P. G. Wodehouse, Aunt Agatha takes the count. Short story audio book, read by Nick Martin

This story follows on directly from the previous one, Sir Roderick Comes to Lunch and was first published in the Strand magazine in April1922.

[@boots_n_coots]

Eyes closed, I listen, as all the characters spring to life once more. Many thanks, dear Nick!

[@sbarb5411]

Same! Plus with a Cheshire cat-wide smile the whole time :)))

[@aircastles1013]

For anyone who hasn’t seen it, the Hugh Laurie/Stephen Fry version of this story is absolutely epic.

[@Trickynickymarts]

Radio is better, surely!

[@granthurlburt4062]

@@Trickynickymarts They are both great. Laurie and Fry are terrific. However, radio (a) can be listened to while accomplishing other tasks and (b) we get different readings of scenes and dialogues that brings out different aspects of Wodehouse, and demonstrates how excellent his word choice, humour and characterization was.

[@Trickynickymarts]

Yes, you are quite right although (a) can be a problem for me as the task can suffer due to mind being elsewhere!

[@aircastles1013]

@@granthurlburt4062 Of course, and not forgetting that reading them oneself should be the baseline from whence doth spring the double joys of trickynicky AND Fry and Laurie…..

[@marisadallavalle393]

Yup. In stitches, so much so my cat got worried.

[@indianatone218]

I had an aunt like that .well done again toppo .!

[@eduardo_corrochio]

Always a pleasure to listen.

[@user-di2er6cw2j]

Hi! Another nice evening with you and Wodehouse. 'Capital'!

[@gwenmarshall9855]

Thanks Nick. You’re the best! These readings are just spot on.

[@Trickynickymarts]

Cheers!

[@sueroche2411]

What a lovely surprise! Another brilliant story. Thank you so much Nick

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thank you

[@tedar3986]

No other Woodhouse narration will do for me. Not even the amazing voices of yesteryear will suit since I first heard the perfection of our man Martin so long ago! Worth the wait sir! Ty as always Tricky Nick 😉😍

[@Trickynickymarts]

I am touched, thanks again!

[@ConnieM777]

Perfection.

[@Linoosethemooss]

Thank you

[@lindahawkins8102]

Absolutely superb. You bring the characters alive with panache. Look forward to more Jeeves & Wooster with relish !!

[@aircastles1013]

Thank you TrickyNicks! I can’t sleep without listening to you, you have massively improved my insomnia, in the best possible way! I have to hear each one through during the day, for the pleasure, then on at night so so quietly for the soothing voice….♥️

[@bridgettanton2348]

I absolutely agree, perfect rendition of the Wodehouse stories. Never heard better. They are my best bedtime listening, I can actually listen to them over and over, enjoy them just as much each time. They are up there with the Steven Fry, Hugh Laurie interpretation in their television series. Thanks so much Nick

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thanks both!

[@binghobson7122]

That’s exactly what I do!

[@granthurlburt4062]

@@bridgettanton2348 That we can listen to these stories again and again shows what a wonderful writer P.G. was, as a plotter, a creator of dialogue and a creator of characters. So much is brought out with a minimum of words. Which is not to ignore the excellent choice of words that are less than common in modern speech. I love Jeeves' quotes from Shakespeare and philosophers

[@nannettebartlett-yz2rs]

@@granthurlburt4062 l

[@marisadallavalle393]

Thank you Nick Martin. You bring me joy.

[@sharonachrak3686]

What a lovely surprise to open my tablet this evening to find this little gem waiting for me! Thank you Nick! xxx

[@Trickynickymarts]

Cheers!

[@lizhirsh5379]

😮

[@romanak.490]

yay!!! thank you! it's been a long wait...deeply appreciate your amazing performances

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thank you

[@sockmonkey22]

“Vicars are the devil, what?” 😇🤣

[@Trickynickymarts]

A foot in mouth highlight!

[@SunnyBeetle1922]

This was such an enjoyable rendition of the delightful Jeeves and Wooster. Thank you Nick for giving my breakfast time a lift....I loved every minute❤❤❤

[@Trickynickymarts]

Ah, nothing like a lifted breakfast!

[@SunnyBeetle1922]

@@Trickynickymarts indeed... I'm looking forward to many more!!!:@)❤❤❤

[@nannettebartlett-yz2rs]

@@Trickynickymarts lklkklklkl

[@nannettebartlett-yz2rs]

Lklllllllkklll

[@nannettebartlett-yz2rs]

@@SunnyBeetle1922 llllkklkl

[@rezzer7918]

Most satisfying! I *say* listening to this channel is highly entertaining. Not just reading, what?! This narrator is eminent; an accomplished voice actor in a class of his own; and really rather beyond comparison.

[@binghobson7122]

So excited to find this here waiting for me tonight! 😃

[@christabedwin]

Ah splendissimo. I'm so pleased you do this. :)

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thanks!

[@tarantour]

Enjoyed every minute, thank you so much.

[@Trickynickymarts]

Great!

[@marvinlittman1096]

Just writing to say that I really enjoy your performing of the Wodehouse stories. I'm very grateful to you!

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thank you, that's very kind and appreciate it.

[@willowwobble]

Wonderfully well narrated! Thank you.

[@MixerTWS]

Thanks once again!

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thank you

[@nw133]

Loved every minute of this one (as i do all you readings) Nick. Thank you for a wonderful half hour. More please!!

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thank you - more to come soon.

