Although “The Inimitable Jeeves” is not the first appearance of the famous double act, Jeeves and Wooster, it is the first book to be ‘completely’ dedicated to them. It was first published in 1923, and was originally known in America as, simply, “Jeeves”.

The book is set in the 1920s England and features Wodehouse’s best known creations : Bertie Wooster and his valet, Jeeves. Bertie is the book’s wealthy, good-natured and rather dim narrator. He’s a member of the “idle rich” and, rather than having to work for a living, lives off an allowance provided by his uncle. He spends much of his time in the bar-room of the Drones Club, is fond of the occasional wager and has an appalling dress sense. Luckily, Bertie has Jeeves to look after him. Without Jeeves, Bertie’s life would be a mess : he makes an excellent hangover cure, his bets usually win and he’s intelligent enough to rescue Bertie from nearly any situation. He disapproves of Bertie’s more garish items of clothing, and will – occasionally – take it upon himself to deal with the offending item.

All of the short stories are connected and most of them involve Bertie’s friend Bingo Little, who is always falling in love – occasionally while still ‘officially’ in love with another. It’s Bingo who most consistently drops Bertie into trouble : Bingo’s schemes generally aim for an increase in his allowance from his Uncle, with the intention of marrying his latest girlfriend. Generally, Bingo’s intended is a girl his uncle wouldn’t approve of – so he ropes Bertie and Jeeves into helping him out. There are also appearances for Bertie’s troublesome cousins, Claude and Eustace, a devious bookmaker called Steggles and Bertie’s fearsome Aunt Agatha. Bertie is held in very low esteem by Agatha, but she is determined that Bertie should marry – Bertie’s opinion, as far as she is concerned, is irrelevant.

A very easy and enjoyable read.