Bertie, as a rule, stays well away from his Aunt Agatha. She, it is rumoured, eats broken bottles and conducts human sacrifices at the time of the full moon. She is married to a Lord Worplesdon, father of the formidable Lady Florence Craye, an intellectual and serious young woman who was once engaged to Bertie. It is hardly surprising that Bertie wishes to give the town of Steeple Bumpleigh, Lord Worplesdon’s seat, a wide berth.
But fate would have otherwise, as there were multiple twists thrown in, including a clandestine meeting with an American businessman, a brooch, an enthusiastic boy scout, a fancy dress ball, a playwright friend, a fire at a cottage and an overzealous policeman. The end result is that all is settled before the imperious Aunt Agatha returns and expresses displeasure at the goings-on in her absence.
As Bertie notes, “Joy cometh in the morning” just about sums up all that he has been through at Steeple Bumpleigh. A hilarious romp which will have you laughing out loud, it is considered by a fervent few to be Wodehouse’s masterpiece. I personally prefer The Code of the Woosters, simply for the existence of the cow creamer. But this is a close second.