Jeeves Again: A Most Capital Return to the Wooster Way of Things
What ho, dear readers! It is with the sprightliest of spirits and a hearty “tinkety-tonk!” that we announce the grand return of everyone’s favourite butler-bound bachelor duo. Jeeves Again: Twelve New Stories has been released today, and, by Jove, it’s a corker! A dozen new escapades penned by some of the finest literary minds of the day, all paying tribute to the ineffable genius of P. G. Wodehouse and his most celebrated creations: the quick-witted Jeeves and the occasionally befuddled Bertie Wooster.
Now, before you imagine a simple pastiche, let me assure you this is no half-hearted imitation. No, sir. This collection has been whipped up with the same finesse Jeeves applies to a restorative hangover cure. The stories positively fizz with the Wodehousian wit we all adore that splendid blend of the absurd, the aristocratic, and the utterly avoidable pickle.
Of particular note and we at Elevate raise a metaphorical glass to this is the contribution from none other than William Rayfet Hunter, our own shining light in the literary firmament (and, full disclosure, nephew to yours truly). William’s tale, “Just Ask Jeeves,” is an absolute treat, a delightful modern twist on the classic capers of Bertie and his all-knowing manservant, with a dash of digital-age irony that would have had old Plum Wodehouse chuckling into his brandy and soda.
The story begins, as all Wooster adventures tend to, with Bertie in something of a bind. This time, our hero has become entangled in a frightfully misguided scheme to make himself useful: a dangerous idea if ever there was one! At the suggestion of the Drones Club’s resident brainbox, Bertie takes it upon himself to launch a modern “Advice Service,” offering pearls of wisdom to fellow members under the pseudonym "Ask Bertie". The results, as one might imagine, are catastrophic.
Before long, the misguided advice dispensed by the well-meaning Wooster including tips on romance, horse racing, and how to pacify terrifying aunts leaves half of London in emotional disarray. Friendships are strained, engagements are broken, and someone’s prized Pekingese ends up dyed blue. Enter Jeeves, stage right, as calm as a cucumber in a snowstorm. With his usual subtlety, he sets about disentangling Bertie’s good intentions before society collapses entirely.
Hunter’s writing sparkles with the rhythm and charm of classic Wodehouse. His Jeeves remains the paragon of composure and intellect, while Bertie flounders through chaos with the kind of blithe optimism that only the truly clueless can manage. The dialogue is deliciously crisp, and William’s knack for comic timing is impeccable. One particularly Woosterish line reads:
“I fancied myself something of a guru, Jeeves until three engagements, two lawsuits, and a bishop later, I began to suspect I’d made a slight tactical blunder.”
Pure brilliance.
The anthology itself reads like a garden party of mirth with writers from across the literary landscape donning spats and sipping metaphorical Pimms while conjuring new calamities for our beloved pair. But it’s William’s contribution that truly stands out for its clever mix of tradition and modernity — the spirit of Wodehouse meeting the dilemmas of today’s muddled minds.
So, if your day’s been dashed by the dreariness of modern existence, pop round to your nearest bookseller and nab Jeeves Again: Twelve New Stories. You’ll find laughter, language, and a level of levity to lift even the gloomiest of souls.
And if you happen to spot William Rayfet Hunter at the launch, do tell him that Aunt Sheila says he’s made the family proud. Jeeves would approve!
Other writers P.G. Wodehouse, Frank Skinner, Roddy Doyle, Alan Titchmarsh, Dominic Sandbrook, Deborah Frances-White, Andrew Hunter Murray, Scarlett Curtis, Jasper Fforde, John Finnemore, Ian Moore, William Rayfet Hunter, Fergus Craig.
Jeeves Again can be purchased from most good book stores
