Uncle Fred in the Springtime
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"Wodehouse's idyllic world can never stale. He will continue to release future generations from captivity that may be more irksome than our own. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in." Evelyn Waugh; "He exhausts superlatives" Stephen Fry; "Pure word music" Douglas Adams; "The Everyman edition promises to be a splendid celebration of the divine Plum" The Independent; "The handsome bindings are only the cherry on top of what is already a cake without compare" Evening Standard; "A handsome, collectable hardback edition" Lynne Truss, The Times"
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Book Description
'You don't analyse such sunlit perfection, you just bask in its warmth and splendour.' Stephen Fry
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
PG Wodehouse's books are quite probably the finest examples of English humour ever to have been written, and Uncle Fred in the Springtime is quite possibly his finest work. The title character is a delightfully eccentric old coot, who takes advantage of his formidable wife's occasional jaunts to the South of France to escape the confines of his country seat and visit his eternally melancholy (and somewhat romantically susceptible) nephew, Pongo Twistleton. The juxtaposition of Uncle Fred's bombastic self-confidence and Pongo's pessimistic outlook, combined with a strong sense of self-preservation, produces a comedic duo to rival even the mighty Jeeves & Wooster. The plot is far too complicated to attempt to summarise here, suffice to say that the pair visit that Earthly paradise known as Blandings Castle. Cue Lord Emsworth, Connie, the Efficient Baxter, Beach, and a rare appearance by Lord Emsworth's eldest son, Lord Bosham, who surpasses all expectations by proving to be a bigger chump than his father and younger brother combined. To sum up, this book is superb. Buy it.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first non Jeeves and Wooster book of Wodehouses's that I've read, and I'm pleased to report that the adventures and exploits of Uncle Fred (aka Lord Ickenham) are just as madcap and droll as those of his more renown duo. As with many of the Jeeves and Wooster stories, the plot revolves around (mis)engagements, misunderstandings, country houses, bonny baby contests, blustering pompous old men, duck ponds, and a constable. However, the difference here is that instead of an idiot (Bertie) getting into sticky situations and being rescued by a genius (Jeeves), we have Uncle Fred, who seems to relish creating havoc and then sorting it all out through a variety of impersonations, good natured lies and blackmail, with general irreverence for one and all. The matchmaking leads to all manner of wacky hi-jinks, and as per usual, Wodehouse's comic timing is impeccable. Of course, the real treat is the language, which sparkles as it amuses. The names are especially good in this one, with Pongo, Bill Oakshot, and Sally Potter leading the way. (Coincidentally, two characters share the names of prominent characters from the Harry Potter saga: constable Harold Potter and Hermonie Bostock.) Uncle Fred is the equal of any Wodehouse character, and look forward to tracking down the rest of his tales.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A hugely entertaining book. Uncle Fred cuts a dash as he nonchalantly waltzes through life, unstressed by the chaos around him. I'd love my uncle to have this magic touch and this slice of mischief. I don't think Fred is a mature gentleman at all. I think he is perpetually seventeen and a half with complete disdain for the old fuddy duddies who have a body the same age as his.
And, as always, Wodehouse has a wonderful mastery of the English language, making anything he writes a pleasure to read.
A literary classic without the boring bits.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Introducing Uncle Fred
"I don't know if you happen to know what the word `excesses' means, but these are what Pongo's Uncle Fred, when in London, invariably commits. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Paul D
What Ho!
Slapstick humour in a novel. I'm a great Wodehouse fan but the slightly confused opening chapters let this one down a little. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Caroline
A Wodehousian agent of chaos
The good lady wife takes a dim view of Wodehousian characters whom she deems harbour amoral tendencies. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Molerat
Just one tiny thing
This is as usual an excellent rendition: Jarvis is equalled only by Johnathan Cecil at reading Wodehouse. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Charno
Why did I wait 20 years to return to Wodehouse?
The Wodehouse world is a world free of suffering - a kind of return to the garden of eden. Perhaps this is why, dying that I am, I have found the books so invigorating - the books... Read more
Published on 3 May 2010 by Aquinas
Wodehouse and Jarvis - The Perfect Couple
Another gem from that perfect partnership of PG Wodehouse and Martin Jarvis.
Mr Jarvis stands alone as the 'voice' of Wodehouse - Lord Emsworth, Lady Constance, Beech the... Read more
Mr Jarvis stands alone as the 'voice' of Wodehouse - Lord Emsworth, Lady Constance, Beech the... Read more
Published on 14 April 2009 by Pat C
P G Tips
There are certain books and certain authors one is coy about naming in the realms of favourites - Mr Wodehouse is one. Read more
Published on 13 May 2008 by A.K.Farrar
Uncle Fred Flits by Blandings
If not the best then, at worst, `Uncle Fred in the Springtime' is one of the best Wodehouse novels. It is a sort of a `Best of Wodehouse' with Pongo Twistleton and his Uncle Fred,... Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2008 by Ian Wood, Author of 'Here's 2 Absent Fathers'
What joy!
This is one of the best audio books that I have ever enjoyed. I must have listened to mine at least 300 times. Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2004 by "sheenaghantonis2"
The adventures of literature's youngest 70 year old!
Whenever I feel down, I pick up a Wodehouse: short story, novel, an essay, a lyric, it doesn't matter what, I am immediately transported by his magnificent words into an altogether... Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2001
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