P. G. Wodehouse (pronounced 'wood house') was a master of sophisticated humor, wit, and the
topsy-turvy sequences of events in his stories that delight a patient, die-hard reader. In a word, you have to "wait for it".
In this collection
, Mulliner Nights, his character, Mr. Mulliner, weaves spellbinding tales for his fellow denizens of the Angler's Rest pub. These patrons are referred to by the names of their favorite "usuals" - "Lemon Bitter" , "Rum and Milk" or "Whiskey and Splash" - and the personalities of the guests bear a striking resemblance to the named beverages.
These patrons gather nightly in this cozy retreat for rambling, pointless, and relaxing
conversation. But no matter the subject of the conversation, Mulliner manages to steer it toward one of the amazing misadventures, disasters, or narrow escapes of one of his own family members.
His listeners are rapt.
This particular collection of nine stories recalls comedies of error in which some beloved family pet, maybe a cat, displays more honor, dignity, and
resourcefulness than its owner. Some characterizations of the animals have suspiciously and decidedly human qualities. Wodehouse can be forgiven his shameless anthropomorphism because you will be laughing too hard to care.
It is a statement about the charming, superfluous and utterly useless upper classes, their ridiculous notions about themselves and others, their mania about their pets and their hilarious idiosyncrasies.
Wodehouse's erudition, and smooth, nearly flawless rendering of humor through the usually stiff and
oh-so-proper British English language is delightful.