P. G. Wodehouse bibliography

Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE (/ˈwʊdhs/; 1881–1975) was a prolific English author, humorist and scriptwriter. After being educated at Dulwich College, to which he remained devoted all his life, he was employed by a bank, but disliked the work and wrote magazine pieces in his spare time.[1] In 1902 he published his first novel, The Pothunters, set at the fictional public school of St. Austin's; his early stories continued the school theme. He also used the school setting in his short story collections, which started in 1903 with the publication of Tales of St. Austin's.[2]

P. G. Wodehouse
bibliography
Novels71
Collections24
Poems1
Plays42
Scripts15
Letters2
Autobiographies3
Miscellany2
References and footnotes

Throughout his novel- and story-writing career Wodehouse created several regular comic characters with whom the public became familiar. These include Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves; the immaculate and loquacious Psmith; Lord Emsworth and the Blandings Castle set; the disaster-prone opportunist Ukridge; the Oldest Member, with stories about golf; and Mr Mulliner, with tales on numerous subjects from film studios to the Church of England.[1]

Wodehouse also wrote scripts and screenplays and, in August 1911, his script A Gentleman of Leisure was produced on the Broadway stage. In the 1920s and 1930s he collaborated with Jerome Kern and Guy Bolton in an arrangement that "helped transform the American musical" of the time;[3] in the Grove Dictionary of American Music Larry Stempel writes, "By presenting naturalistic stories and characters and attempting to integrate the songs and lyrics into the action of the libretto, these works brought a new level of intimacy, cohesion, and sophistication to American musical comedy."[4] His writing for plays also turned into scriptwriting, starting with the 1915 film A Gentleman of Leisure. He joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1930 for a year, and then worked for RKO Pictures in 1937.[5]

At the outbreak of the Second World War, and while living in northern France, Wodehouse was captured by the Germans and was interned for over a year. After his release he was tricked into making five comic and apolitical broadcasts on German radio to the still neutral US. After vehement protests in Britain, Wodehouse never returned to his home country, despite being cleared by an MI5 investigation. He moved to the US permanently in 1947 and took American citizenship in 1955, retaining his British nationality. He died in 1975, at the age of 93, in Southampton, New York, one month after he was awarded a knighthood of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). [1][6]

Novels

Wodehouse in 1930, aged 48
Cover of Wodehouse's first published novel, 1902
Cover of William Tell Told Again, 1904
Cover of Love Among the Chickens, 1906

Initially in chronological order by UK publication date, even when the book was published first in the US or serialised in a magazine in advance of publication in book form.

