A Basketful of Plums: Volume I

On the occasion of the 140^th birth anniversary of P. G. Wodehouse, allow me to present a collection of a part of my blog posts on the Master Wordsmith of our times.

Many of my followers on social media keep complaining about suffering from dyspepsia of a Plummy kind. Even before they can devour a piece, a new one pops up. In the social media rapids, earlier posts are apt to sink without a trace rather promptly. Often, this leaves them disgruntled no end.

I hope this compilation would work like Mulliner’s Buck-U-Uppo, enabling fans of Plum to look up different blog posts at their own convenience and leisure, with a jaunty sang froid. I can readily imagine a reader, with this basket of plums by her side, relishing a single plum at a time while seated in her favourite rocking chair, with her preferred tissue restorative perched on a tiny table next to her.  

These essays have been grouped under different sections. Volume I, entitled ‘A Soulful Analysis of the Wodehousean Canon’, has the following sections:

In Jeeves We Trust

Of Mentally Negligible Masters

Women in Plumsville

Analysing The Code of the Woosters

Something Fresh Under the Lens

The Girl Friend and Lord Emsworth

When Cupid Strikes

Some Seasoned Romances

Shades of Plum in Some Movies

Hapless Rozzers and Stern Lion-tamers

Matrimonial Bliss

Rogue Kids

Napoleon and Shakespeare

Of Politicos

Canines, Felines and Others

If Volume I takes an analytical view of the Wodehousean canon, the upcoming Volume II, entitled ‘Pip pip’, comprises pastiches and some autobiographical posts. It endeavours to highlight the relevance of his narratives in the contemporary times.

Over the years, many fans of P. G. Wodehouse world over have contributed to the essays which form a part of this compilation.I am grateful for the affectionate support received. Thanks are also due to Mr. Kevin Cornell, Mr. Suvarna Sanyal and Wikipedia for the illustrations; to Ms. Sneha Shoney, who has edited the text; to Mr. S. K. Sarath Bharati and Mr. Sanket Bhatia for composing the text and finalizing the layout.  

This collection of essays is for private circulation only. The intention is not commercial but merely to share some thoughts regarding the oeuvre of P. G. Wodehouse.

Those who are keen on receiving a PDF version of Volume I may please mail a request to akb.usha1952@gmail.com. The PDF version can also be downloaded directly from here.

(Related Post:

The Indian Curry Dished Out by P. G. Wodehouse

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