Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse was a versatile twentieth century English literary figure, best known for writing satirist prose, novels, short stories and plays. He dedicated seventy years of his life to successful writing that consists of 30 musical comedies, 250 lyrics and 15 plays and more. His famous works include the Jeeves and Blandings Castle novels.
On October 15, 1881, in Guildford, Surrey, England, Wodehouse was born to Henry Ernest Wodehouse and Eleanor. At the time of his birth, his father was in Hong Kong serving as a British Judge. When he turned three, he was sent back to England under a governess’ care. He attended several boarding schools since a very early age and rarely had the opportunity to see his parents. Nonetheless, he bonded with his brother as both of them were enamored of the art. Whenever he had spare time, he invested it in spend vigorous writing. He attended three different schools before he was enrolled at Dulwich College, where he was recognized for being a sportsperson and for his acute academic skills. He was an active participant in extra-curricular activities which include contribution to college magazine and representation of his school in acting, boxing and rugby.
Following his graduation, Wodehouse intended to retrace his brother’s footstep, who went to Oxford University. Owing to financial circumstances, he dropped the idea and found a banking job in London on his father’s reference. After a brief stint in banking, he realized that he was ill-equipped for the job and lacked interest. Therefore, he quit the job to pursue writing as a journalist. In 1902, The Globe hired him for the comic column that was previously handled by his friend. Henceforth, Wodehouse wrote for some of the foremost magazines of the era; Punch, Daily Express and Vanity Fair. Additionally, he also covered the story section featured in some schoolboys’ magazines. Subsequently, these stories were complied to be published in novel and playlet forms. His colleague collaborated with him in collection of six short stories published as A Man of Means. It was not until the serialized publication of Something New in The Saturday Evening Post that he came into limelight.
Besides The Saturday Evening Post, multitude of his serialized fiction appeared in The Strand. Some of these works include The Pothunters (1902), A Perfect Uncle (1903) and Love Among the Chickens (1906). In addition to fiction writing, his versatility also encompassed the skill of lyric writing. In collaboration with Jerome Kern and Guy Bolton, he began composing lyrics for musicals. He contributed his lyrical compositions to a host of musicals, such as The Gay Gordons, Anything Goes, Show Boat and The Three Musketeers. In fact, he briefly took up screenwriting for Hollywood during 1930s.
Subsequent to marrying Ethel Wayman in New York, Wodehouse divided his time between United States and Britain. In 1934, in order to evade double taxation, he settled in France and remained there even after the outbreak of the Second World War. Consequently, the Germans arrested and detained him. He recounted his interment experience on a radio broadcast adding some humor to it. His imprudent jokes brought him under suspicion of treason, thus his works were banned by the British government. However, an investigation cleared of him of involvement in any treacherous act. That episode left him dejected, hence he immigrated to United States and stayed there till his death in 1975. Despite everything he continued to write. P. G. Wodehouse’s later notable works include Doctor Sally, Psmith in the City, A Damsel In Distress, and Performing Flea: A Self-Portrait In Letters.
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