Blandings Castle and Elsewhere is a collection of short stories by P. G. Wodehouse. It was first published in the United Kingdom on 12 April 1935 by Herbert Jenkins, London, and, as Blandings Castle, in the United States on 20 September 1935 by Doubleday Doran, New York. All the stories had previously appeared in Strand Magazine (UK) and all except the last in various US magazines.
Overview
The first six stories all take place at the book's namesake Blandings Castle; they are set some time between the events of Leave it to Psmith (1923) and those of Summer Lightning (1929). Lord Emsworth of Blandings Castle is depicted as a gentleman farmer, growing prize pumpkins and especially concerned with his prize pig, Empress of Blandings; he is also concerned with his nieces and nephews as well as the love life of his younger son Freddie Threepwood. The seventh story concerns Bobbie Wickham, an acquaintance and sometime fiancée of Bertie Wooster, who also appears in three of the stories in Mr Mulliner Speaking. The last five are narrated by Mr Mulliner and are set in Hollywood among the movie studios that Wodehouse knew from his time as a screenwriter in 1930–31.
Contents
"The Custody of the Pumpkin" US: Saturday Evening Post, 29 November 1924 UK: Strand, December 1924
See "The Custody of the Pumpkin". (Blandings Castle story.)
"Lord Emsworth Acts for the Best" UK: Strand, June 1926 US: Liberty, 5 June 1926
See "Lord Emsworth Acts for the Best". (Blandings Castle story.)
"Pig-hoo-o-o-o-ey" US: Liberty, 9 July 1927 UK: Strand, August 1927
See "Pig-hoo-o-o-o-ey". (Blandings Castle story.)
"Company for Gertrude" UK: Strand, September 1928 US: Cosmopolitan, October 1928
See "Company for Gertrude". (Blandings Castle story.)
"The Go-Getter" US: Cosmopolitan, March 1931 (as ""Sales Resistance") UK: Strand, August 1931
See "The Go-Getter". (Blandings Castle story.)
"Lord Emsworth and the Girl Friend" US: Liberty, 6 October 1928 UK: Strand , November 1928
See "Lord Emsworth and the Girl Friend". (Blandings Castle story.)
"Mr Potter Takes a Rest Cure" US: Liberty, 23 January 1926 (as "The Rest Cure") UK: Strand, February 1926
Plot
J. H. Potter, a New York publisher, is, on the advice of his doctor, taking a restful vacation in London. He accepts an invitation to stay at Skeldings Hall, which is owned by Lady Wickham, a best-selling novelist who wants him to publish her novels in America.
Lady Wickham's daughter, Roberta ("Bobbie") is in residence, and is actively trying to sabotage an impending marriage proposal by Clifford Gandle, a member of Parliament and Lady Wickham's choice to be Bobbie's husband, much to Bobbie's distress. Readers of the other Bobbie Wickham stories will know that Bobbie is an expert at using psychological tricks to create chaos that swirls around her. Some accidental events, increased by Bobbie's machinations, cause Gandle to believe that Potter is suicidal, and Potter to believe that Gandle is homicidal. Bobbie hints to her mother that Gandle is probably violent, which Lady Wickham refuses to believe. Like many Wodehouse matrons, she has strong opinions about which suitors are suitable for their children.
Gandle, urged on by Bobbie, decides that it would be wise to deprive Potter of his shaving razor. Potter, meanwhile, has barricaded himself in his room as a precaution against the presumed blood lust of Gandle. After midnight, Gandle sneaks into Potter's room by climbing through the window. Discovered by Potter, he nevertheless manages to secure the razor and exit via the window.
At breakfast the next day, Bobbie cleverly manipulates Potter into believing that it would be wise for him to leave Skeldings Hall as soon as possible, with no notice or explanation. When Gandle enters for breakfast, he sees Potter about to pop a pill into his mouth. In order to save him from suicide, Gandle rushes at Potter, who decides that he should delay his departure no more.
Potter runs off with Gandle in hot pursuit. Bobbie, meanwhile, has given her own spin on these events to her mother, who, as a result, forbids Bobbie ever to marry Gandle. A side effect is that Lady Wickham loses the opportunity to pursue a publishing contract with Potter. Once again, a female novelist trying to manipulate a publisher finds, in Wodehouse's universe, that this is easier said than done.
"Monkey Business" UK: Strand, December 1932 (featuring Mervyn Mulliner in magazine versions, Montrose in book) US: American Magazine, December 1932 (as "A Cagey Gorilla")