P. G. Wodehouse discussing Jeeves and Wooster (1960s Interview)

An interview with Alistair Cooke.

[@ellyclark1299]

I had a horrendous bout of depression a few years ago and couldn't read. The words skipped everywhere.. Reading is my salvation and I didn't even have that escape. Eventually I tried my Kindle with large text and turned to Wodehouse. The only books I could read for several months. They probably saved my life. Thank you, Mr Wodehouse.

[@jenniferbate9682]

Thank you Elly. I love him too. He’s magic, the way he lifts the spirit.

[@Donna-cc1kt]

Lovely story. I reach for comedic when times are low. Dorothy L. Sayers books of Lord Peter Whimsey was a god send too.

[@Donna-cc1kt]

Genius and so good for lifting my spirit!

[@hollyawoods]

You can’t help but smile listening to or reading his books. I’m new to reading his works, but I’m already hooked.

[@Myr25636]

The audiobooks of the Jeeves series is currently getting me through a lot of dark days.

[@wretchedfibs4306]

Made the mistake of reading one on a bus, once. Got the giggles and couldn't stop and got hysterical. People started edging away from dangerous lunatic.

[@faziasingh9675]

Same

[@robindear5043]

I saw the Fry Laurie episodes on TV in college. It came on at 8pm Sunday nights. I laughed so much, people were calling and knocking on the door, saying, "I'm trying to study!" "Turn your TV down!" "I can't concentrate with all that laughing!"

[@streb6]

Yes it happens to me a lot on public transport, audiobooks lol😊

[@RWBHere]

Ah, but should we believe your comment?

[@Decurion505]

Anytime I REALLY need a good laugh, "Leave It To Jeeves" is my go to .

[@sylviawernicke2326]

I'm nothing less than an addict to all the writings by P.G. Wodehouse. An eternal gift to English-language readers.

[@nc1645]

He's a genius!

[@devenshroff]

me too

[@dedbaka]

Another addict here, also!

[@spamskanal]

so true

[@FerdinandCesarano]

I have never encountered the English language used so beautifully as in Wodehouse's work.

[@jenniferbate9682]

He sounds such a lovely mild mannered guy. I can’t thank him enough for Blandings and Bertie Wooster. A very underrated author. I read him every day...he keeps me sane in this crazy world. Thank you sir, and thank you too to Alistair Cooke.

[@jimmyday656]

The Blandings are possibly his best

[@jenniferbate9682]

@@jimmyday656 yes...Martin Jarvis reading Blandings stories are genius x

[@waynemarvin5661]

Underrated? By whom, exactly?

[@SixStringSteve]

Plum’s Wooster and Blandings books kept me sane during a challenging childhood. Great to see I’m in good company ⭐️

[@jackievanwinkle]

Not under rated but adored in fact

[@carloscook8185]

Wodehouse is absolutely brilliant as a writer. No writer can give me more joy, more laughter, than this brilliant writer!!!!

[@debbyparker4436]

I will never tire of Wodehouse no matter how many times I read or listen to his books or watch Frye and Laurie portray Jeeves and Wooster . All his silly characters are timeless and always e enjoyable . No one can make me laugh harder than P.G.Wodehouse and I love that he appeals to and is suitable for ALL ages . 💌

[@susannestorm9705]

❤❤❤❤

[@JeevesReturns]

I always refused to read as a child and that at 14 I took a cross-country train trip by myself. Right before the trip my sister gave me a paper back copy of ‘Right Ho Jeeves’ and I tore through it and must have read it 3 times by journeys end. Within and hour of arriving I was in a bookstore trying to feed my new found addiction.

[@JeevesReturns]

JONATHAN SUTCLIFFE A train? It’s a huge metal means of transportation and it rolls along rails. I don’t own a watch. No need as my phone has a clock on it.

[@waynemarvin5661]

@JONATHAN SUTCLIFFE What are you blithering about?

[@rosalindarcher6060]

PG. what a genius. I adore his books; his beautiful turns of phrase and gentle, clever, ridiculous plots. And look at his face, his eyes. They reflect his intelligence, humour and kindness. I wish I’d known him. He’d be my ‘who would you invite to a dinner party’ guest for sure...

[@CandyGirl44]

I was immediately struck by his eyes too!

