I recently reread these stories and liked them even better the second time around. If you're reading them between episodes of Jeeves, Blandings, or Psmith, then the tone or theme of Ukridge might not please you as much. Instead of the usual running around chasing after love, farcial developments surrounding romance, and the protypical feckless young hero, these stories revolve around James Corcoran narrating and observing the incredible adventures of his exuberant and hilarious pal Ukridge. Ukridge is creative, unflappable in the midst of chaos, and prone to wild episodes of money making schemes.
So if you're looking for a book with the customary Wodehouse "love" theme, this book won't do it for you. But if you're ready for some madcap short stories - each beautifully done - these will fit the bill. They simply revolve around an alternate theme - one of struggling to make it big or land a financial windfall. And Ukridge's classic schemes are wonderful to behold.
At lunch recently I gave a friend a brief outline of the plot elements of several of the Ukridge stories, and he laughed outrageously at the telling. It wasn't because I was recounting the stories so well. It was because the basic plot elements of each story are hilarious, unique, and surpisingly memorable.
Although I'm as loyal a fan as anyone to the Jeeves/Drones/Blandings stories, I find myself thinking about Ukridge a lot even when I don't have the book in front of me. There is something timelessly cheering about the Ukridge tales. His stories are upbeat and uplifting, in an odd yet pleasing way. Classic fun. Classic funny. The plot elements work as well today as they did when they were first written.
Four stars, perhaps even five - this one's a winner. |
Ukridge Books In Print, Audio Books.