HOW RIGHT YOU ARE, JEEVES

P.G. Wodehouse's famed butler, Jeeves, makes only a brief appearance in this novel, returning from vacation to pull employer Bertie Wooster out of a jam related to news of Wooster's engagement to the beautiful redhead, Bobbie Wickham. It's news to Wooster, who spots the notice in the newspaper. Ian Carmichael, who played Wooster on screen, gives the protagonist an especially befuddled tone, and his female voices are often tougher than the male ones, a seemingly purposeful choice to reflect their hardheadedness. These techniques are too exaggerated for my taste, but the writing, as usual in Wodehouse tales, is a delight to the ear. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]