[@amynazza]

He is always on my list of dinner guests for that question! I'd enjoy watching him and Stephen Fry together at the same meal to be honest.

[@sureshmurty6523]

Not only was he a great comic writer in that light but incisive way, his grammar was wonderful to follow. As a privileged Indian with a decent education I was fortunate to have a father who collected a large number of paperbacks in his study. P G Woodhouse, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and Bram Stoker besides dozens of other good writers on both sides of the Atlantic were standard reading. For nostalgia I still read an old Woodhouse even today about fifty years later!

[@judeirwin2222]

Try to learn how to spell the man’s name.

[@sureshmurty6523]

@@judeirwin2222 You are right. I should have written Wodehouse. I can almost hear your condescending chuckle!

[@andyharpist2938]

What a kind and polite man. A shining light to us all.

[@mirkhwand]

I'm thoroughly impressed with Wodehouse's works. It would have been nice to have had his books as part as our literary curriculum when I was in high school.

[@davidgifford8112]

When being asked how to learn how to be a good writer, the late Issac Asimov replied “read P G Woodhouse”

[@kek7320]

It's Wodehouse mate

[@judeirwin2222]

I think Asimov was intelligent and professional enough to spell the author’s name correctly.

[@dotmurphy7279]

P. G. Wodehouse helped me cope with 9-11. After ten days of being almost completely immersed in it I was becoming nuts and needed something to restore reason and common sense. Wodehouse also relieved the sense of oppression. The TV program was no longer on Alabama's Public Television so I got 3 or 4 books from the bookstore. My life saver.

[@stephenclark6499]

Honestly...whenever life becomes too serious, stressful and darkened; when I become depressed over politics (a too frequent occurrence these past 2 years and counting); if the walls of human drama begin to close upon me; and I find myself feeling adrift and distant from my sanity; I snatch up any one of these literary saviors and hibernate within the comedic splendor of Wodehouse's cast of nutty, hilarious characters and places. After indulging in one of his works, I find myself restored, rejuvenated and willing to take on life once again! A strong cup of steaming Earl Grey, solitude with a comfortable couch and one of his adventures are the best medicine for the rigors of 21st-century life.

[@shaughnfourie304]

I so agree Happy reading

[@curiouscucumber1803]

So very true...

[@eduardo_corrochio]

So very nicely said.

[@archiewoosung5062]

Didn't Churchill use Austen for much the same purpose?

[@iantrousdell8151]

Absolutely! Couldn't agree more.

[@rajus.5819]

When one reads mysteries, one waits impatiently for the destination, one wants to know who done it. When one reads PGW one enjoys the journey so much that one is not in a hurry to reach the destination. Not that the destination is bereft of surprise and joy ! The destination is as much enjoyable as the journey.

[@lindasummers6151]

Its a tonic to read PG WODEHOUSE in these times.A great escape and a good chuckle.

[@pronkerpronker6708]

I need his writing like I need oxygen. Thanks, Plum.

[@coolrocknroll]

Great man. His books saw me through the worst of my adolescence. I'll read every Jeeves and Wooster book at least 20 times, probably more. Legend.

[@Trytocookthis]

mojo, i am a repeater too.

[@MrPercy112]

Spent ‘lockdown’ rereading forty-odd Wodehouse novels - brilliant!

[@moodobusiness]

Only 60 plus to go.

[@josephhargrove4319]

For all the criticism Bertie receives, I would like to be a close friend of his. Honest, generous, and very sociable; a joy to be around compared to the people I've encountered in the real world who are none of the above. richard -- Eustace: Where is Bertie, anyway? Jeeves: He had an important meeting with Mr. Fotheringay-Phipps, sir. Claude: Barmy Fotheringay-Phipps!? Jeeves: I believe that is the sobriquet, sir. Yes. Eustace: Has the I.Q. of a backward clam? Jeeves: It's my understanding that amongst fellow members of the Drones Club he is considered something of a dangerous intellectual, sir.

[@sarahdee374]

I think I'd prefer to hang out with Jeeves. Love the dry humor and plethora of wisdom.

[@hoodatdondar2664]

@@sarahdee374 You get Bertie, you get Jeeves. Aunt Dahlia is always inviting Bertie up for just that reason; to get Jeeves’ advice.