Wodehouse's novels
UK title[7][8][9][10]Year of UK
publication
UK publisher (All publishers based in London)US titleYear of US
publication
US publisher (New York, unless otherwise stated)SeriesNotes
The Pothunters1902A & C BlackThe Pothunters1924Macmillan PublishersSchool
A Prefect's Uncle1903A & C BlackA Prefect's Uncle1924Macmillan PublishersSchool
The Gold Bat1904A & C BlackThe Gold Bat1923Macmillan PublishersSchool
William Tell Told Again1904A & C BlackWilliam Tell Told Again1904Macmillan Publishers
The Head of Kay's1905A & C BlackThe Head of Kay's1922Macmillan PublishersSchool
Love Among the Chickens1906NewnesLove Among the Chickens1909CircleUkridgeA rewritten version was published in 1921
The White Feather1907A & C BlackThe White Feather1922Macmillan PublishersSchool
Not George Washington1907Cassell and Co.Not George Washington1909Cassell and Co.Co-authored with Herbert Westbrook; a semi-autobiographical novel
The Swoop!1909Alston RiversThe Swoop! and Other Stories1979Seabury Press
Mike1909A & C Black(See note)Psmith and SchoolSecond half published as Enter Psmith in 1935; both parts released in 1953, the first half as Mike at Wrykyn and the second as Mike and Psmith
A Gentleman of Leisure1910Alston RiversThe Intrusion of Jimmy1910WattAn earlier version, The Gem Collector, was published in Ainslee's Magazine in December 1909
Psmith in the City1910A & C BlackPsmith in the City1910Macmillan PublishersPsmith
The Prince and Betty1912Mills & BoonThe Prince and Betty1912WattThe US edition combines the plot of the UK publication with that of Psmith, Journalist
The Little Nugget1913Methuen PublishingThe Little Nugget1914WattSchool
Psmith, Journalist1915A & C BlackPsmith, Journalist1915Macmillan PublishersPsmith and Kid Brady
Something Fresh1915Methuen PublishingSomething New1915D. Appleton & CompanyBlandings Castle
Uneasy Money1917Methuen PublishingUneasy Money1916D. Appleton & Company
Piccadilly Jim1918JenkinsPiccadilly Jim1917Dodd, Mead and Company
A Damsel in Distress1919JenkinsA Damsel in Distress1919Doran
The Coming of Bill1920JenkinsTheir Mutual Child1919Boni & Liveright
Jill the Reckless1921JenkinsThe Little Warrior1920Doran
The Girl on the Boat1922JenkinsThree Men and a Maid1922Doran
The Adventures of Sally1922JenkinsMostly Sally1923Doran
Jeeves1923Burt (Doran)UK Edition unknown
Leave It to Psmith1923JenkinsLeave It to Psmith1924DoranPsmith and Blandings Castle
Bill the Conqueror1924Methuen PublishingBill the Conqueror1925Doran
Sam the Sudden1925Methuen PublishingSam in the Suburbs1925Doran
The Small Bachelor1927Methuen PublishingThe Small Bachelor1927Doran
Money for Nothing1928JenkinsMoney for Nothing1928Doubleday, Doran
Summer Lightning1929JenkinsFish Preferred1929Doubleday, DoranBlandings Castle
Big Money1931JenkinsBig Money1931Doubleday, Doran
If I Were You1931JenkinsIf I Were You1931Doubleday, Doran
Doctor Sally1932Methuen Publishing
Hot Water1932JenkinsHot Water1932Doubleday, Doran
Heavy Weather1933JenkinsHeavy Weather1933Little, Brown and CompanyBlandings Castle
