Heavy Weather

by P. G. Wodehouse

Overview

“The gardens of Blandings Castle are that original garden from which we are all exiled. All those who know them long to return.” —Evelyn Waugh

When Lord Tilbury receives a letter from Galahad Threepwood stating he will no longer be publishing his memoir, he decides to travel to Blandings Castle and steal the manuscript. But he isn’t the only one after the memoir. Sir Gregory Parsloe-Parsloe and Lady Constance Keeble are also trying to lay their hands on it to prevent Ronnie Fish and Sue Brown from getting married. Monty Bodkin, Lord Emsworth’s new secretary, is also after the manuscript in order to secure a year’s employment at the Mammoth Publishing Company. Who will get their hands on the manuscript? Only the Empress of Blandings knows!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393341607
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	07/02/2012
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	668,751
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

P. G. Wodehouse was born in England in 1881 and in 1955 became an American citizen. He published more than ninety books and had a successful career writing lyrics and musicals in collaboration with Jerome Kern, Guy Bolton, and Cole Porter, among others.

Date of Birth:

October 15, 1881

Date of Death:

February 14, 1975

Place of Birth:

Guildford, Surrey, England

Place of Death:

Southampton, New York

Education:

Dulwich College, 1894-1900

Editorial Reviews

Of the many books that should never be abridged, Wodehouse's brief novels lead the pack; people read them for their brilliant dialog and verbal imagery and are in no rush to get to the end. Case in point is this hilarious fifth "Blandings Castle" title, first published in 1933, whose delightfully convoluted plot needs more, not less, exposition. Actor Martin Jarvis's narration lends this production the feel of a feast, but listeners will be aggrieved not to be getting the full meal. As good as this recording is, Blackstone Audio's unabridged version, read by Frederick Davidson and currently available only on cassette, is the better of the two. [A Pelican at Blandings (1969), the 14th title in this series, is also available from CSA Word.—Ed.]—R. Kent Rasmussen, Thousand Oaks, CA

Library Journal

Quite simply a pleasure and delight from start to finish.

audiobooksreview.co.uk

Each character comes live with Jarvis' expert interpretations.

Audiofile Magazine

An idyllic world of sublime comedy. No better place to escape.

The Sunday Times

Absolutely spiffing.

Publishing News

Continuing where SUMMER LIGHTNING left off, Martin Jarvis expertly narrates Wodehouse's 1933 comic novel about shenanigans among the inmates of Blandings Castle. Lord Emsworth's sisters are adamant that nephew Ronnie Fish not marry a chorus girl. As in nearly all Wodehouse stories, there are complications of theft and star-crossed love running through the plot. With the possible exception of the attractive chorus girl, Sue Brown, Jarvis's accents and characterizations are spot-on. As he weaves seamlessly from the doddering Lord Emsworth to his dandy brother, Galahad, from butler to games keeper to tawdry private detective, Jarvis nails down the subtleties of British class distinction, giving appropriate lilts, mumbles, and drones to each. While the story follows standard Wodehouse formulas, it’s a laugh-aloud masterpiece brought to life by Jarvis. S.E.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

JULY 2009 - AudioFile