Widely acclaimed as one the foremost writers of comedy in the 20th century, PG Wodehouse has created some of the funniest and most durable characters in literature. The 'inimitable' Jeeves, the silly but good hearted Bertie Wooster and the unflappable Psmith - with a silent "P" of course. Such was his respect among his peers that even the great Hilaire Belloc called him "the head of my profession".
Wodehouse's stories focus on characters from the English upper classes and their unlikely, almost farcical, adventures. To this extent there is a certain old-fashioned charm in them. This is a world of domestic servants, large country houses, boisterous young bachelors in their gentlemen's clubs and overbearing aunts. The public loved this cliched but distinctly appealing world and many of his books were bestsellers.
Creating over two hundred works of fiction, which included series such as Blandings, Jeeves, Psmith and Mr Mulliner, Wodehouse was extremely prolific. Despite this incredible output, huge thought and preparation still went into each piece of work. He would often take up to two years devising and developing his plots before starting work on an actual manuscript. This attention to detail shows in his often intricate stories and wonderful, highly-quotable use of the English language.
With such a huge catalogue of books, collectors of his work are rather spoilt for choice. A first edition of The Code of the Woosters, the third of the Jeeves collection from 1938, has fetched $3,000 at auction. Psmith in the City (1910) and St Austin's (1903) have also each exceeded the three thousand dollar mark for first editions.
While some consider his work flippant and stereotyped, to others this is part of the appeal. His funny scenarios, clever use of fateful situations and amusing, descriptive language all contribute towards books distinctly appealing despite the context in which they are set. Evidenced by various conferences and websites dedicated to him today, there are still a large number of fans out there.
Wodehouse , P.G. The Pothunters. Adam and Charles Black, London (1902). Illustrated with a frontispiece and 9 full page plates by R. Noel Pocock; 1000 copies;
Wodehouse , P.G. A Prefect's Uncle. Adam and Charles Black, London (1903). with a monochrome frontispiece and 7 plates by R. Noel Pocock;
Wodehouse , P.G. Tales of St Austins. Adam and Charles Black, London (1903). First edition, first impression, first issue with unclosed quotation marks on the title page; Containing twelve full-page illustrations by T. M. R. Whitewell, R. Noel Pocock, and B. F. Skinner
Wodehouse , P.G. The Gold Bat. Adam and Charles Black, London (1904). with 7 monochrome plates
Wodehouse , P.G. William Tell Told Again. Adam and Charles Black, London (1904). With 16 tissue guarded plates by Philip Dadd
Wodehouse , P.G. Love Among the Chickens. The Circle Publishing, NY (1909).
Wodehouse , P.G. Mike. Adam and Charles Black, London (1909).
Wodehouse , P.G. A Gentleman of Leisure. Alston Rivers, London (1910). First UK edition;
Wodehouse , P.G. Psmith in the City. Adam and Charles Black, London (1910). Illustrated with 12 black and white plates by T M R Whitwell;
Wodehouse , P.G. The Head Of Kays. Adam and Charles Black, London (1910).
Wodehouse , P.G. The Intrusion of Jimmy. W.J. Watt, Brooklyn (1910). First US edition
Wodehouse , P.G. The Prince and Betty. J. Watt, New York (1912). A romantic novel written for the American market with Rupert Smith (without theP) attending Harvard.; First American edition.
Wodehouse , P.G. The Little Nugget.. Methuen , London (1914).
Wodehouse , P.G. The LIttle Nugget. W.J. Watt, New York (1914). First American Edition; With illustrations by Will Grefe
Wodehouse , P.G. Psmith Journalist. Adam and Charles Black, London (1915).
Wodehouse , P.G. Something Fresh. Methuen , London (1915). First edition, Colonial Issue
Wodehouse , P.G. Uneasy Money. Appleton, New York (1916).
Wodehouse , P.G. Piccadilly Jim. Dodd, Mead, New York (1917). Illustrations by May Wilson Preston.
Wodehouse , P.G. My Man Jeeves.. George Newnes, Londonb (1919).
