I'll Be Dashed: A Wodehouse Podcast

After a hiatus that was entirely Scott's fault, Robyn and Scott are back with another episode, this time talking about the short story collection, Blandings Castle and Elsewhere. The collection has six Blandings Castle stories, five Mr. Mulliner stories, and, much to Scott's consternation, one Bobbi Wickham story. As a special bonus for having to wait so long for this episode to appear, we've added even more going off the rails, including a discussion of sharts and Robyn believing that Wodehouse decided to add hallucinogens to the equation. Note: There are some slight issues with Scott's microphone, particularly in the latter half of the episode. Scott really boffed it.

In this episode, Robyn and Scott discuss Right Ho, Jeeves, Wodehouse's second Jeeves and Wooster novel. This is also the first book discussed in the podcast for which Scott told Robyn she needed to be the voice of reason, because this book, probably more than any other, makes Scott very, very angry. If listening to a middle-aged man rant about the actions perpetrated against a fictional character in a book published nearly a century ago is your thing, then this podcast will be your jam. Just don't let Angela see you eating it, because she will say something. To be fair, she might say something even if you aren't eating it.

This episode, Robyn and Scott talk about the Tales of St. Austin's, a collection of school stories published in 1903, only Wodehouse's second published books. It's about teenage boys who don't want to do school work and who do want to play rugby, and it's absolutely Robyn's favorite thing ever. That couldn't possibly be sarcasm, could it? Look, there's a reason this podcast didn't go through the books in chronoligical order. If Scott forced Robyn to read that many school books in a row, this podcast would never have lasted. You know what else didn't last? Robyn's spirit. Listen to it ebb away as we go through 12 short stories--and then finish up it with four essays about avoiding school work, footnotes, cricket, and the book Tom Brown's School Days, which we had never heard of before. Also, find out what a note-taking nerd Robyn is.

Robyn and Scott discuss The Girl in Blue, Wodehouse's 1970 novel, which, unlike most Wodehouse books, appears to be a book of its time. Although it's slightly shorter than most podcast episodes, we do seem to be able to go off on a lengthy tangent rather spectacularly. Is the American sitcom Gomer Pyle USMC a basis for one of the characters? Did Barney actually shoplift anything, or was she just the scapegoat? Justice for Barney! And justice for Homer! Do you feel like you don't know enough about Robyn's dietary restrictions? You will now. Also, Scott realizes he got what an orange pip is incorrectly.

In this episode, Scott and Robyn talk about Piccadilly Jim, a novel in which Ogden Ford from The Little Nugget is once again the target of kidnapping plans, by people who should know better since they know him. Not that the kidnapping is wrong (thought it is), but because Ogden is the worst. Or perhaps a teenager's poetry is the worst. Or is it the worst a person who criticized your poetry so hurtfully that you still hate him five years later--but don't apparently remember what he looks like? We cover these topics, as well the fine art of children discipline and marriage dynamics.

The third novel published by PG Wodehouse is a short school story that nevertheless is able to fit 43 different speaking characters into it--most of who have a large part to play in it. Robyn and Scott spend way too long trying to figure out exactly what sport the students are playing. Robyn wonders if Wodehouse is the Shakespeare of the early 20th Century when it comes to making his own phrases. Scott feels like there actually IS a good time to bully someone. And both of them wonder is a lie of omission should still be seen as a lie.

This episode Robyn and Scott talk about Heavy Weather, the sequel to Summer Lightning, in which everyone seems to show up at Blandings Castle, preventing Lord Emsworth from spending time in his garden and with his prize pig. Sue is somehow still with Ronnie, and now Monty Bodkin takes over the job of Lord Emsworth's secretary. Does Pilbeam have a drinking problem? Is Constance approaching Lord Emsworth to get him to do what she wants? Who would marry someone with the name Gertrude Butterwick? Will people stop trying to kidnap the Empress of Blandings? We tackle these and other questions in our podcast.

This episode, Robyn and Scott discuss Wodehouse's first Jeeves and Wooster novel, Thank You, Jeeves. We discuss what it means to use harsh language in the early 20th Century, how smart Bertie Wooster actually is, how a garage between houses can survive a fire, whether petrol is butter is better for removing markings on the skin, and that poor Bertie just needs to be allowed to eat his darn breakfast.

Note: Sorry for the delay in episodes. We have been recording them. I've just been way behind on editing and posting them. I will be uploading more episodes in the next month or so to catch up and hopefully get back on our once a month schedule.This episode Scott and Robyn discuss Meet Mr. Mulliner, a collection of nine short stories told by the fisherman Mulliner. This inevitable leads us to get sidetracked by our usual debate of whether or not people can actually crawl up water pipes. Robyn expresses her view that hitting people is fine, but not animals (they should only be "redirected"). Scott makes an inappropriate joke about the Grand Canyon.