[@dougall1687]

Wonderful to not only hear Wodehouse, but to also hear again Alistair Cooke whose letters from America brought me here over twenty years ago.

[@suckingfanny]

The best writer ever. And probably the most self-effacing! Fascinating to hear him and Cooke speculating on the year 2000...

[@archiewoosung5062]

What criteria are you using to judge him "the best"...or did you simply mean your favourite?

[@fletcherhamilton3177]

@Archie Woosung - _clearly_ when people say things like, ' . . . is the best . . . ever!', it's understood that such a statement is a subjective one. Commonly meaning that it's a firm favourite of theirs or at least held in particularly high regard, yes. Are you autistic or something?

[@zanderaw]

@@fletcherhamilton3177 he’s clearly autistic

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

@@fletcherhamilton3177 you are right of course but below the belt to start on autism. Apologise.

[@riverwildcat1]

What a pleasure this is. Wodehouse is a fun interview, and Alistair Cooke is the best individual possible to bring him out. We miss both of them.

[@akhileshmagal]

Although he seems to be interrupting Wodehouse a whole lot.

[@vikramarora1567]

I ❤ PG Wodehouse

[@tizfrreecharm]

I was in my early 30s when I 'discovered' the Wodehousian realm of farce; now at 71, I remain grateful to 'Plum' and his characters for the laugher and joy he'd given me. Thanks so very much for posting!

[@xmfclick]

The interviewer is the great Alistair Cooke, whose use of English was also to be admired. My mother adored his broadcasts on the BBC, and we always listened to "Letter From America" on a Saturday morning. Happy times.

[@bernie4268]

I found PG when I moved to the country for my first teaching job and I was living alone. I read the Golf stories first and loved them. Then it was onto all the Jeeves and later Blandings and others. The Bright Penguin reissues released about 2000 were a great move. We’re so lucky one of the best was a comic master aren’t we? Long live Plum!

[@ep4169]

Interesting comments on the timeless quality of Wodehouse's writing, which has made him in turn immortal.

[@larrybrennan1463]

My first Wodehouse book was "Cocktail Time" and I fell in love with the wonderful writing and the convoluted insanity of a Wodehouse plot.

[@Saucyakld]

I read his books and only last year when we got a new cellphone I noticed Jeeves and Wooster on KZbin. I was enchanted. I love the series!

[@conradclipper]

PG - genius. But it must be said that Alistair Cooke is a genius interviewer, he really follows up PG's answers with fresh comments, and he allows space for natural conversation. I know it's not a fresh observation, Letters From America is still a wonderful listen. But still.

[@defenderoftheadverb]

Gee Alistair Cook takes me back. I haven't heard his voice since I think the late 90s. Letter From America was always a good listen.

[@jow6845]

Wasn’t it calm, informative and always so interesting.

[@teambridgebsc691]

Tremendous shin bones, most desirable.

[@stevensmith743]

He's absolutely brilliant. I can't think of another author besides Cervantes who had such timeless comedy.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

I’ve just heard where Don Quixote is the biggest-selling non-religious book world-wide!

[@tatjana1707]

I just finished "Thank you Jeeves" and I am still under impression. I loved the book and I will continue reading other books by super talented P.G. Wodehouse. He is absolutely amazing!

[@sanikakhanvilkar7029]

you read the series on blandings castle

[@coolrocknroll]

The other 11 Jeeves books are just as good. They’re best read in order of publication, as the other characters pop up repeatedly, referencing stories from the earlier episodes. Start with the short stories in ‘the inimitable jeeves’ (1923) and go from there. ‘Right oh jeeves’ (1934) is ridiculouly funny.

[@elleryeggen9678]

@@coolrocknroll I love all the characters, Freddy Threepwood and Stiffy Bing, not to mention Macintosh the dog, being my favourites.

[@jackievanwinkle]

So many people myself included have been kept very good company during personal struggles by Bertie and Co. Thank you forever Plum.

[@sharonyearsley2336]

I have to confess I’ve only ever watch the tv show or listened to Stephen Fry’s audiobooks of Wodehouse. Pure joy!

[@HKogen]

Thank you KZbin, I've just learned that Jeeves and Wooster have a 20 years age difference. It does shed a new light on things...