Wodehouse , P.G. The Coming of Bill. Herbert Jenkins, London (1920). First Edition (With Jenkins' Pegasus colophon declaringA Herbert Jenkins' Book).
Wodehouse , P.G. Jill The Reckless. Herbert Jenkins Limited, London (1921). First UK edition;
Wodehouse , P.G. Love among the chickens. Herbert jenkins.London (1921).
Wodehouse , P.G. The Clicking of Cuthbert. Herbert Jenkins London (1922). First edition, first printing with eight titles on verso of half-title
Wodehouse , P.G. The Girl on the Boat. Herbert Jenkins Limited, London (1922).
Wodehouse , P.G. The Man With Two Left Feet. Methuen, London (1922).
Wodehouse , P.G. Jeeves.. George H. Doran, New York (1923). 1st American Edition
Wodehouse , P.G. The Adventures of Sally. Herbert Jenkins, London (1923). with 9 titles listed on back of half title page
Wodehouse , P.G. The Inimitable Jeeves. Herbert Jenkins, London (1923).
Wodehouse , P.G. Three Men and a Maid. A.L. Burt, New York (1923).
Wodehouse , P.G. Bill The Conqueror.. George H. Doran New York (1924). With the original price of $2.00 net at the bottom of the dustjacket spine; First American Edition;
Wodehouse , P.G. Leave it to Psmith. A.L.Burt, New York (1924).
Wodehouse , P.G. Ukridge. Herbert Jenkins, London (1924).
Wodehouse , P.G. Carry on Jeeves. Herbert Jenkins, London (1925). The wraper 1st impression with price of 3/6 net to the spine, and fourteen earlier Wodehouse titles to the rear flap; The price on the jacket is 5'.
Wodehouse , P.G. Sam in the Suburbs. George H. Doran, New York (1925).
Wodehouse , P.G. Carry On, Jeeves!. George H. Doran, New York (1927). First American Edition;
Wodehouse , P.G. The Small Bachelor. Methuen, London (1927).
Wodehouse , P.G. Meet Mr. Mulliner. Doubleday, Doran, , New York (1928). With the illustrated dust jacket; First US edition; Wodehouse introduces the character of Mr. Mulliner who narrates all of the tales
Wodehouse , P.G. The Small Bachelor. A.L. Burt, New York (1928).
Wodehouse , P.G. Mr Mulliner Speaking. Herbert Jenkins, London (1929). First UK Edition; The D/W is priced 7/6 net to the spine ;
Wodehouse , P.G. Summer Lightning. Herbert jenkins, London (1929).
Wodehouse , P.G. The Little Nugget. Curtis Publishers, New York (1929). first published in 1914 by W.J.Watt and Company
Wodehouse , P.G. Mr. Mulliner Speaking. Doubleday Doran, New York (1930).
Wodehouse , P.G. Very Good Jeeves. Doubleday,Doran, New York (1930). 11 short stories that originally appeared inLiberty andCosmopolitan; Dust jacket art by James Montgomery Flagg; There is a code on the DJ front flap 746 and rear flap says 743.
Wodehouse , P.G. Very Good, Jeeves!. Herbert Jenkins Limited, London (1930). First English edition (the American issue appeared a few days before the British); The fifth Jeeves book, a collection of eleven short stories that originally appeared in The Strand Magazine: Jeeves and the Impending Doom; The Inferiority Complex of Old Sippy; Jeeves and the Yule-tide Spirit; Jeeves and the Song of Songs; Episode of the Dog McIntosh; The Spot of Art; Jeeves and the Kid Clementina; The Love That Purifies; Jeeves and the Old School Chum; Indian Summer of an Uncle; The Ordeal of Young Tuppy
Wodehouse , P.G. Big Money. Herbert Jenkins, London (1931).
Wodehouse , P.G. If I were You. Herbert Jenkins, London (1931). First UK edition; With Guy Bolton
Wodehouse , P.G. If I Were You.. Doubleday, Doran, Garden City (1931).
