The Funniest Comedy Author Ever

The Funniest Comedy Author Ever is an acclaim which could be disputed for a long time. However, one author's work genuinely does stand out above the crowd. P G Wodehouse is perhaps most consistently recognized as the most humorous of authors ever to wield pen on paper. Hardly any other person, within any genre, has been able to get words to perform such delightful wizardry on the page.
Author of over 100 novels, P G Wodehouse takes the biscuit when it comes to making one roll on the floor in fits of giggles.
Famed for his Jeeves and Wooster novels, in which Bertie Wooster (the quintessential bumbling English toff) is forever getting into embarrassing scrapes only to be saved by his inimitable gentleman's valet, Jeeves.
Add to this immortal duet the likes of Ukridge, Mr Mulliner, Lord Emsworth of Blandings, his brother Galahad Threepwood and the endless procession of the most charming, dimwitted or scandalously manipulative girls and boys, and you have the wonderful world of P G Wodehouse.
There are many comic writers, but this is the classic comedy author. British reserve and understatement has never been so brilliantly captured. If you have never read any Wodehouse, then I envy you. You have all of his works to discover for the first time. By the time you have finished with them you will have abs like a washboard from all the hysterical laughing.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Have you read any Wodehouse? Who are your favourite characters? Which other comedy authors do you love?

[@seileach67]

I've read some Wodehouse, but I can't remember which ones; my favorite character is Bertie Wooster because he seems like a genuinely kind person. I'm not really a fan of Wodehouse, though, because I get a little tired of the female characters being portrayed as either joyless b-words or so desperate to get a man they're willing to force him into marriage whether or not he even likes them, much less wants to spend the rest of his life with them. I can see the humor in the different shenanigans that Bertie has to muddle through in order to get out of these situations, but the ruthless way these women treat poor Bertie leaves a bad taste in my mouth. YMMV. Sir Terry Prachett is my go-to for humor. I also like Mark Twain, Douglas Adams, Rita Mae Brown, Robert Lynn Asprin, and the Raffles stories too.

[@janetsmith8566]

@@seileach67 Aunt Dahlia is neither of those things. And the men are portrayed the same. They can be bullies, whomps, or desperate to marry. I love them all.

[@janetsmith8566]

Also aunt Dahlia…. And the five aunts all together- I can’t remember which story!

[@janetsmith8566]

But what about Jonathan Cecil’s recordings?!? He is amazing and captures all the characters perfectly!!

[@HistorybytheBook]

Tristan! How have I missed this video? We've chatted about Wodehouse on Patreon and I had no idea you had a video on Wodehouse! What a wonderful surprise to find this! I've been collecting the Everyman's editions they are the most charming books! I was introduced to Jeeves and Wooster by the Fry and Laurie series in the early 90s and I have been in love with Wodehouse ever since. Brilliant video! - Michele

[@kelliekonzelman6918]

Wodehouse is probably my favorite author. He has caused me to laugh out loud as well, and not something I do often :) Aunt Dahlia is my favorite character, although Ukridge and Uncle Fred are delightful as well.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

He is a hoot! I think my favourite character is Psmith. Although I deep love Wooster too.

[@FaceEatingOwl]

It's Johnathan Cecil for me that is the best at reading Jeeves and Wooster novels. Absolutely embodies it.

[@theelegantcouplesbookrevie8734]

Bingo Little is hilarious with his ever-revolving romantic flings! Sometimes you want to smack him though! PG Wodehouse is pure comedy gold!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

I am so sorry for my late response, life gets quite hectic. I forgot about Bingo Little. He is eye-wateringly funny.

[@gaildoughty6799]

Love Wodehouse. And I see what you did there: “talented with the old pen and ink.” Sounds exactly like Bertie. You’ve surely read him, but Saki (H.H. Monroe) is also hilarious and a tiny bit creepy as well.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

😀 BINGO! ... did you see what I did there as well? (Bingo Little.) OK that was terrible.🤣 Do you know, I have no Saki on my shelves! Must correct that.

[@janetsmith8566]

Other than the obvious (Bertie and Jeeves!), I live for Madeline Bassett! She kills me!!!

[@marianhreads]

Just watched this with my siblings - we are Wodehouse fans and it made our day! I did not know all that backstory with Milne either, very fascinating (and sad).

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Hi Marian, so good to hear from you. Love that you are a Wodehouse fan. Just to let you know, you can get the transcripts of his prisoner of war broadcasts online. They are very amusing.

