9 Comments
User's avatar
Maria (Linnesby essays)'s avatar

Oh, this is wonderful! How marvelous to have a Wodehouse novel with this kind of informed discussion of the economic/regulatory context around it. Enjoyed it very much.

Expand full comment
E.J. Barnes's avatar

Thank you so much! It was great fun to read and write.

Expand full comment
Jacqueline Saville's avatar

This sounds fab and I have added it to my ever-growing To Read list. Lord Emsworth's son marries a rich American in the Blandings series, and I'm fairly sure I remember one in Jeeves and Wooster too, to stop the loss of a stately home. In fact now I come to think of it, in the first Blandings novel (Something Fresh) there's a similar situation as Big Money, with an American girl secured for her fortune and then neither party seems keen so they call it off. Interesting. Psmith in the City is set in the financial world but that of course is pre-WW1.

Expand full comment
Anna Sayburn Lane's avatar

I too read it over Christmas and found it entertaining, if not reaching the sublime heights of Bertie Wooster. The financial backdrop is very interesting, thank you. I think the suburb of Valley Fields is meant to be Dulwich, where Wodehouse was at school. I live in Dulwich and can attest to the duck ponds, if not swans!

Expand full comment
E.J. Barnes's avatar

Interesting. I've never been to Dulwich, but thought Valley Fields sounded charming!

Expand full comment
Rebecca Goodall's avatar

This is so interesting I've never heard of these. Where are you buying them? Or did you already have a collection?

Expand full comment
E.J. Barnes's avatar

It's easy to find most P.G. Wodehouse second hand. I just bought a battered paperback copy online.

Expand full comment
Rebecca Goodall's avatar

awesome I love old battered books!

Expand full comment
E.J. Barnes's avatar

Thank you - I must read Psmith in the City!

Expand full comment