Thank You, Jeeves1934JenkinsThank You, Jeeves1934Little, Brown and CompanyJeeves
Right Ho, Jeeves1934JenkinsBrinkley Manor1934Little, Brown and CompanyJeeves
The Luck of the Bodkins1935JenkinsThe Luck of the Bodkins1936Little, Brown and Company
Laughing Gas1936JenkinsLaughing Gas1936Doubleday, Doran
Summer Moonshine1938JenkinsSummer Moonshine1937Doubleday, Doran
The Code of the Woosters1938JenkinsThe Code of the Woosters1938Doubleday, DoranJeeves
Uncle Fred in the Springtime1939JenkinsUncle Fred in the Springtime1939Doubleday, DoranBlandings Castle and Uncle Fred
Quick Service1940JenkinsQuick Service1940Doubleday, Doran
Money in the Bank1946JenkinsMoney in the Bank1942Doubleday, Doran
Joy in the Morning1947JenkinsJoy in the Morning1946DoubledayJeevesThis has also been published as Jeeves in the Morning in the US
Full Moon1947JenkinsFull Moon1947DoubledayBlandings Castle
Spring Fever1948JenkinsSpring Fever1948Doubleday
Uncle Dynamite1948JenkinsUncle Dynamite1948Didier & Co.Uncle Fred
The Mating Season1949JenkinsThe Mating Season1949Didier & Co.Jeeves
The Old Reliable1950JenkinsThe Old Reliable1950Doubleday
Barmy in Wonderland1952JenkinsAngel Cake1952Doubleday
Pigs Have Wings1952JenkinsPigs Have Wings1952DoubledayBlandings Castle
Ring for Jeeves1953JenkinsThe Return of Jeeves1954Simon & SchusterJeeves
Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit1954JenkinsBertie Wooster Sees It Through1955Simon & SchusterJeeves
French Leave1956JenkinsFrench Leave1959Simon & Schuster
Something Fishy1957JenkinsThe Butler Did It1957Simon & Schuster
Cocktail Time1958JenkinsCocktail Time1958Simon & SchusterUncle Fred
Jeeves in the Offing1960JenkinsHow Right You Are, Jeeves1960Simon & SchusterJeeves
Ice in the Bedroom1961JenkinsThe Ice in the Bedroom1961Simon & Schuster
Service with a Smile1962JenkinsService with a Smile1961Simon & SchusterBlandings Castle and Uncle Fred
Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves1963JenkinsStiff Upper Lip, Jeeves1963Simon & SchusterJeeves
Frozen Assets1964JenkinsBiffen's Millions1964Simon & Schuster
Galahad at Blandings1965JenkinsThe Brinkmanship of Galahad Threepwood1965Simon & SchusterBlandings Castle
Company for Henry1967JenkinsThe Purloined Paperweight1967Simon & Schuster
Do Butlers Burgle Banks?1968JenkinsDo Butlers Burgle Banks?1968Simon & Schuster
A Pelican at Blandings1969JenkinsNo Nudes Is Good Nudes1970Simon & SchusterBlandings Castle
The Girl in Blue1970Barrie & JenkinsThe Girl in Blue1971Simon & Schuster
Much Obliged, Jeeves1971Barrie & JenkinsJeeves and the Tie That Binds1971Simon & SchusterJeeves
Pearls, Girls and Monty Bodkin1972Barrie & JenkinsThe Plot That Thickened1973Simon & Schuster
Bachelors Anonymous1973Barrie & JenkinsBachelors Anonymous1974Simon & Schuster
Aunts Aren't Gentlemen1974Barrie & JenkinsThe Cat-nappers1975Simon & SchusterJeeves
Sunset at Blandings1977Chatto & WindusSunset at Blandings1978Simon & SchusterBlandings CastleUnfinished
The Luck Stone1997Galahad Books