[@paulmelville2126]

Alistair Cooke’s not only a great interviewer, his voice had such a beautiful accent. It reminded me when young I listened to his radio broadcasts “letter from America”. I didn’t always understand everything he said, but just loved the poetic Rhythm of his voice.

[@paulworthington8666]

Two of the best writers of English who ever lived. So grateful to both of them.

[@bradleybrown8428]

I'm 30 years old and from London, our slang is very diffirent today but I've downloaded some of these books/dramas to give them a go :) Oh wow, this guy would have never used a computer... These older folks seam so warm and caring compared to todays people in power, but i suppose that's how it was back then too.

[@shaughnfourie304]

thank you Mr Wodehouse for so much glorious fun and real happiness you have brought into my life Everyone open one of his books and you`ll be so happy Take care folks

[@elisabel176]

These stories are so light and entertaining - they take you away from what is going on in these times.

[@arunkumbhat1362]

Wodehouse makes me glad that I learnt the English language

[@omp199]

I wonder if there is an equivalent for other languages. For what languages can the following sentence be accurately completed? "__________ makes me glad that I learnt the __________ language."

[@readerscout4069]

I love Jeeves and Wooster

[@alisonmccrackenmills6893]

I so enjoy his books - and really love listening to the audio recordings of them. I fairly fly through the housework!

[@Hirsutechin]

The prince of English humorous writing, and the best general commentator on America in his day. I grew up with the adaptations for radio, but the books themselves are a continuing delight. Alistair Cooke's Letter from America was a weekly event too, but for mastery of the language it has to be P.G. Walks away chuckling.

[@mdtdbe]

When I saw the word “Blicester” I realized that Wodehouse was a genius.

[@slimytoad1447]

I just bought 5 volumes of his work from a charity shop,can't wait to start reading them

[@laurahoward5426]

I cannot remember when I discovered him, but never fell out of love🥰

[@dedbaka]

Having always adored Wodehouse's writings, I still had never heard his actual voice. And, my! Do all Englishmen have such eloquent voices? Gielgud, Olivier, etc, etc,! Wodehouse being no exception to that uniquely English excellence. It was fascinating to hear him speak. Many thanks for posting this gem!

[@davidpaterson9905]

Lorretta deLeslie To answer your first and only question, no, this is truly bygone, your average Englishman is unable to string a sentence together.

[@dedbaka]

How sad it is that so many wonderful things are now bygone! You're right!

[@aprilapril2]

Ah. There are still a few very eloquent Englishmen about. Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie. Etc

[@elleryeggen9678]

@@aprilapril2 Hugh Frasier, of my favourite audible readers. Chris Barrie, also.

[@jenniferbate9682]

We cling on to the Englishness he gives us!

[@darskicutler1894]

I was never comfortable with flying but one time I took "The Golf Omnibus" with me and never even noticed the time. others did notice the laughter and snorts at the good bits.🤣

[@Fuliginosus]

It's 2020 and I still don't have any servants.

[@stephenridley1153]

Surely you have a man?

[@Tinker1950]

@@stephenridley1153 Ooo, a cocky suggestion old chap.

[@stephenridley1153]

@@Tinker1950 Every gentleman should have a personal gentleman...else life would be unbearable.

[@Tinker1950]

@@stephenridley1153 Well, perhaps, but the only chap I have, is my 'old chap'.

[@1rjbrjb]

Douglas Adams was Wodehouse in Space. Love the man. His voice is quite soothing, actually and he was preternaturally articulate for 82.

[@jenniferbate9682]

I was just thinking that too.

[@crimsonmask3819]

I disagree. Douglas Adams reads more like a manic A.A.Milne, to me. His social and political satire are just the opposite of Wodehouse's style, too.

[@1rjbrjb]

@@crimsonmask3819 let me be a bit more precise. Adams often imitated the Wodehousean prose style. It wasn't a bad imitation, certainly better than Rich Little's Johnny Carson. Wodehouse: "if things were other than they were, except if there was one thing that things were not, it was other than they were". Adams: "the machine then produced a substance that was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea". You also see it in certain descriptions of Arthur Dent. There is a very similar playfulness with language, logic, negatives and tenses, designed to reward the reader's attention. Adams suggested that time travel would impact grammar as you would have the modified subinverted plagal past subjunctive intentional tense. I particularly admired this insight and it led me to speculate how time travel would impact tort law (if I go back in time beyond the statute of limitations and injure you is the statute tolled?) and taxation (if I go back in time and win money based on my knowledge of sporting event winners, do I owe the income tax in the year of the sporting event or the year I return to in my time machine to spend the winnings? Is there a trans-temporal competent authority to avoid double taxation?). Adams was a genius and sui generis but he often slipped into the prose rhythm of Wodehouse. Not the short answer, to be sure.

