The Inimitable Jeeves - P. G. Wodehouse

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Résumé :
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Biographie:
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (1881 - 1975) was an English author and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. Born in Guildford, the son of a British magistrate based in Hong Kong, Wodehouse spent happy teenage years at Dulwich College, to which he remained devoted all his life. After leaving school he was employed by a bank but disliked the work and turned to writing in his spare time. His early novels were mostly school stories, but he later switched to comic fiction, creating several regular characters who became familiar to the public over the years. They include the feather-brained Bertie Wooster and his sagacious valet, Jeeves; the immaculate and loquacious Psmith; Lord Emsworth and the Blandings Castle set; the Oldest Member, with stories about golf and Mr Mulliner, with tall tales on subjects ranging from bibulous bishops to megalomaniac movie moguls. Although most of Wodehouse's fiction is set in England, he spent much of his life in the US and used New York and Hollywood as settings for some of his novels and short stories. During and after the First World War, together with Guy Bolton and Jerome Kern, he wrote a series of Broadway musical comedies that were an important part of the development of the American musical. He began the 1930s writing for MGM in Hollywood. In a 1931 interview, his na?ve revelations of incompetence and extravagance at Hollywood studios caused a furor. In the same decade, his literary career reached a new peak. In 1934 Wodehouse moved to France for tax reasons; in 1940 he was taken prisoner at Le Touquet by the invading Germans and interned for nearly a year. After his release he made six broadcasts from German radio in Berlin to the US, which had not yet entered the war. The talks were comic and apolitical, but his broadcasting over enemy radio prompted anger and strident controversy in Britain, and a threat of prosecution. Wodehouse never returned to England. From 1947 until his death he lived in the US, taking dual British-American citizenship in 1955.

Sommaire:
P. G. Wodehouse was an English author and humorist, renowned for his comic novels and short stories, particularly those featuring the iconic characters Jeeves and Wooster. Born in 1881, Wodehouse began his writing career in the early 20th century, quickly gaining popularity for his witty prose, intricate plots, and whimsical depiction of British upper-class life. His works often combine elements of farce, romance, and satire, showcasing his talent for clever wordplay and engaging dialogue. Wodehouse's humor is characterized by a lighthearted, optimistic tone, making his stories enduringly popular with readers. In addition to his novels, Wodehouse wrote for various magazines and was involved in musical theater, further demonstrating his versatility as a writer. Over his prolific career, he published more than ninety books, solidifying his status as one of the great comic writers of the 20th century. Wodehouse's influence continues to be felt, and his works remain beloved classics in English literature....