Short story collections

My Man Jeeves, 1920 edition
Psmith, drawn by T.M.R. Whitwell for first edition of Mike, 1909

In chronological order by UK publication date, even when the book was published first in the US or serialised in a magazine in advance of publication in book form.

Wodehouse's short story collections
UK title[7][8][10][11][12]Year of UK
publication
UK publisher (All publishers based in London)US titleYear of US
publication
US publisher (All publishers based in New York)SeriesNotes
Tales of St. Austin's1903A & C BlackTales of St. Austin's1923Macmillan PublishersSchool
The Man Upstairs1914Methuen Publishing
The Man with Two Left Feet1917Methuen PublishingThe Man With Two Left Feet1933DoranJeeves
My Man Jeeves1919NewnesJeevesMany rewritten for Carry On, Jeeves
Indiscretions of Archie1921JenkinsIndiscretions of Archie1921Doran
The Clicking of Cuthbert1922JenkinsGolf Without Tears1924DoranGolf
The Inimitable Jeeves1923JenkinsJeeves1923DoranJeevesWodehouse's biographer, Richard Usborne, considers this a "loosely stitched novel of eighteen chapters which make ten separate stories in The Jeeves Omnibus"[13]
Ukridge1924JenkinsHe Rather Enjoyed It1925Doran
Carry On, Jeeves1925JenkinsCarry On, Jeeves1927DoranJeeves
The Heart of a Goof1926JenkinsDivots1927DoranGolf
Meet Mr Mulliner1927JenkinsMeet Mr Mulliner1928Doubleday, DoranMr. Mulliner
Mr Mulliner Speaking1929JenkinsMr Mulliner Speaking1930Doubleday, DoranMr. Mulliner
Very Good, Jeeves1930JenkinsVery Good, Jeeves1930Doubleday, DoranJeeves
Mulliner Nights1933JenkinsMulliner Nights1933Doubleday, DoranMr. Mulliner
Blandings Castle and Elsewhere1935JenkinsBlandings Castle1935Doubleday, DoranBlandings Castle and Mr. Mulliner
Young Men in Spats1936JenkinsYoung Men in Spats1936Doubleday, Doran
Lord Emsworth and Others1937JenkinsCrime Wave at Blandings1937Doubleday, DoranBlandings Castle, Golf, Ukridge
Eggs, Beans and Crumpets1940JenkinsEggs, Beans and Crumpets1940Doubleday, Doran
Nothing Serious1950JenkinsNothing Serious1950Doubleday, DoranBlandings Castle, Golf, Ukridge
A Few Quick Ones1959JenkinsA Few Quick Ones1959Simon & SchusterJeeves, Ukridge, Mr. Mulliner
Plum Pie1966JenkinsPlum Pie1967Simon & SchusterJeeves, Blandings, Ukridge, Mr. MullinerShort stories, poems, essay
The Uncollected Wodehouse1976Seabury Press
A Man of Means1991Porpoise Books
Plum Stones1993Galahad Books
Tales of Wrykyn and Elsewhere1997Porpoise BooksSchool
Enter Jeeves1997Dover PublicationsJeeves, Reggie PepperEarly Jeeves stories and all Reggie Pepper stories
Kid Brady Stories and A Man of Means2013Everyman BooksKid Brady Stories and A Man of Means2013The Overlook PressKid Brady

