Right Ho, Jeeves

Starred review from October 26, 2009
Martin Jarvis again lends his talents to the works of Wodehouse, this time delivering an outstanding rendition of the misadventures of Bertie Wooster and his indispensable valet, Jeeves. We follow Bertie from one madcap exploit to the next, as he and Jeeves attempt to navigate a wacky world replete with love triangles, meddling aunts and irate chefs, and populated by the likes of Gussie Fink-Nottle, the renowned newt fancier; the gluttonous Tuppy Glossop; and the loopy Madeline Bassett. When a controversial addition to the young master's wardrobe begins to undermine Bertie's relationship with Jeeves, will Bertie be able to go it alone and extricate himself from imbroglio after imbroglio? Jarvis shines; his portrayal of Bertie, Jeeves and the entire bizarre cast is meticulous.

Narrator Simon Jones breathes life into the character of English gentleman Bertie Wooster as he tries to assist in three different love affairs--with disastrous yet comic consequences. Jones shines in conveying the superciliousness of Wooster; the level-headedness of his valet, Jeeves; and the crazy antics of the lovelorn. A comedy of errors ensues that only worsens as Wooster tries to play matchmaker, a situation that Jones plays to great effect. He particularly makes the listener laugh in the scene where the teetotaler Gussie Fink-Nottle gets drunk before speaking at a school awards ceremony and says all manner of inappropriate things. Jones then wraps things up as Jeeves steps in at the end of the book to save the day and fix the muddle created by Wooster. V.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine


Setting out to prove that he can solve problems with the skill of his butler, Jeeves, Bertie Wooster schemes to help Gussie Fink-Nottle and Tuppy Glossop with their romantic problems. Of course, Bertie's plans are destined to "strew ruin and desolation" in the manner of Attila the Hun, as his Aunt Dahlia suggests. Jonathan Cecil reads the story with a fine ear for comic wordplay and absurdity, giving fitting caricatured voices to the likes of Fink-Nottle and Glossop. He gives Wooster's first-person narrative the right balance, letting the bumbling hero misread situations as needed. The chaos builds toward a crescendo of levity that will be a favorite among Wodehouse fans. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine