P. G. Wodehouse

P.G. Wodehouse is one of the greatest comic writers in the English language — a British-born author whose novels, short stories, and plays created a world of sublime absurdity that has delighted readers for over a century. Born Pelham Grenville Wodehouse in Guildford, Surrey in 1881, he was educated at Dulwich College and briefly worked at a bank before devoting himself to writing. He was extraordinarily prolific — producing over ninety books, as well as plays, lyrics, and screenplays, across a career spanning more than seven decades. Jeeves and Wooster — the inimitable valet and his hapless employer Bertie Wooster — are among the most beloved characters in English literature. The Blandings Castle novels, the Mr Mulliner stories, the Psmith series, and the Ukridge stories all inhabit a world of country houses, eccentric aristocrats, formidable aunts, and comic misunderstandings rendered in prose of crystalline perfection. A Prisoner of War is among his works reflecting his wartime experiences. Wodehouse's prose style is often described as perfect — his sentences are meticulously crafted, his metaphors are inspired, and his comic timing on the page is unmatched. He takes the English language and makes it dance, sparkle, and do backflips. He became a US citizen in 1955, was knighted in 1975, and died later that year, aged ninety-three. The audiobook editions of Wodehouse's works are a particular joy — his prose is made to be read aloud and performed. His books and audiobooks are essential for anyone who loves comedy, brilliant prose, and the finest humorous writing in the English language.