Leave It to Psmith - Classic Text | Alexandria
Among the most celebrated comic novels of the twentieth century, "Leave It to Psmith" (1923) stands as a masterful demonstration of P. G. Wodehouse's genius for combining farce, romantic comedy, and sophisticated wordplay. The novel, which marks the final appearance of Psmith (the 'P' is silent) and connects the Psmith series with Wodehouse's Blandings Castle saga, first appeared as a serial in the Saturday Evening Post under the title "Psmith Journalist" before being published as a book by Herbert Jenkins in the UK.
Set against the backdrop of Britain's post-World War I social transformation, the story follows the adventures of Ronald Eustace Psmith, an impeccably dressed young man who, having inherited a fish business he has no interest in running, advertises himself in The Morning Globe as someone willing to do "anything, anywhere." This leads him to Blandings Castle, where he impersonates a poet named McTodd, becomes entangled in a plot to steal Lady Constance's necklace, and falls in love with Eve Halliday, all while maintaining his characteristic unflappable demeanor and precise, flowery manner of speech.
The novel represents a pivotal moment in Wodehouse's literary development, masterfully blending the urban sophistication of his earlier Psmith stories with the pastoral comedy that would come to define his Blandings Castle series. Its influence can be traced through decades of British humor, from the works of Evelyn Waugh to modern television comedies. The character of Psmith himself, with his monocle, elegant suits, and habit of addressing everyone as "Comrade," has become an archetype of the intelligent, verbose, and slightly absurd English gentleman.
Today, "Leave It to Psmith" continues to captivate readers with its intricate plot machinations, sparkling dialogue, and keen observations of social class and human nature. Its enduring appeal lies not only in its humor but in its portrait of a world where intelligence, wit, and good manners can overcome any obstacle, offering a kind of escapism that remains as appealing now as it was in the uncertain years following the Great War.