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.
The transcripts were really innocent and Orwell's essay is very humane about putting PGW is his social context and then ripping against the propaganda machine on the British side.
It's funny. He's not taken seriously by literary critics, but he is still much beloved and people remember him. There are a lot of books and articles I looked at to come up with something interesting. I read the transcripts of the broadcasts and they were just funny. But today we see similar bans of artists from countries we don't like.
Bibliography is my favorite thing to do--sometimes I overdo. But if I do one I can make the essays a little more casual. I was glad to add the links to the Broadcasts as once I read them it seemed super unfair to PGW. Now I need to watch that movie!
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.
The transcripts were really innocent and Orwell's essay is very humane about putting PGW is his social context and then ripping against the propaganda machine on the British side.
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.
It's funny. He's not taken seriously by literary critics, but he is still much beloved and people remember him. There are a lot of books and articles I looked at to come up with something interesting. I read the transcripts of the broadcasts and they were just funny. But today we see similar bans of artists from countries we don't like.
I love that you have a bibliography as part of this post. I wish that would become standard!
Bibliography is my favorite thing to do--sometimes I overdo. But if I do one I can make the essays a little more casual. I was glad to add the links to the Broadcasts as once I read them it seemed super unfair to PGW. Now I need to watch that movie!
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 got it--it was wonderful. Can I have a link to the whole show? Who did that music?
Emailed too. I did the words and Bill Crow the music and singing.
Sent the link to the show by email.
Best, Peter
Your father & GO in Burma.
o yes! send to me--klmccook@gmail.com