughter he left behind, a legacy that continues to be celebrated today in the world of entertainment.
