I have always thought that Wodehouse was treated so unfairly. He was not at all like Ezra Pound, for example. He did what he had to to survive and even keep his chin up, and was condemned as a traitor by those who were safe and comfortable at home.
I didn’t know that Orwell defended Wodehouse--yet another reason to admire him!
I don't know whether it' s the odd mood I'm in or the late hour but reading those five broadcast transcripts - and far removed from the terror, fear and horror of the war - I'm left with a deep respect for Wodehouse and the spirit with which he confronted the sadness and deprivation of that year. His closing remark ("...before concluding I should like once
more to thank all the kind people in America who wrote me letters while I was in
camp. Nobody who has not been in a prison camp can realize what letters,
especially letters like those I received, mean to an internee.') touched me. I have read none of the man's novels. I may never. But I will never again think of him as a "mere" humorist. The man's humility and decency resonate back to us across the years. Thank you for showing us this.
Ernie Cordwell, my working class Dad who worked as a delivery driver all his life, and somehow found himself in The Chindits in Burma, had three heroes - Al Jolson, PG Wodehous (he pronounced it as it's written!) and Tony Hancock. He read every one of Wodehouse's books and gave me my first PG novel (The Little Nugget) when I went into hospital to have my tonsils out, aged 14. I've loved all three of his heroes ever since and have three of my own - Dylan, Salinger and Orwell (and Rex Stout!).
Hope you don't mind me emailing the Wodehouse scene from our show, One Georgie Orwell, as well. If anyone else wants to read the scene and listen to the nine original songs, just provide an email address. 'One Georgie Orwell, there's only one Georgie Orwell...'
I have always thought that Wodehouse was treated so unfairly. He was not at all like Ezra Pound, for example. He did what he had to to survive and even keep his chin up, and was condemned as a traitor by those who were safe and comfortable at home.
I didn’t know that Orwell defended Wodehouse--yet another reason to admire him!
I don't know whether it' s the odd mood I'm in or the late hour but reading those five broadcast transcripts - and far removed from the terror, fear and horror of the war - I'm left with a deep respect for Wodehouse and the spirit with which he confronted the sadness and deprivation of that year. His closing remark ("...before concluding I should like once
more to thank all the kind people in America who wrote me letters while I was in
camp. Nobody who has not been in a prison camp can realize what letters,
especially letters like those I received, mean to an internee.') touched me. I have read none of the man's novels. I may never. But I will never again think of him as a "mere" humorist. The man's humility and decency resonate back to us across the years. Thank you for showing us this.
Have been waiting for coverage of this amazing episode. You dug up many details I didn't already know. Thank you.
The whole thing is like something that would have happened to one of Wodehouse's characters in one of Wodehouse's novels.
I love that you have a bibliography as part of this post. I wish that would become standard!
Ernie Cordwell, my working class Dad who worked as a delivery driver all his life, and somehow found himself in The Chindits in Burma, had three heroes - Al Jolson, PG Wodehous (he pronounced it as it's written!) and Tony Hancock. He read every one of Wodehouse's books and gave me my first PG novel (The Little Nugget) when I went into hospital to have my tonsils out, aged 14. I've loved all three of his heroes ever since and have three of my own - Dylan, Salinger and Orwell (and Rex Stout!).
Hope you don't mind me emailing the Wodehouse scene from our show, One Georgie Orwell, as well. If anyone else wants to read the scene and listen to the nine original songs, just provide an email address. 'One Georgie Orwell, there's only one Georgie Orwell...'