Uncle Fred in the Springtimeby P.G. Wodehouse
Publisher's Blurb:
Frederick Altamont Cornwallis Twistleton, Fifth Earl of Ickenham, better known as Uncle Fred, is back “to spread sweetness and light” wherever he goes. At the request of Lord Emsworth, Uncle Fred journeys to Blandings Castle to steal the Empress of Blandings before the ill-tempered, egg-throwing Duke of Dunstable can lay claim to her. Disguised as the eminent nerve specialist Sir Roderick Glossop, and with his distressed nephew Pongo in tow, Uncle Fred must not only steal a pig but also reunite a young couple and diagnose various members of the upper class with imaginary mental illnesses, all before his domineering wife realizes he’s escaped their country estate.
My Reaction:
(This was a shared read with Donald. No specific notes.)
Plenty of laughs, as always!
We agreed that some of the relationships/characters in this book were a bit confusing. So many dukes, lords, and earls! (And for us-- simple, modern folk from the U.S. and Sweden-- the distinction between an earl and a duke is negligible, at best.) So many nieces, nephews, and sons! We could have used some sort of diagram or chart to keep them sorted. Of course, keeping track of exact relationships isn't necessary to enjoyment of the wit and humor, and we managed to work things out even without a helpful character list. ;o)
I think I found this slightly less sparkling and hilarious than some of Wodehouse's other books. I'm not sure why... It just struck me as less laugh-out-loud and glowing than I remember some of the others being... But still a nice read!
Recommended to Wodehouse fans, but I wouldn't suggest it as an introduction to the author.