The Adventures of Sally is one of PG Wodehouse's few books with a female main character (several are mentioned in the podcast, but one that wasn't is Doctor Sally--who is an entirely different Sally). Even though both Scott and Robyn enjoyed the novel, it isn't (as most books both generally enjoy) significantly shorter, in part because of discussion of whether or not The Adventures of Sally is Wodehouse's attempt at a thriller or horror novel. It might be.

This month we speak about Psmith, Journalist, the third book in the Mike and Psmith series and the last one we are covering, much to Robyn's consternation. If you're a die-hard fan of the character of Psmith, this might not be the episode for you. But if you would like to listen to Robyn (and to some extent, Scott) go off on him, definitely listen up. Also, we discuss whether or not this is the Wodehouse novel with the most slurs, while also being pretty sure it is the novel with the highest body count.

This episode Robyn and Scott discuss The Prince and Betty, which has the character Rupert Smith in it, but is not part of the Psmith series, although it does have essentially the same plot as Psmith, Journalist. We also discuss Wodehouse's misuse of Latin, whether this is the most slur-filled novel (maybe?), and go off on more than one tangent. Also, it's really starting to seem that Wodehouse has a real Sherlock Holmes issue, but at least he didn't slag Dr. Watson this novel.Note: Episodes are usually posted on the 1st of the month, but there was a corrupted external hard drive issue. Apologies.

Summer Lightning is the third Blandings Castle novel, in which we are first introducted to both the prized pig Empress of Blandings (at least her novel debut) and Lord Emsworth's brother, Galahad Threepwood. Lord Emsworth also has a new secretary, as well as two young relationships that seem to interfere with his time in the garden. Pigs are stolen, Baxter is efficient, and one of likes tea, and the other...does not. Robyn misses Freddie, but finds herself of a like mind to Lord Emsworth, and Scott wants her to talk a little more.

Very Good, Jeeves, is the last Jeeves and Wooster collection. Although individual Jeeves and Wooster stories would appear in collections, all Jeeves and Wooster books that appear after this one are novels. As Robyn points out, this is probably a good thing, as the short stories start to get a little bit repetitious. In this episode, we learn once again that Robyn feels like the suggestion to talk more is fulfilled as long as random words are used and we discover the character Scott dislikes more than any other Wodehouse character.

On this podcast, Scott and Robyn discuss A Prefect's Uncle, Wodehouse's second published novel, and another book that involves school boys and cricket. This is one of Wodehouse's shorter works, and we try to have the podcast length be in according with it, but there is a lot of talk about small talk, Robyn's problems with the second to last chapter, and more insight into the workings of the familial eccentricities.

In this episode Robyn and Scott discuss A Damsel in Distress, published in 1919. It reads much like a Blandings Castle novel, with an earl harried by his sister and employees trying to make him write family histories, when all he wants to do is work in his garden. His daughter is trying to reconnect with the man she met the summer before, but in doing so, runs iinto George Bevan, who in a change for a Wodehouse novel immediately falls in love with her. Soon there is mistaken identity and servants warring against each other, as well as Robyn completely hating a character in the last few pages.

Robyn and Scott discuss Love Among the Chickens, published in 1906 and having the first appearance of Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge, possibly Wodehouse's longest-running character (by duration, not appearances). Things get heated over discussion of the character of Jeremy Garnet, and Robyn displays a previously unknown black belt in debating. She will also be hit by an egg in six weeks and won't understand why. Also, are chickens and ducks different?

Scott and Robyn read the 1913 novel The Little Nugget, one of the money Wodehouse novels that seems to concentrate inordinately on the kidnapping of an odious child. Robyn continues her woes about the string of books without the "lovable idiot" characters she loves so much. Wodehouse uses an American dialect that makes Americans, particularly those recording a podcast about this book, think his opinion of them was somewhat low. Wodehouse had either a hidden vicious side or a lack of knowledge about feeding chocolate to dogs. And Robyn hates children.

Scott and Robyn discuss Leave It to Psmith, the second Blandings Castle novel AND the final Mike and Psmith (now with almost no Mike) novel--but Robyn and Scott still have Psmith, Journalist to read. This podcast continues Robyn's eternal hate of Psmith, as well as her confusing love of Freddie Threepwood. Now, let us throw some flower pots through the window, steal a necklace or two, and find some way to fire the efficient Baxter!

Set in Paris and London, this stand-alone novel published in the 1960s opens with one of Wodehouse's funniest scenes. We have love at first sight--well, second sight, after a bit of recognition--and a dog inserted into the plot for the sake of one corny joke, plus two male friends...who actually like each other? Is this a Wodehouse novel? Plus, a lawyer with stomach issues who ends up being the best character in the novel, according to one of us. Plus, Scott and Robyn go off on a tangent--again--discussing what it means to be a functioning alcoholic.