Wodehouse , P.G. Big Money. A. L. Burt, New York (1932).
Wodehouse , P.G. Doctor Sally. Metheun , London (1932).
Wodehouse , P.G. Louder and Funnier. Faber and Faber, London (1932). A collection of 19 humorous essays on all aspects of contemporary life; The verso hasFirst pub in mcmxxxii by Faber and Faber Limited 24 Russell Square London W C 1 Printed in Great Britain by Butler and Tanner Limited Frome and London all rights reserved
Wodehouse , P.G. Heavy Weather. Herbert Jenkins, London (1933). 7/6net to the base of the spine
Wodehouse , P.G. Heavy Weather. Little Brown, Boston (1933). U.S. first edition which precedes the U.K. first edition for this title; Original price of $2.00 is on the dustjacket flap
Wodehouse , P.G. Louder and Funnier. Faber and Faber, London (1933).
Wodehouse , P.G. Mulliner Nights. Herbert Jenkins, London (1933). 1st U.K. Edition
Wodehouse , P.G. The Great Sermon Handicap. Hodder and Stoughton, London (1933). First Separate Edition
Wodehouse , P.G. The Man With 2 [Two] Left Feet. A.L. Burt, New York (1933).
Wodehouse , P.G. Methuen's Library of Humour. Methuen , London (1934).
Wodehouse , P.G. Right Ho, Jeeves. Herbert Jenkins, London (1934).
Wodehouse , P.G. Thank You Jeeves. Herbert Jenkins, London (1934).
Wodehouse , P.G. Thank You, Jeeves.. Little, Brown, , Boston (1934). First American Edition; 12,000 copies printed;
Wodehouse , P.G. Blandings Castle. Doubleday, Doran, Garden City (1935). First American Edition
Wodehouse , P.G. Enter Psmith. The Macmillan, New York (1935). First US edition; dustjacket with the price of $2.00; Title page readsENTER | PSMITH versusENTER PSMITH, and the note on the copyright page differs slightly from McIlvaine's description (Printed . by versusPublished .at)
Wodehouse , P.G. The Luck of the Bodkins.. Herbert Jenkins Limited, London (1935). First state dust jacket listing 29 titles on the front flap
Wodehouse , P.G. Enter Psmith. A.L. Burt, New York (1936).
Wodehouse , P.G. Laughing Gas. Doubleday, Doran, NY (1936).
Wodehouse , P.G. Laughing Gas. Herbert Jenkins, London, (1936).
Wodehouse , P.G. The Luck of the Bodkins. Little, Brown, Boston (1936). First American Edition; 12000 copies;
Wodehouse , P.G. Young Men in Spats. Herbert Jenkins, London (1936). first issue jacket with the list of nineteen titles on the lower flap.
Wodehouse , P.G. Lord Emsworth and Others. Herbert Jenkins, London (1937).
Wodehouse , P.G. Summer Moonshine. Doubleday, Doran, New York (1937). The true first edition which precedes the British Herbert Jenkins edition by one year.
Wodehouse , P.G. Summer Moonshine. Doubleday, Doran , Garden City (1937). First American edition
Wodehouse , P.G. The Crime Wave at Blandings. Doubleday Doran, New York (1937). A collection of seven short works, including one story set at Blandings Castle, a tale narrated by Mr Mulliner, and one story featuring Drones Club member Freddie Widgeon, to which were added two more Drones stories, a Bingo Little story, and a novella, The Medicine Girl
Wodehouse , P.G. Summer Moonshine. Herbert Jenkins London (1938). First UK edition
Wodehouse , P.G. The Code Of The Woosters.. McClelland and Stewart Limited, Toronto (1938). First Canadian Edition (unstated);
Wodehouse , P.G. Uncle Fred in the Springtime. Herbert Jenkins Limited, London (1939).
