The Clicking of Cuthbert

This is Wodehouse at his best. His golf stories are not as widely known because more people are familiar with Jeeves and Wooster. Rightly so, as more people read than golf. Seldom does a writer delve into the nature of golf and golfers as Wodehouse, a bogey golfer himself, does in these delightful stories. His caricatures of golfers are so accurate that the current golfer who reads these stories has to recognize himself eventually in one of the characters who struggles with the game and, usually, his romantic life. It is sometimes easier to be profound about life with comedy than with serious writing, and Wodehouse illustrates that here with his insights into golfers. Highly recommended for the golfers and Wodehouse fans and would be Wodehouse fans.

"The Clicking of Cuthbert" by P. G. Wodehouse was first published in the U.K. by Herbert Jenkins on February 3rd, 1922. It was published in the U.S. by George H. Doran under the title "Golf without Tears" on May 28, 1924. This is a collection of ten short stories, all of which deal with men and the battle between their two loves, women and golf.The first nine stories all have a common narrator and premise, which is the Oldest Member of the golf club relating tales of golf and love. The last story has the same themes, but it is given as an historical story about golf that the authors are trying to sell to a publisher.The stories are as follows:"The Clicking of Cuthbert", the title story, is the story of Cuthbert Banks who has had some success at golf, but who can't seem to grab the attention of Adeline, the woman he loves."A Woman is only a Woman" is the story of Peter Willard and James Todd who have been lifelong golfing buddies; that is until they both fall for Grace Forrester."A Mixed Threesome" is the story of Mortimer Sturgis, a man who takes up golf late in life for his fiancée (Betty Weston) only to then pay more attention to his game than he does to her."Sundered Hearts" continues the story of Mortimer Sturgis where his new love of golf has come to dominate his life, and then he meets the woman of his dreams, a professional golf player. However, things are not what they seem, and Mortimer has to decide if love will conquer all, and is it the love of golf or of women?"The Salvation of George Mackintosh" is the story of George Mackintosh who after falling in love has learned to become a great conversationalist to win the heart of Celia Tennant. Unfortunately, that process has also turned him into the bane of golfers everywhere, including Celia."Ordeal by Golf" is a story in which the Oldest Member plays a significant role, in that he tells his friend Alex Paterson, the president of Paterson Dying and Refining Company, that the best way to find his new treasurer is to play a round of golf with each of the candidates and judge them on their temper. When he discovers who the two candidates are though, he realizes he has made a mistake and attempts to set things right."The Long Hole" is the story of two competitors for the attentions of Amanda Trivett, Ralph Bingham and Arthur Jukes, who have decided to play one long hole of golf to determine which one gets to marry her."The Heel of Achilles" is the story of Vincent Jopp, an American multi-millionaire who seems to be able to do anything he sets his mind to do. When Amelia Merridew agrees to marry him if he wins the Amateur title he sets his mind to do just that. When he appears to have conquered golf just as easily as anything else, she grows desperate as she really wants to marry someone else."The Rough Stuff" is the story of Ramsden Waters who has fallen for Eunice Bray. The problem is that every other single male has fallen for her as well, and Ramsden seems unable to form a complete sentence in the presence of women. When a stroke of luck pairs them together for a golf tournament, Ramsden finds the words to propose which Eunice refuses. However, their round of golf together changes many things."The Coming of Gowf" is the story of how golf was spread from Scotland to Oom, where golf (or Gowf) becomes a new religion.One thing that is clear from these stories, especially the last one, is that to P. G. Wodehouse there are two types of people in the world, those who love golf, and those who don't know what it is yet. These stories are fun, but they do lack the many twists and turns that are in the best Wodehouse stories. Thus, I decided to go with a high 3-star rating instead of a low 4-star one.