Individual short stories

Wodehouse wrote more than 300 short stories.[14] Many of these stories were originally published in magazines and subsequently published in short story collections. Wodehouse also contributed other works to periodicals such as articles and poems, and some of Wodehouse's novels were originally serialised in magazines as well.[15]

Plays

Cover of sheet music of "The Lilt of a Gypsy Strain" from The Riviera Girl, 1917
Tom Powers and Beatrice Lillie in the London production of the Bolton, Wodehouse and Kern show Oh, Boy!, 1919
Wodehouse in 1904, aged 23
Plays by Wodehouse
Title[16][17][18][19][20]Location of first performanceDate of first performanceYear of
publication
Publisher (All publishers based in London)Notes
After the ShowUnknown1911By Wodehouse and Herbert Westbrook
A Gentleman of LeisurePlayhouse Theatre, New York24 August 1911By Wodehouse and John Stapleton; adaptation of Wodehouse's novel A Gentleman of Leisure
A Thief for the NightMcVicker's Theater, Chicago13 March 1913By Wodehouse and John Stapleton; revival of A Gentleman of Leisure
Brother AlfredSavoy Theatre, London8 April 1913By Wodehouse and Herbert Westbrook; adaptation of Wodehouse's short story "Rallying Round Old George"
Nuts and WineEmpire Theatre, London4 January 1914By Wodehouse and C.H. Bovill
Have a HeartLiberty Theatre, New York11 January 19171913New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton; music by Jerome Kern
Oh Boy!Princess Theatre, New York20 February 19171917New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton; revised for the UK as Oh Joy!
Leave It to JaneLongacre Theatre, New York28 August 19171917New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton; music by Jerome Kern
Kitty Darlin'Teck Theatre, Buffalo, New York19 September 19171918New York and Boston: G. SchirmerBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton
The Riviera GirlNew Amsterdam Theatre, New York24 September 19171917New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton
Miss 1917Century Theatre, New York5 November 19171917New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton
Oh, Lady! Lady!!Princess Theatre, New York1 February 19181918New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton; music by Jerome Kern
See You LaterAcademy of music, Baltimore, Maryland15 April 19181918New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton
The Girl Behind the GunNew Amsterdam Theatre, New York16 September 19181918New York and London: Chappell & CoBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton; revised for the UK as Kissing Time
The CanaryGlobe Theatre, New York4 November 1918By Wodehouse and Guy Bolton
Oh, My Dear!Princess Theatre, New York27 November 19181918New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton
The Rose of ChinaLyric Theatre New York25 November 19191919New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton
SallyNew Amsterdam Theatre, New York21 December 19201920New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Clifford Grey, Buddy De Sylva and Anne Caldwell; music by Jerome Kern
The Golden MothAdelphi Theatre, London5 October 19211921London : Ascherberg, Hopwood & CrewBy Wodehouse and Fred Thompson
The Cabaret GirlWinter Garden Theatre, London19 September 19221922London and Sydney: Chappell; New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and George Grossmith; music by Jerome Kern
The Beauty PrizeWinter Garden Theatre, London5 September 19231923London and Sydney: Chappell; New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and George Grossmith; music by Jerome Kern
Sitting PrettyFulton Theatre, New York8 April 19241925New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton; music by Jerome Kern
Hearts and DiamondsStrand Theatre1 June 19261926London: ProwseBy Wodehouse and Laurie Wylie; adaptation of The Orlov by Biuno Granichstaedten and Ernst Marischka
The Play's the ThingHenry Miller's Theatre, New York3 November 19261927New York: Brentano'sAdaptation of a play by Ferenc Molnár
Oh, Kay!Imperial Theatre, New York8 November 19261926London and Sydney: Chappell; New York: T.B. HarmsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton; music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Her Cardboard LoverEmpire Theatre, New York21 March 1927By Wodehouse and Valerie Wyngate; music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin; based on Dans sa candeur naïve by Jacques Deval
Good Morning, BillDuke of York's Theatre, London28 November 19271928London: MethuenAdapted from a play by Ladislaus Fodor
The Three MusketeersLyric Theatre, New York13 March 19281937London: ChappellBy Wodehouse and Clifford Grey; adaptation of The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
A Damsel in DistressNew Theatre, London13 August 19281930London: Samuel FrenchBy Wodehouse and Ian Hay; adaptation of Wodehouse's novel A Damsel in Distress
Baa, Baa, Black SheepNew Theatre, London22 April 19291930London: Samuel FrenchBy Wodehouse and Ian Hay
Candle-lightEmpire Theatre, New York30 September 19291934London and New York: Samuel FrenchAdapted from a play by Siegfried Geyer
Leave It to PsmithShaftesbury Theatre, London30 September 19301931London: Samuel FrenchBy Wodehouse and Ian Hay; adaptation of Wodehouse's novel Leave It to Psmith
Who's WhoDuke of York's Theatre, London20 September 1934By Wodehouse and Guy Bolton; adaptation of Wodehouse's novel If I Were You
Anything GoesAlvin Theatre21 November 19341936New York: Samuel FrenchBy Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse; lyrics and music by Cole Porter
The Inside StandSaville Theatre, London21 November 1935By Wodehouse and Guy Bolton; adaptation of Wodehouse's novel Hot Water
ArthurAdapted in 1947 from Jemand by Ferenc Molnár; not produced
Game of HeartsAdapted in 1947 from a play by Ferenc Molnár; not produced
Don't Listen, LadiesSt James's Theatre, London2 September 1948By Wodehouse (as Stephen Powys) and Guy Bolton; adapted from a play by Sacha Guitry
Nothing Serious1950No major productions, but produced in the provinces by touring companies
PhippsBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton in 1951; not produced
Come On, Jeeves1956London: EvansBy Wodehouse and Guy Bolton; no major productions, but produced in the provinces by touring companies[21]
Oh, Clarence!Opera House, Manchester; later Lyric Theatre, London and on tour29 July 19681969London: English Theatre GuildAdapted by John Chapman from Blandings Castle stories[22]