[@fashilaoyue5942]

Always fabulous 😌

[@buniluvr]

My dearest Lord “M” - what a delightful narration and story, full of joie de virve! Nobody does it better! Cheers my friend, julie

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thank you!

[@TedaR]

Nick the Ladybird led me back here. I love that book & your reading was precious! (tho for me Bertie was telling the tale which was even better😉) Enjoyed this & Sir Roderick's luncheon again! You truly have a gift sir! ✔💯👏👍😍

[@Trickynickymarts]

A second serving - that's great. Thank you - truly!

[@ztgglis]

That was sooooo good!

[@womanonabicycle]

Thanks so much.

[@AdamOfIngolstadt]

I love how these crooks were so caught off guard by Bertie offering the money with no reservations. Just shows how much heart-- and how little brain-- Bertie posesses.

[@Trickynickymarts]

Well like the rest of us, he specialises in certain areas.

[@spikemcnock8310]

Excellent ol bean.

[@alliswell44596]

You are sooo amazing ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@mariadorothea9506]

Thank you ‼️‼️😊😊😊

[@fourtails1192]

Love this ...the French accent is very amusing 😂👍✌️

[@granthurlburt4062]

Thanks so much for posting. I love the covers too. I dont know whether they're from the original books but they really bring the era to life and makes it real

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thank you. Actually I trawl images for quite a while looking for something that I think appropriate and then suddenly bingo - that's the one! Very pleased that you appreciate them.

[@Bambisgf77]

Thank you!

[@Trickynickymarts]

Cheers!

[@mavisemberson8737]

Honoria Glossop and Aunt Agatha... spread the gloom once more!

[@sbarb5411]

"Whose demeanour was that of one who picking daisies on the railway has just caught the dawn express in the small of the back" :))))) "Grabbed my hand [..] massaging the fin with some fervor"

[@user-bc5ns4wx1i]

Thanks for reading this story for us! I guessfor Jeeves a red cummerbud is as awful as purple socks?

[@Trickynickymarts]

Pleased you liked it. Yes, and what on earth would Jeeves make of today's modern man?

[@jerryjohnson8485]

He quite possibly not know where to start,and just burn it to the ground🕴️

[@r4b32t11]

Your the BEST Tricky…. I mean to say 🍾🥂

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thanks!

[@marisadallavalle393]

"His collar buttoned in the back!"

[@katyvdb5993]

Enchanting story, enchantingly read! Whatever do you suppose the 'deserving poor' did with Bertie's scarlet cummerbund when they were given it?

[@Canalcoholic]

Hang on a minute, so this is the original version of the story, which was then expanded upon? Bertie has gone to this hotel of his own volition and met Aline en route. He hasn’t been called there by Aunt Agatha to meet the girl she wants him to marry.

[@Trickynickymarts]

Yes, this story was for the monthly Strand magazine and later adapted and incorporated into The Inimitable Jeeves. Also it was re-written for the Cosmopolitan magazine. So it has gone in a variety of directions! Cheers

[@GrandOldMovies]

@@Trickynickymarts In the (I guess revised) version I read, it's Aunt Agatha who intends to force a reluctant Bertie to marry Aline Hemmingway; and the Hemminways' friendship with Aunt Agatha is their ruse for stealing her pearls. Otherwise, the story is pretty much the same, though I think in the revised version Aunt Agatha gets a bigger comeuppance.

[@justme-hh4vp]

@@Trickynickymarts Thanks for this explanation, thought i was having some weird deja vu! Although, it makes more sense that Aunt Agatha would summon Bertie to meet Hemmingway after the breaking of the Glossop engagement and makes for a neater denouement.

[@talstory]

Dear TrickyNicky..as many other Wodehouse addicts I love your reading which surpasses many others..thanks for breathing so much life into these wonderful words. Your delivery is truly admirable. One quibble with this story, or query..you seem to have edited it somewhat from the version I recall, in which it is Aunt Agatha who is egging Bertie on to marry Aline Hemingway, which gives a hefty edge to the denouement - also gives spice to the story as Bertie is constantly trying to avoid her during the tale. Are there two versions of the story? Or have you tried to improve the original? (hard task)..final comment..what about having a go at the classics..the Totley Towers saga, Gussie Fink Nottle and Spode..etc? It would be amazing to hear your rendition of those..thanks again

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thank you and very pleased that you enjoy them! This is the story as published in the Strand as a short story as far as I know. I think the short stories were taken by PG and compiled into the novels with some changes. Hence the difference. I am not nearly able enough and nor would I attempt to change anything. Thanks again.

[@feanorian21maglor38]

Yes I remember that version of the story too.

[@granthurlburt4062]

I have nurtured a hope that Wodehouse was poking fun at Ernest Hemingway with the last name of Ailene and her brother but alas this was published 1922 and Ernest's first collection of stories was published 1923. Alas!

[@saintexupery8406]

Matisse?

[@Trickynickymarts]

Yes! lovely and fitting I thought.

[@Canalcoholic]

I do enjoy your readings, but feel obliged to point out that pince nez is pronounced ‘parnce nay’.

[@Trickynickymarts]

Right of course - Anglo-French! But is there not a little extra hue of comedic colour to hear our Bertie come out with such things? A Woosterism!

[@SunnyBeetle1922]

@@Trickynickymarts so true...Bertie was forever asking the inimitable Jeeves for the correct word or pronunciation ;@)

[@mavisemberson8737]

@@Trickynickymarts It was the pronunciation of the Upper Classes until recently :-)