[@Canalcoholic]

Having taken early retirement just before lockdown started, I picked up ‘Salmon of Doubt’ on Audible. That has led me to Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. With Douglas, Fry and Hitch all ganging up on me to check out this Wodehouse cove, I bought Fry’s Jeeves collection, and then the Blandings collection. Now I am recognising Wodehouse influences all the way through Douglas’s writings.

[@1rjbrjb]

@@Canalcoholic Thank you for the thoughtful and interesting reply. I retired 2 years ago, though I mock my retirement by working 10 hours per week and it mocks me back by making me not wildly motivated in my work. My retirement was not so much early as belated and politely suggested as well as distinctly body-englished. In any event, I am pleased that if I was indeed imagining the Adams/Wodehouse industrial complex, that I am not alone in my delusion. Great post. Cheers.

Cooke and Wodehouse : what a treat !

[@aucourant9998]

A wonderful intelligent interview, kudos to Alistair Cooke.

[@beverlysmith4635]

I once had a cat I named, "Lord Bittlesham!!!"

[@susanbrown2909]

That’s how a nice ,well mannered English gentleman sounds.

[@stephenholmes1036]

A lovely interview by Alastair

[@paulredhead8603]

PGW should be required reading for all children (In my opinion). The World would be a nicer place.

[@MrPercy112]

👍👏

[@debhurd8898]

I thought I recognized that voice. Alistair Cooke. I miss him, too.

[@qpr543]

We enjoy his books even after 100 years, which happens for very few authors.

[@bokkenwielderful]

The quality of interviewers back then, so good.

[@RWBHere]

I wish that more of this interview had survived. Fascinating! Thanks for uploading it.

[@musablali]

Alistair Cooke interviews Plum, wonderful !

[@claudiacepedamoya6979]

You can waaatch Jeeeves aaand Wooooooster here twitter.com/49aa31eb4f0fb9cae/status/824453947880460289

[@davidbooth3285]

Two legends together! What more could you ask?

[@dorielle62]

Unique writer, unique mind, bringing such pleasure to thousands of people around the world is no mean feat !

[@adventureswithaurora]

I love this interview! So nice to hear the actual author's voice.

[@hoodatdondar2664]

What a wordsmith.

[@carolynargabright8132]

This is mesmerizing.

[@richardbrodetick2992]

yes

[@leannevitale3228]

the reason I read them is the excellent writing and the subtle wit. I love them.

[@bojajibrilupdates8808]

Wonderful..nice post..indeed, am also born on 15 oct 1998...the same month and the same date with P G wodehouse

[@ankursharma5094]

Your channel is a veritable treasure trove sir, and this is its most sparkling jewel.

[@yamakawa511]

Very enjoyable. Lovely to hear Alistair Cooke's mellifluous voice again. Y

[@GM_-]

"It is a very fine day, sir! There is a letter on the tray, sir." "Good gosh, Jeeves, that was practically poetry!" "Oh I say Jeeves, what was it Shakespeare wrote about having an eye like mother's?" "An eye like Mars, to threaten and command, is the quotation for which you might possibly be groping, sir."

[@omp199]

Damn. I can no longer read dialogue between Jeeves and Wooster without hearing Stephen Fry's and Hugh Laurie's voices in my head. Much as I love Fry and Laurie's work, I don't think their voices are what P. G. Wodehouse had in mind at the time.

[@rosalindarcher6060]

@@omp199see if you like the audio recordings by Jonathan Cecil….

[@paulworthington8666]

The great Alistair Cooke interviewing "Plum" Wodehouse. Two of the greatest men of the 20th century

[@cynthiarowley719]

This photo glows 🌟

[@Rohilla313]

The unforgettable Plum!

[@1776TomPaine]

Magnificent! Thanks for doing this.

