Jeeves And A Leap of Faith
A Jeeves and Wooster story
By Ben Schott
Jeeves and Wooster, originally created by
P.G. Wodehouse
I’ve had A Leap of Faith By Ben Shotts on my tbr review pile longer than I ever intended, but it gives me great pleasure to finally present my review. Find out more in the blurb and my review below. I thank Penguin for the opportunity to review
The Drones club’s in peril. Gussie’s in love. Spode’s on the war-path. Oh, and His Majesty’s Government needs a favour. I say – it’s a good thing Bertie’s back!
One man – and his Gentleman’s Personal Gentleman – valiantly set out to save the Drones, thwart Spode and nobly assist His Majesty’s Government.
From the mean streets of Mayfair to the scheming spires of Cambridge we encounter a joyous cast of characters: chiselling painters and criminal bookies, eccentric philosophers and dodgy clairvoyantes, appalling poets and pocket dictators, vexatious aunts and their vicious hounds.
Replete with a Times crossword, and classic Schottian endnotes, you hold in your hands the most blissfully entertaining means to while away an idle hour.
P.G. Wodehouse has long been a panacea for the woes of the world… have we ever needed a new Jeeves and Wooster more?
Review
The big question is of course – can Ben Schotts really recreate two loved characters convincingly with all the idiosyncrasies? The answer, mostly, yes, in a way as he pays respectful homage to the original creator of Jeeves and Bertie Wooster – P.G. Wodehouse.
It is perhaps a little different in plotting and premise, but the humour and characterisation in the main is there. In someways the premise of them doing a favour that involved MI5 is humorous in itself, with a mix of pastiche and modern jokes, as Schotts brings it respectfully up to date. Readers will be able to tell there is a passion for Jeeves and Wooster that comes from the author and transfers onto the page.
Once you get into the setting, then the characters can be enjoyed. The entertainment that is needed when certain things in the world is bleak, emerges and is all there, creating fun escapism for a whole new audience of readers and for those who have already acquainted themselves with the ubquiteous characters that do indeed provide a panacea to darker times.
It’s all in all, a fun book.
Bookmarks and Stages by Lou 