Piccadilly
Jim is a
novel by P. G. Wodehouse, first published in the United
States on February 24, 1917 by Dodd, Mead and Company, New York, and in the
United Kingdom in May 1918 by Herbert
Jenkins, London. The story had previously appeared in the US in the Saturday Evening Post between 16
September and 11 November 1916.
It does not feature Bertie and Jeeves; instead we get to
meet Jimmy Crocker and Ann Chester, besides a whole bunch of people, of course.
There is an admirable butler character as well: Bayliss.
Though a fairly
early Wodehouse novel, I enjoyed every page of this quick-paced story peppered
with fun characters and clever plot twists. At the end of it I can only marvel
at Wodehouse's ability to come up with such clean, entertaining stories. No
toilet humour, no unnecessary innuendos, just good ol' fun topped with
delightful conversations... and some superb turn of the phrase.
What more could a
book-loving worm want?!
Here's a glimpse: James
Braithwaite Crocker aka Jimmy Crocker has a scandalous reputation on both sides
of the Atlantic, due to his some-time playboy ways, over-drinking habits and
penchant for getting into scuffles. The combined effects of which fouls up his snooty,
social-climbing stepmother, Eugenia van Brunt's plans: of becoming a leading
figure in London society and turning her second husband (Jimmy's ordinary baseball-loving
father - Bingley Crocker) into Lord Crocker. [Bingley was a snapper-up of whatever small character parts the gods provided.] However, the future baron himself is
yet to recover from the spasm of having discovered that fate had placed him,
bound and helpless, in a country where they called baseball rounders and
played it with a soft ball and a racket. The shocker for him was
that: he finally understood how utterly alone he was in an alien land, after
having lived a full five years in stiff-upper-lip-country! His better half
though, was blissfully oblivious of all such inane matters and instead, doggedly
went about lobbying and networking. That Eugenia was making admirable progress can
be gauged from the fact that her friends were English, and every year more
exclusively of England's aristocracy. She knew the right people, lived in
the right square, said the right things and thought the right thoughts.
So, blaming
himself for all the mess, Jimmy decides to move to New York... where he was once a
newspaperman writing a society column under the byline "Piccadilly Jim". The
newspaper though, continued running the column (minus Jimmy), as a 'tribute' to
his notoriety. So effective was the column (rather Jimmy's writing) that the
lines blurred... making Jimmy synonymous with "Piccadilly Jim". [And that
perhaps effectively put an end to any flickering hopes of a career revival as a
newspaperman/column writer.]
On his way to New York he meets the refined red-gold
haired Ann Chester, whose company he is eager to cultivate. But all his
daydreams are dashed when he hears her say that she already hates Jimmy
Crocker, besides other things of course. Such as: 'Jimmy Crocker is a worm!' (Which
causes Jimmy to spill his cocktail). 'I despise him more than anyone on earth.
I hate to think that he's an American.' (Which makes him to drink the few drops
that remained in his glass, partly to make sure of them, partly as a
restorative... since it is an unnerving thing to be despised by a red-haired
girl whose life he has just saved.) 'He's always drinking...' (Which makes him to set
down his highball - hurriedly.)
Stumped, since he is certain he has never met her, he
embarks on an elaborate charade and poses as the upright and beloved son (Algernon
Bayliss) of his own butler (Bayliss). Someone who is setting out - with his father's
blessings - for the new world, where dollar bills grew on trees. [Algernon, though, sounds like the name of some exotic fern, no?]
Once in New York, he gets into yet another elaborate
charade: that of posing as "Jimmy Crocker" - in his aunt's house - this time
with Ann's collaboration.
His aunt, Nesta Pett, is quite a
formidable character and a staunch rival of (Jimmy's stepmother) Eugenia - in the
social-climbing stakes. [Nesta and Eugenia are sisters.]
Here he is introduced to Nesta's
toothless-tiger-hidden-dragon of a husband (and Ann's beloved uncle) - Mr.
Peter Pett, the well-known financier, and his stepson - the bulging-from-all-sides,
carrying-food-in-his-pocket, munching machine and first-class cigarette pincher
- the very obnoxious Ogden.
There are several other
occupants in this leading eyesore of a house, including some freeloaders with
high pretensions of being would-be literary greats, besides an ex-boxer with a crushed
proboscis (Jerry Mitchell, now Mr. Pett's physical instructor) and his ladylove
- Celestine (Mrs. Pett's maid). There's a barking occupant too, Aida - Mrs.
Pett's beloved poodle - who mostly prefers to bark from the shelter of Mrs.
Pett's arms and snap at people's heels (when out of it).
There's a new butler by the name Skinner; he's efficient and a great fan of baseball...
Anything more
would spoil the fun. So, grab this book and read, re-read, or re-re-re-re-read. :) Each page elicits a smile, a grin, and a
giggle or makes you laugh out loud. The story has many layers and each layer is
as delightful (if not more) as the previous one.
Sample these: #1. Solvency shone from the closely
shaven faces of the men and reflected itself in the dresses of the women.
#2. Men with new religions greeted women with new
hats.
This is superb
Wodehouse. This is classic Wodehouse. Elegantly written, exquisitely crafted, endlessly
amusing, languorously witty, surprisingly wise and funnily funny.
The satire on the stiff-upper-lip stratosphere is
unmistakable... and delightful. After five novels and a
collection of ten short stories, I thought I'd tasted most of that word-magician par excellence, P.G.
Wodehouse's best cooking. Big mistake. If you are a connoisseur of good
writing, you'll relish this one. It's not a book that you finish reading in a
jiffy or even in a couple of days. Not even in 3/4 days for that matter. You want to take your time and relish the language, the
literature and the play of words.
Verdict: This is a book to be savoured
slowly. Yum!
The book jacket cover is quite well done;
it shows (rather purports to show) old Mr. Bayliss, not in the pink of condition, but
striding out gallantly nevertheless - in order to hand back the crisp five-pound
note that his 'son' has so generously given him. He succeeds, leaving Jimmy
Crocker aka Algernon Bayliss with a lump in his throat.
The production quality of the book is good;
I don't recall any editing errors either.
My two pence worth: These Wodehouse novels make a
nice add-on to my bookshelf... and also to my blog.
Wodehouse
+ Random House = great combo, right?
Though I am absolutely
clueless about how far the preparation to welcome a certain Penguin into a
Random House has come about. But then, since Penguins cannot get into any
random house, wonder whether it will be igloo soon? :)
Details of the book: Piccadilly Jim/ Author:
P.G. Wodehouse/ Publisher: Arrow, an imprint of Random House/ Binding:
Paperback/ Publishing Date: 01/08/2008/ Genre: Classics/ ISBN-10: 978-0-09-951388-9/
ISBN-13: 9780099513889/ Pages: 300/ Price: $19.95
Picture: The
book jacket cover of Piccadilly Jim. Courtesy: link.
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