[@PMS1950]

Great writer and intriguing personality.

[@marysepradet6515]

OMG his eyes were so shiny and kind and malicious !

[@BAM-jc7uy]

in the late50s-early 60s we were introduced to PG Wodehouse in our public school Lit books.👍NM

[@helentucker6407]

Alot of bertie woosters type to this day in all the public school towns in the uk lol! Love this guys comedy. Nice one! Thanks 👌

[@bjwnashe5589]

"I was banned in Hungary." Hilarious.

[@olafstapledon3547]

86 (!) books of him were transleted and published in Hungary, 5 of them in the communist aera, between 1948 and 1990.

[@Aivar09]

Yes, he is an ignorant fool with conceit.

[@ravenshrike]

Were those 5 in continuous publication or were they banned in various time periods?

[@michaeljames4904]

_The suggestion is entirely possible:_ Hungarians are very attached to their humour, both in print and on the stage, but before the 1956 Uprising the country’s regime were dreadfully repressive and isolationist, with citizens being interrogated just for writing a postcard to a family member in another Warsaw Pact state!

[@MrPercy112]

@@Aivar09 and you, Sir, are an idiot.

[@neilwilson5785]

It feels strange hearing Alistair Cooke again. It's been a while. Strange feeling.

[@marvinc9994]

The wonderful Alistair Cooke - with a _genuine_ Midantlantic Accent.

[@justinpino8115]

the best ever

[@Trickynickymarts]

Thanks for this.

[@baskervillebee5748]

Alistair Cooke!

[@irenafeshenko1965]

PG Wodehouse is so deliciously English writer that it might be possiable to retell one of his stories but never to traslate

[@nondescript2892]

irena feshenko l beg to differ..the dutch translations are very good..my father adored them

[@conradclipper]

I agree with you. Murakami is innately Japanese yet his translations are beautiful. He does them himself, to be fair...

[@AcmeRacing]

I can't imagine a literal translation of Wodehouse into another language would work at all. So much of his humor is based in English usage. (Douglas Adams is the same way.)

[@jayarajjohnson2476]

A Great Novelist...Fantastically hilarious...

[@judeirwin2222]

“He looked as though he had been poured into his clothes and had forgotten to say ‘When’.”

[@annakowalkowski4046]

I enjoy the BBC Series starring the adorable Stephen Fry and the equally awesome Hugh Laurie a huge Deal 😃 Love it ❤️

[@JohnnyCameo]

Very tactful of Alistair Cooke not to mention why PG couldn’t live in England

[@livrowland171]

He was knighted a few years later so pretty sure he could have gone back if he'd wanted to.

[@johnmccabe1974]

I've read and re-read many PG Wodehouse books. Got a couple books in sight right now. One I enjoyed a lot was Laughing Gas about a young Earl who gets entangled with a dubious Hollywood starlet. He accidently swaps souls with a child star and amazing things happen to this Earl (child star).

[@HooDatDonDar]

Done a generation earlier by Anstey in “Vice Versa”. But even Shakespeare had his sources.

[@johnmccabe1974]

@@HooDatDonDar Very true. Talent does not flourish in a vacuum. Every real master can point to their influences. Vice Versa sound like a hoot.

[@bjnwright]

This guy had absolute talent to burn. Such an impressive body of work. Timeless, still goes down well today.

[@bonnie_gail]

Fascinating social history

[@user-yw5nv8ky5m]

услышала голос великого писателя!!! спасибо!)

[@RWBHere]

Мы слышим голоса двух великих англичан! Сэр Алистер Кук все еще вел трансляцию на BBC, пока в марте 2004 года он не умер от рака легких в возрасте 95 лет.

[@hoodatdondar2664]

Writing about being a humourist in his autobiography Over Seventy, Wodehouse quoted two people in the Talmud who had earnt their place in Heaven: “We are merrymakers. When we see a person who is downhearted, we cheer him up.”

[@brianedwards7142]

I had the rather sad realisation recently that Bertie and the other members of the Drones Club would have been wiped out by the Wall Street Crash of '29. Currently reading The World of Mr. Mulliner and there was a strange (to me) passage where characters in the 1920s were discussing someone who was born in "the 80s": a conversation that could well have happened now. Bally gen-Xers eh wot?