Many of these golf stories are not above average Wodehouse humor--but that's funny enough! The title story alone is worth the price; it's very clever, very funny, and one of his best little gems. Cuthbert is having trouble competing with a local literary light for the attention of a fair maid, until a bigger foreign literary light comes to put the local novelist in the shade. Vladimir Brusiloff's character is a marvelous caricature of the deep, dark, dismal Russian novelist; his systematic self-promotion by tearing down the reputations of other literary lights with lightning-bolt rapier thrusts (which at the same time humiliate Cuthbert's local rival) is ingeniously funny. In the end, an unexpected enthusiam proclaimed pontifically by the visiting literary lion enables Cuthbert's prowess in the great game of golf to trump the literary pretensions of his local rival in the great game of love.The elegant, inexpensive Overlook Press hardback edition is a "best buy."

Wodehouse's skill at expressing the emotions involved in the life-choice that is golf converts even the most-hardened of non-golf enthusiasts to sympathy for the players and a conflicting sort of affection for the game.

This is another of PG Wodehouse's gems. Another satire at the expense of the British upper class, circa mid-1940's. A series of short stories in which all of life's problems and solutions can be found in the game of golf.

As ever Wodehouse is a delight! Easy on the eye, soothing to the soul and just plain great fun all around.

This is PG Wodehouse at his best - with his golf stories guaranteeing a chuckle a minute.

Classic Wodehouse fun.

When you buy Wodehouse you know what to expect. Lots of upper class simpletons, quiet, but understated geniuses, and a host of domineering maiden aunts. If, like me, you are a golfer, the thought of Lenin playing was brilliant, but I won't spoil the story for anyone yet to read it. The book starts wonderfully with Cuthbert's tale, and the whole collection encompasses many individuals that portray the same characteristics seen in modern day club memberships. I came late in life to Wodehouse, but realised very quickly, through the Jeeves books, that it's a world I am infinitely grateful to have found, something my wife has been telling me yor years. Despite the fact that she's absolutely right (and I had to admit it several times), I still wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone, and defy you to read it without a smile on your face.

Wodehouse is without doubt one of the greatests writers of comic prose in the English Language. Most are familiar with Jeeves and Blandings, but his golf stories are less well-known. In these he combines his clear worship of the game with his writing talent and understanding of human nature to produce a collection of wonderfully funny short stories, narrated by "the oldest member" who shares with us his wisdom, experience and personal prejudicies.Set of course much earlier in the 20th century, some of the terms and particularly club names are different to ours of today, but these are easily picked-up and indeed the historical aspects of the book are in themselves of interest. If you are a golfer you will relate very closely to the frustrations and joy of the ups-and-downs of the game as told here. But even if you do not play you will get great pleasure from this gem.

This was a present for an elderly lady of 102 who started golfing in 1942. She enjoys a good laugh and is an avid TV golf-watcher, now that her playing days are over. She absolutely loved this book and I am thrilled that it ticked all the boxes for her.

A gem & a sweet giggle and smile fest even if you are clueless about golf - as I am. It's that Wodehouse magic that is like travelling in a time machine to a sunny and pleasant land of yesteryear. Do yourself a favour, old bean and buy it!

I'm working my way around to getting every Wodehouse in the series, replacing tatty old paperbacks with hardbacks (and filling in the blanks in my collection).The books are a fantastic read, and this edition will please every Wodehouse fan.

Classic Wodehouse. A series of short stories about the obsession with golf in competition with the love of a women. Populated with the usual Wodehouse parade of insensitive male dim wits.

Quite repetitive- very dated. Some very dry humour

Very enjoyable read. Not as enjoyable for me as the Jeeves or Blandings stories, but enjoyable for all that. Wodehouse is a master story teller.

Even if you are not a golfer (and I'm not) this book is still a delight and every story a little bit of perfection. As an added bonus this book is part of the 'Classics to Go' collection and is being published at a good price.

Simply the best comedy writer in the English language. A total joy, and it really does not get any better, especially if you happen to be a golfer. Marvellous.

Have always loved PG Wodehouse since I discovered him in my teens. Although the (golf) clubs are a bit antique the golfers are still accurate!

Usual Wodehouse fare

Plum centre of the fairway is Wodehouse with this corking collection of chortling golf tales. The man is a genius.

Not the best PGW. A series of short stories based on the obsessive nature of golfers.

excellent