"Doctor Sally", by PG Wodehouse

Novel, 1932

Slight, even for Wodehouse, making this unusually non-diverging story feel more like a television drama or a short story. As a result, there's not quite the levels of intrigue and incident, though despite this, and despite the writing feeling a little restrained, this is still glorious, whimsical satire of the highest order. A precious thing indeed for the Wodehouse devotee, though those new to the great man's oeuvre might want to start with a Jeeves and Wooster. But still, some interesting takes on male and female roles and social class.

"A Damsel in Distress", by PG Wodehouse

Novel, 1919

A typical Wodehouse tale with all the stock characters and many set piece situations which appear all over the great man's work mean a thoroughly enjoyable, funny and reassuring read. This is a book relying a little more on chance than some of the others and one which also has a feel of a well-planned three act play, though in truth, little is lost as a result. Entertaining and twisting to the end, with characters more or less getting what they deserve except, possibly, a generous pay off for the main leads.

"Laughing Gas" by PG Wodehouse

Novel, 1936

Wodehouse with an element of science-fiction and a switch of identities in a dentist's surgery following a misadventure with the eponymous laughing gas, all of which leaves a young Hollywood brat's body being taken by a toff from The Drones and vice versa. These misfiring figures are then let loose in a familiar world of fearsome aunt-like-authority figures, drunken bounders, clumsy toughs, sly gardeners and plot twists which trip, delightfully, one into the other. The Hollywood setting allows a few pokes at a different society, although despite this, and despite a lack of Wodehouse A-list characters, this is all wonderfully, sublimely familiar.