Wodehouse , P.G. Eggs, Beans and Crumpets. Herbert Jenkins London (1940). First edition (preceding the US edition by three weeks and with different contents), jacket priced 7'6 on the spine panel), First printing stated on copyright page
Wodehouse , P.G. Eggs, Beans And Crumpets.. Doubleday, Doran, New York (1940). First American Edition
Wodehouse , P.G. Laughing Gas. Herbert Jenkins, London (1940).
Wodehouse , P.G. Quick Service. Herbert Jenkins Limited, London (1940). original price of 7/6
Wodehouse , P.G. Wodehouse on Golf. Doubleday Doran, New York (1940). The first edition of this book was issued only in America;
Wodehouse , P.G. Money in the Bank. Doubleday Doran, New York (1942). Price of $2.00 on front flap of dust jacket;
Wodehouse , P.G. Full Moon. Herbert Jenkins, London (1947). withFirst Printing stated on the copyright page, and with no later printings listed
Wodehouse , P.G. Joy in the Morning. Herbert Jenkins, London (1947). First UK edition ; pictorial dustjacket designed by Frank Ford
Wodehouse , P.G. Spring Fever. Doubleday, New York (1948).
Wodehouse , P.G. Spring Fever. Herbert Jenkins, London (1948). First UK edition
Wodehouse , P.G. Uncle Dynamite. Didier, New York (1948). First American Edition; Dust jacket art and textual illustrations by Hal McIntosh.
Wodehouse , P.G. The Mating Season. Herbert Jenkins, London (1949). First U.K. Edition
Wodehouse , P.G. PSmith in the City. A and C Black (1950).
Wodehouse , P.G. Psmith Journalist. A C Black, London (1950).
Wodehouse , P.G. Nothing Serious. Doubleday, Garden City (1951). dust jacket, priced $2.50; Diverse collection of short stories featuring assorted Drones, The Oldest Member and Ukridge, and includingBramley Is So Bracing
Wodehouse , P.G. The Old Reliable. Doubleday, Garden City (1951). First American Edition;
Wodehouse , P.G. Pigs Have Wings. Doubleday, New York (1952).
Wodehouse , P.G. Bring on the Girls. Simon and Schuster, New York (1953). first American edition; 16 plates of illustrations from photographs;
Wodehouse , P.G. Bring on the Girls!; The Improbable Story of Our Life in Musical Comedy, with Pictures to Prove it.. Herbert Jenkins, London (1954). First UK edition
Wodehouse , P.G. Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit. Herbert Jenkins, London (1954). First U.K. Edition
Wodehouse , P.G. The Return of Jeeves. Simon and Schuster, NY (1954).
Wodehouse , P.G. Bertie Wooster Sees It Through. Simon and Schuster, New York (1955). First American edition; Cover art by Dick Dodge
Wodehouse , P.G. French Leave. Herbert Jenkins, London (1955). First U.K. Edition;
Wodehouse , P.G. Cocktail Time. Herbert Jenkins, London (1958).
Wodehouse , P.G. A Few Quick Ones. Herbert Jenkins, London (1959). Includes 'Jeeves Makes an Omelette'.
Wodehouse , P.G. Ice in the Bedroom.. Herbert Jenkins, London (1961).
Wodehouse , P.G. The Ice In the Bedroom. Simon and Schuster, New York (1961). First edition, preceding the first British edition
Wodehouse , P.G. Plum Pie. Herbert Jenkins, London (1966). A mixed collection of short stories featuring Jeeves, Ukridge, Lord Emsworth, Bingo Little, Freddie Threepwood, and others
Wodehouse , P.G. Company for Henry.. Herbert Jenkins, London (1967).
Wodehouse , P.G. Much Obliged, Jeeves. Barrie and Jenkins, London (1971).
Wodehouse , P.G. Son of a Bitch. Grossman, New York (1974). Introduction by P.G. Wodehouse; Illustrated with 93 of Erwitt's humorous b/w dog photographs; Erwitt, Elliott (illustrator)
Wodehouse , P.G. Jeeves and Wooster. Folio Society, London (1996).
Wodehouse , P.G. The Luck Stone. Galahad Books, London (1997).