I'll Be Dashed: A Wodehouse Podcast I'll Be Dashed

On this podcast, Scott and Robyn discuss A Prefect's Uncle, Wodehouse's second published novel, and another book that involves school boys and cricket. This is one of Wodehouse's shorter works, and we try to have the podcast length be in according with it, but there is a lot of talk about small talk, Robyn's problems with the second to last chapter, and more insight into the workings of the familial eccentricities.

In this episode Robyn and Scott discuss A Damsel in Distress, published in 1919. It reads much like a Blandings Castle novel, with an earl harried by his sister and employees trying to make him write family histories, when all he wants to do is work in his garden. His daughter is trying to reconnect with the man she met the summer before, but in doing so, runs iinto George Bevan, who in a change for a Wodehouse novel immediately falls in love with her. Soon there is mistaken identity and servants warring against each other, as well as Robyn completely hating a character in the last few pages.

Robyn and Scott discuss Love Among the Chickens, published in 1906 and having the first appearance of Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge, possibly Wodehouse's longest-running character (by duration, not appearances). Things get heated over discussion of the character of Jeremy Garnet, and Robyn displays a previously unknown black belt in debating. She will also be hit by an egg in six weeks and won't understand why. Also, are chickens and ducks different?

Scott and Robyn read the 1913 novel The Little Nugget, one of the money Wodehouse novels that seems to concentrate inordinately on the kidnapping of an odious child. Robyn continues her woes about the string of books without the "lovable idiot" characters she loves so much. Wodehouse uses an American dialect that makes Americans, particularly those recording a podcast about this book, think his opinion of them was somewhat low. Wodehouse had either a hidden vicious side or a lack of knowledge about feeding chocolate to dogs. And Robyn hates children.

Scott and Robyn discuss Leave It to Psmith, the second Blandings Castle novel AND the final Mike and Psmith (now with almost no Mike) novel--but Robyn and Scott still have Psmith, Journalist to read. This podcast continues Robyn's eternal hate of Psmith, as well as her confusing love of Freddie Threepwood. Now, let us throw some flower pots through the window, steal a necklace or two, and find some way to fire the efficient Baxter!

Set in Paris and London, this stand-alone novel published in the 1960s opens with one of Wodehouse's funniest scenes. We have love at first sight--well, second sight, after a bit of recognition--and a dog inserted into the plot for the sake of one corny joke, plus two male friends...who actually like each other? Is this a Wodehouse novel? Plus, a lawyer with stomach issues who ends up being the best character in the novel, according to one of us. Plus, Scott and Robyn go off on a tangent--again--discussing what it means to be a functioning alcoholic.