Films

Advertisement for A Gentleman of Leisure (1923)
Illustration from the 1910 novel A Gentleman of Leisure
Films written in whole or part by Wodehouse
Title[17][23][24]Year of releaseStudioNotes
A Gentleman of Leisure1915Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Co.Based on the play A Gentleman of Leisure by John Stapleton and Wodehouse
A Damsel in Distress1919Albert Capellani ProductionsBased on Wodehouse's 1919 novel A Damsel in Distress
Piccadilly Jim1919Selznick PicturesBased on Wodehouse's 1917 novel Piccadilly Jim
The Prince and Betty1919Jesse D. Hampton ProductionsBased on Wodehouse's 1912 novel The Prince and Betty
Oh, Lady, Lady1920Realart PicturesBased on the play Oh, Lady! Lady!! by Guy Bolton, Jerome Kern and Wodehouse
A Gentleman of Leisure1923Paramount PicturesBased on the play A Gentleman of Leisure by John Stapleton and Wodehouse
The Golden Butterfly1926Sascha-Film / Phoebus FilmGerman-Danish-Austrian film. Based on the short story "The Making of Mac's" from The Man with Two Left Feet
Oh, Kay!1928First National PicturesBased on Wodehouse's 1926 play Oh, Kay!
Those Three French Girls1930Cosmopolitan ProductionsDialogue by Wodehouse
The Man in Possession1931Metro-Goldwyn-MayerAdditional dialogue by Wodehouse
Brother Alfred1932British International PicturesBased on the play Brother Alfred by Herbert Westbrook and Wodehouse
Leave It to Me1933British International PicturesBased on Wodehouse's 1923 novel Leave It to Psmith
Summer Lightning1933British and Dominions Film CorporationBased on Wodehouse's 1929 novel Summer Lightning
Anything Goes1936Paramount PicturesBased on the play Anything Goes by Guy Bolton, Cole Porter and Wodehouse
Piccadilly Jim1936Metro-Goldwyn-MayerBased on Wodehouse's 1917 novel Piccadilly Jim
Thank You, Jeeves!193620th Century FoxBased on Wodehouse's 1934 novel Thank You, Jeeves
Step Lively, Jeeves193720th Century FoxBased the characters created by Wodehouse
A Damsel in Distress1937RKO PicturesScreenwriter; Based on his 1919 novel A Damsel in Distress
Rosalie1937Metro-Goldwyn-MayerBased on the 1928 musical play Rosalie by George Gershwin, Sigmund Romberg, Ira Gershwin and Wodehouse
Thunder and Lightning1938Svensk FilmindustriSwedish film. Based on Wodehouse's 1929 novel Summer Lightning
Anything Goes1956Paramount PicturesBased on the play Anything Goes by Guy Bolton, Cole Porter and Wodehouse
The Girl on the Boat1961Knightsbridge FilmsBased on Wodehouse's 1921 novel The Girl on the Boat
Piccadilly Jim2004Myriad PicturesBased on Wodehouse's 1917 novel Piccadilly Jim

Autobiographies and miscellany

Wodehouse with his adopted daughter Leonora, 1930

The following is a collection of published autobiographical and miscellaneous work. There are transcripts available of the five broadcasts he made, available online, including through the PG Wodehouse Society (UK).[25]

Wodehouse's autobiographical works
UK title[7][8][9][10]Year of UK
publication
UK publisher
(All publishers
based in London)
US titleYear of US
publication
US publisher
(All publishers
based in New York)
Notes
The Globe By the Way Book1908Globe PublishingWith Herbert Westbrook; collected journalism
Louder and Funnier1932Faber and FaberArticles written for Vanity Fair
Bring on the Girls!1954JenkinsBring on the Girls!1953Simon & SchusterSemi-autobiographical stories, in collaboration with Guy Bolton
Performing Flea1953JenkinsAuthor! Author!1962Simon & SchusterA collection of letters, with notes
Over Seventy1957JenkinsAmerica, I Like You1956Simon & Schuster
The Parrot and Other Poems1990HutchinsonPoems
Yours, Plum: the letters of P. G. Wodehouse1988HutchinsonCorrespondence; edited by Frances Donaldson
A Life in Letters2011HutchinsonA Life in Letters2013W. W. Norton & CompanyCorrespondence; edited by Sophie Ratcliffe

References and sources

References

Sources