[@PersonallyOptimistic]

Somehow only discovered Wodehouse this year and have devoured 12 of his books in the last few months. Absolutely love them. I find I read so many books that are on the more depressing and dark side that Wodehouse's silliness and playfulness is such a welcome addition. Great video and super interesting about Milne, somewhat unbelievable that he could be so mean spirited and come out with Winnie the Pooh!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

He's a genius isn't he?😀

[@janetsmith8566]

I know- recent discovery. Where has he been all my life???

[@leonardwalls870]

Right again on the P.GW.Books. Recently read some of the early Jeeves and Worster brilliant from the first. The stuff from his interment was great. Again thanks. "Good on ya'"if I may?

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

P.G is the cats pyjamas! His internment broadcasts were so witty.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Love Jeeves and Wooster That's interesting about Milne 👀

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Can you believe that someone who can write Winnie the Pooh could turn out to be so sinister?! Have you ever read any of the Blandings novels or Psmith?👍😀

[@alidabaxter5849]

I adore Wodehouse but as somebody else has said PLEASE read Saki. And Damon Runyon's stories are a must. I also love "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" by Anita Loos, which is amazing, considering when it was written.

[@nicholasmarsh5567]

Thanks. I love Wodehouse and Damon Runyon. I will have a look at Saki and “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”.

[@loriannereuser9599]

This was utterly delightful! Well presented sir! (Commenting for the algorithm! ^_~) Purchased myself an old orange penguin copy of Pigs Have Wings from a book stall underneath a bridge in London some years ago and am now eyeing it for the next read. Have always loved Wodehouse through the adaptations but haven't actually read him.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Hey Lorianne, thanks so much for helping me with the algorithm. I love the Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie adaptation of Jeeves and Wooster. Hope you enjoy reading Pigs Have Wings, it is a great story. No matter how good the adaptation though, Wodehouse's turn of phrase in narration is just too good to not to read. Let me know your thoughts on it.👍😀

[@nicholasmarsh5567]

Yes. I suppose PG Wodehouse and Jane Austen are my favourite authors. Of course you are right about Wodehouse’s brilliantly funny writing. Lord Emsworth is my favourite character. I try to emulate him as far as possible, though I lack the wealth and live in a semi-detached house in Leamington Spa rather than a castle in Shropshire, However, I admit that I don’t aspire to keeping a pig.

[@charmainesaliba5546]

I have never heard of this author, definitely I will looking for his works. Thanks Tristan for the recommendation.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Oh I hope that you enjoy him. Good places to start with Wodehouse would be: Joy In The Morning - Jeeves and Wooster Pigs Have Wings - Blandings Series Psmith In The City Love Among The Chickens

[@charmainesaliba5546]

@@tristanandtheclassics6538 Thanks Tristan for the recommendation 😊

[@nicole73551]

You are the third person I have heard to say they laughed out loud while on public transit reading Wodehouse. Must be a thing, I giggle. I heartily agree with his comedy (can't beat English humour) and will always promote his books for someone looking for some tongue in cheek entertainment. Certainly classic reads. I love the look of those hardcovers and regret they were too hard for me to get hold of. However the omnibus editions that came out in the early1990's are a neat collection of tidy volumes with good reading order. Off the top of head, the only other author that springs to mind atm that made me giggle is Douglas Adams, who wrote the well known Hitchhikers Guide series most of us read, and Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (I read the omnibus edition).

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

To quote Bertie Wooster "Well knock me down with an F." who'd have thought that public transport and Wodehouse would be so intertwined. Douglas Adams is amazing.

[@lorrainesambo6534]

I have one book of his I still haven’t read! I will definitely get to it. Loving your videos Tristan!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Hey Lorraine! Awesome to hear from you. Pleased you still have some Wodehouse to enjoy.😀

[@donovanmedieval]

Last year, I listened to many of the Blandings Castle Stories read by Stephen Fry. His Sebastian Beach voice is different from his Jeeves voice.

[@donovanmedieval]

I also listened to the Winnie the Pooh books, both in narrative form and dramatized, having no idea Wodehouse and Milne had ever been friends. Stephen Fry did one of the voices on the dramatized version.

[@taylormckinnon8922]

Oh my goodness, I had almost forgotten how funny Wodehouse actually was. If you're looking for another great audiobook performer who does both the characters of Jeeves and Bertie incredible justice, may I also highly recommend Jonathan Cecil? I almost feel, whenever I listen to a good Jeeves book, or any other from the Wodehouse catalogue, that I can engage with the characters and their exploits with such ease that it feels like I'm actually involved with them somehow. Thanks for the brilliant summary!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Wodehouse is the cat's pyjamas. Does anyone else put words together like that? I don't know about you but the way i hear Bertie Wooster in my heads cannot be captured properly by any narrator. Hugh Laurie comes the closest in the TV series with Stephen Fry.

[@taylormckinnon8922]

@@tristanandtheclassics6538 maybe you could consider a read-along to give your interpretation?

[@beckerabstracts]

I agree. I always look for narrations by Richard Briers. Bernie reincarnated.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

100% Hugh Laurie does a splendid job acting Wooster, too.

[@mandyc1280]

I just laughed and smiled through this review. I absolutely love Wodehouse. I dont have a favorite character as of yet because I have only read 2 of his books and need to buy more, but I loved Blanding's castle. I dont know how he thought of the pickles to put pepole in. He's genius! I believe he's the only comedy I have read. 🤔 Good day Captain

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Hiya Mandy, I am so sorry for my late response, life gets quite hectic. Blandings is terrific. I love Galahad Threepwood. He is so gregarious and upbeat.Also the contrived scenarios are fantastic.

[@donovanmedieval]

Did Richard Briers record all of the Jeeves & Wooster Stories before he died in 2013?

[@susprime7018]

I named my robot vacuum Jeeves. Bertie is a joy. I just finished Our Doris by Charles Heathcote and look forward to reading more Doris. Jane Smiley's Moo and Richard Russo's Straight Man were great send ups of Academia. Florida comedy writers, Hiassen, Barry and Dorsey. Yes, comedy is best when broad.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

How splendid to have a Jeeves to hoover the homestead!😀 Also, that is a fine list of authors. Thanks for this.👍

[@taaptee]

Oh I am the phantom who has never read anything by Wodehouse! Great summary, and now I will of course pick a book by him up, for my only other brushes with humor have been Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost, and The Importance of Being Earnest. I know Shirley Jackson is not known for comedy, but her book The Sundial, which I read some weeks ago, is very funny, and a great read otherwise as well, which just about sums up my experience of reading books that have made me laugh.

[@taaptee]

Adding to this comment a day after I posted it after noticing Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome on my shelf, and I remembered just how much it made me laugh. I was only fourteen when I read it though, so no promises.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Importance of Being Ernest is epic. Have you seen the Colin Firth and Rupert Everett film adaptation? I Hope that you enjoy Wodehouse. Some good places to start are: Joy In The Morning - Jeeves and Wooster Pigs Have Wings - Blandings Series Psmith In The City

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Woohoo, Jerome K Jerome!!! I love that fellow. If you like Jerome, I feel that you will heartily chuckle at Wodehouse. You may even become an addict. Let me know how you get on, Tee.😀

[@taaptee]

OH YES I have seen the adaptation! I was on a Colin Firth binge last year, I love him so much. And thank you for the Wodehouse starter recommendations! I looked through his books but was so confused since he has so many, so I'll do as you say. Looking forward to this 💚

[@laurenfrederiksen8754]

Hi Tristan! Is it alright if I make a request/suggestion for a future video? I was wondering if you could do one about some of the characters in War and peace and the personalities and flaws of each. Would you to see you go through some of them

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thanks for the suggestion Lauren. You picked a book with a lot of characters😂 I have yet to do any videos on characters, this is a super idea. Thank you so much.

[@sunset33533]

The book "You Suck" by Paulie Amigo is a fun self-help satire. Recommended.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you everso much for this recommendation. I've never heard of it before but shall now have to sniff out a copy. Much appreciated.👍😀

[@yeahweburnstuff]

ADORE WODEHOUSE! He is number one, followed by Terry Pratchett; although he is quite far down from Wodehouse.

[@attention5638]

I have not read anything of this author, and have rarely heard the name. I am going to have to change this haha

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

You really must give Woddehouse a go. He writes the English goofball better than anybody. He was insanely popular in America and Europe as he defined the English as the World prefers to imagine them.

[@lowman621]

Hey Tristan this is Jason from the U.S. on your instagram. I haven't read Wodehouse yet and was thinking of starting with The Code of the Woosters. Would that be an ok starting point?

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Hiya Jason, great to hear from you. Code of the Woosters is amazing. but I would recommend The Mating Season first as the Code of the Woosters picks up from events in that book. So by all means start with those. I hope that you enjoy yourself.😀👍

[@lowman621]

Oh and I forgot as far as funny classics go I liked Three Men in a Boat by Jerome Jerome and Following the Equator by Mark Twain.

[@donovanmedieval]

Have you read S.J. Pearlman? He is more in the Jewish American tradition.

[@beckerabstracts]

Enjoyable video,what?

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

🤣🤣🤣