I'll Be Dashed: A Wodehouse Podcast
21 episodes Last Updated: Oct 01, 24
A podcast about the works of PG Wodehouse by a father, who has read most of the Wodehouse bibliography, and a daughter who had read none of it before the two decided to do a podcast together. We will go through all the novels and short story collections, including Jeeves, Blandings Castle, Psmith, and all the Mulliners, Bodkins, and Ukridges that you can throw a stick at, not that you should be throwing sticks. We'll discuss the stories and how they read 50-100 years later, as well as keep track of all the saving from drowning attempts, stealing a police officer's helmets, breaches of promise, and awful aunts, as well as doing some meandering of our own that would make Wooster proud. Right ho!
Episodes
Oct 01, 2024
The Adventures of Sally
The Adventures of Sally is one of PG Wodehouse's few books with a female main character (several are mentioned in the podcast, but one that wasn't is Doctor Sally--who is an entirely different Sally). Even though both Scott and Robyn enjoyed the novel, it isn't (as most books both generally enjoy) significantly shorter, in part because of discussion of whether or not The Adventures of Sally is Wodehouse's attempt at a thriller or horror novel. It might be.
Sep 01, 2024
Psmith, Journalist
This month we speak about Psmith, Journalist, the third book in the Mike and Psmith series and the last one we are covering, much to Robyn's consternation. If you're a die-hard fan of the character of Psmith, this might not be the episode for you. But if you would like to listen to Robyn (and to some extent, Scott) go off on him, definitely listen up. Also, we discuss whether or not this is the Wodehouse novel with the most slurs, while also being pretty sure it is the novel with the highest body count.
Aug 07, 2024
The Prince and Betty
This episode Robyn and Scott discuss The Prince and Betty, which has the character Rupert Smith in it, but is not part of the Psmith series, although it does have essentially the same plot as Psmith, Journalist. We also discuss Wodehouse's misuse of Latin, whether this is the most slur-filled novel (maybe?), and go off on more than one tangent. Also, it's really starting to seem that Wodehouse has a real Sherlock Holmes issue, but at least he didn't slag Dr. Watson this novel.Note: Episodes are usually posted on the 1st of the month, but there was a corrupted external hard drive issue. Apologies.
Jul 01, 2024
Summer Lightning
Summer Lightning is the third Blandings Castle novel, in which we are first introducted to both the prized pig Empress of Blandings (at least her novel debut) and Lord Emsworth's brother, Galahad Threepwood. Lord Emsworth also has a new secretary, as well as two young relationships that seem to interfere with his time in the garden. Pigs are stolen, Baxter is efficient, and one of likes tea, and the other...does not. Robyn misses Freddie, but finds herself of a like mind to Lord Emsworth, and Scott wants her to talk a little more.
Jun 01, 2024
Very Good, Jeeves
Very Good, Jeeves, is the last Jeeves and Wooster collection. Although individual Jeeves and Wooster stories would appear in collections, all Jeeves and Wooster books that appear after this one are novels. As Robyn points out, this is probably a good thing, as the short stories start to get a little bit repetitious. In this episode, we learn once again that Robyn feels like the suggestion to talk more is fulfilled as long as random words are used and we discover the character Scott dislikes more than any other Wodehouse character.
May 01, 2024
A Prefect's Uncle
On this podcast, Scott and Robyn discuss A Prefect's Uncle, Wodehouse's second published novel, and another book that involves school boys and cricket. This is one of Wodehouse's shorter works, and we try to have the podcast length be in according with it, but there is a lot of talk about small talk, Robyn's problems with the second to last chapter, and more insight into the workings of the familial eccentricities.
Apr 01, 2024
A Damsel in Distress
In this episode Robyn and Scott discuss A Damsel in Distress, published in 1919. It reads much like a Blandings Castle novel, with an earl harried by his sister and employees trying to make him write family histories, when all he wants to do is work in his garden. His daughter is trying to reconnect with the man she met the summer before, but in doing so, runs iinto George Bevan, who in a change for a Wodehouse novel immediately falls in love with her. Soon there is mistaken identity and servants warring against each other, as well as Robyn completely hating a character in the last few pages.
Mar 01, 2024
Love Among the Chickens
Robyn and Scott discuss Love Among the Chickens, published in 1906 and having the first appearance of Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge, possibly Wodehouse's longest-running character (by duration, not appearances). Things get heated over discussion of the character of Jeremy Garnet, and Robyn displays a previously unknown black belt in debating. She will also be hit by an egg in six weeks and won't understand why. Also, are chickens and ducks different?
Feb 01, 2024
The Little Nugget
Scott and Robyn read the 1913 novel The Little Nugget, one of the money Wodehouse novels that seems to concentrate inordinately on the kidnapping of an odious child. Robyn continues her woes about the string of books without the "lovable idiot" characters she loves so much. Wodehouse uses an American dialect that makes Americans, particularly those recording a podcast about this book, think his opinion of them was somewhat low. Wodehouse had either a hidden vicious side or a lack of knowledge about feeding chocolate to dogs. And Robyn hates children.
Jan 01, 2024
Leave It To Psmith
Scott and Robyn discuss Leave It to Psmith, the second Blandings Castle novel AND the final Mike and Psmith (now with almost no Mike) novel--but Robyn and Scott still have Psmith, Journalist to read. This podcast continues Robyn's eternal hate of Psmith, as well as her confusing love of Freddie Threepwood. Now, let us throw some flower pots through the window, steal a necklace or two, and find some way to fire the efficient Baxter!