P. G. Wodehouse - Icon Profile | Alexandria
P. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975), born Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, stands as one of the most influential and prolific humorists of the 20th century, whose masterful command of the English language and creation of the rarefied world of Edwardian upper-class comedy has earned him a singular position in literary history. Known affectionately as "Plum" to friends and admirers, Wodehouse crafted an extensive literary universe populated by memorable characters such as the ingenious valet Jeeves and his wealthy but dim-witted employer Bertie Wooster.
Born in Guildford, Surrey, Wodehouse's early life was shaped by the colonial experience of the British Empire, spending his formative years in Hong Kong and later attending Dulwich College in London. His first published piece appeared in 1901 in Public School Magazine, marking the beginning of a career that would span over seven decades and produce 96 books, 300 short stories, and numerous musical theater lyrics. The author's early works, including "The Pothunters" (1902), already displayed his characteristic wit and precision with language, though his signature style would fully emerge in the 1910s with the introduction of Jeeves in the short story "Extricating Young Gussie" (1915).
Wodehouse's career was not without controversy, particularly regarding his wartime broadcasts from Nazi-occupied France in 1941, which led to accusations of collaboration—a complex episode that scholars continue to debate. Despite this shadow, his literary achievements remained undimmed, with his works maintaining their popularity through changing social and cultural landscapes. His precisely crafted prose, described by Stephen Fry as "musical," combined with an intricate plotting style that borrowed from classical comedy while creating something entirely original.
The author's influence extends far beyond his own time, with his works continuing to inspire adaptations, homages, and scholarly analysis. Awarded a knighthood in 1975, shortly before his death, Wodehouse's legacy persists through the Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction and his enduring impact on British humor and literary style. His creation of Blandings Castle and its inhabitants, along with the Drones Club and its memorable members, offers more than mere entertainment—it provides a lens through which to examine class, society, and the enduring power of humor to transcend both.