The Luck of the Bodkins
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | October 11, 1935 (UK release) |
| Founder | P. G. Wodehouse |
| Products | Book |
The Luck of the Bodkins is a novel authored by P. G. Wodehouse, initially released in the United Kingdom on 11 October 1935 by Herbert Jenkins and subsequently in the United States on 3 January 1936 through Little, Brown and Company. Although the UK and US editions present notable differences, the central storyline remains consistent. The UK version was adapted from a serialization in the British magazine The Passing Show during late 1935, while Wodehouse crafted a condensed version for serialization in the American magazine Red Book, which led to alterations in the US book publication.
The plot centers on Monty Bodkin, nephew to Sir Gregory Parsloe-Parsloe, who previously appeared as one of Lord Emsworth's secretaries in Heavy Weather (1933). The narrative is further continued in Pearls, Girls and Monty Bodkin (1972).
Plot
The story unfolds aboard the ocean liner RMS Atlantic, traveling to New York, where Monty Bodkin endeavors to mend his broken engagement with Gertrude Butterwick, an England international hockey player who has suddenly called off their betrothal. Among the passengers are Gertrude’s cousin Ambrose Tennyson, recently employed as a writer by the Superba-Llewellyn film company; his brother Reggie Tennyson, who faces pressure to accept an office position in Canada; Ambrose’s fiancée Lottie Blossom, an actress affiliated with Superba-Llewellyn; and Ivor Llewellyn, the film corporation’s president, accompanied by his sister-in-law Mabel Spence. Numerous comedic complications arise throughout the voyage, often involving Albert Peasemarch, the earnest ship’s steward.
Llewellyn is assigned by his wife Grayce to covertly transport her new pearl necklace through US customs to evade import taxes. Apprehensive about Grayce’s temper, Llewellyn worries over the plan and mistakenly suspects Monty of being a customs officer. To dissuade suspicion, he offers Monty an acting role as an inducement, which Monty refuses.
Gertrude ended their engagement after spotting a photograph showing Monty with a "Sue" tattoo on his chest, mistakenly believing it was recent; Monty clarifies that it dates back more than three years. They reconcile, and Monty presents Gertrude with a Mickey Mouse toy filled with chocolates, which she grows fond of.
Llewellyn had erroneously hired Ambrose under the impression he was the renowned poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson; upon discovering the mistake, he dismisses Ambrose. Without employment, Ambrose hesitates to marry Lottie to avoid financial dependence. Lottie threatens to expose that she possesses Gertrude’s Mickey Mouse toy unless Monty accepts Llewellyn’s job offer and Ambrose is reinstated. Suspecting Monty’s involvement with Lottie, Gertrude ends their engagement once more. Ambrose persuades Lottie to return the toy, though Monty believes their relationship has ended.
During the journey, Reggie and Mabel become engaged; Reggie declines his Canadian job offer to join Mabel in California but requires employment without relying on her finances. Llewellyn agrees to employ Reggie if he assists in smuggling the necklace through customs.
Upon arrival in New York, all parties successfully pass through customs. Reggie reveals he concealed the necklace inside the Mickey Mouse toy; Monty refuses to surrender it without knowing its contents. Llewellyn consents to hire both Monty and Ambrose in exchange for possession of the toy. With Mabel’s assistance, contracts are finalized; Llewellyn departs with the toy.
Lottie admits to her blackmail attempt and clarifies she never harbored romantic feelings for Monty. Gertrude reconciles with Monty once again. With their jobs secured, Monty and Ambrose resume their respective engagements.
Steward Peasemarch discloses that he intercepted the necklace but retained it for Monty’s protection and personally smuggled it through customs. Upon learning that prohibition has been repealed, Monty orders champagne delivered to his hotel room.
Characters
- Montague "Monty" Bodkin – A prosperous 28-year-old member of the Drones Club, engaged to Gertrude
- Gertrude Butterwick – Player on the All English Ladies' Hockey Team, Monty’s fiancée, and cousin to Ambrose and Reggie
- Ivor Llewellyn – Head of the Superba-Llewellyn Motion Picture Corporation
- Mabel Spence – Sister-in-law to Llewellyn; develops romantic feelings for Reggie
- Reginald "Reggie" Tennyson – Member of the Drones Club, younger sibling of Ambrose, cousin to Gertrude, friend to Monty, and Mabel’s love interest
- Lotus "Lottie" Blossom – Film actress engaged to Ambrose
- Ambrose Tennyson – Brother of Reggie and cousin to Gertrude, betrothed to Lottie
- Albert Eustace Peasemarch – Steward aboard the RMS Atlantic
Style
Wodehouse achieves humor by juxtaposing formal diction with casual expressions, exemplified in the opening sentence: "Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French." The serious narrative tone combined with colloquial terms like "shifty" and "hangdog" creates a comedic effect.
The character Albert Peasemarch, the steward, mixes colloquial language with excessively formal terms, describing "copperising" marks in "undeliable" lipstick. He often misuses words—confusing pawns with "prawns"—and pronounces words incorrectly, such as saying "intricket" instead of intricate. Peasemarch also humorously botches French phrases like "see jewness savvay" (intended as si jeunesse savait) and "fam fatarl" (for femme fatale).
Publication history
The initial UK edition featured a dust jacket designed by "Abbey," while Alan Foster provided illustrations for the first American edition. The novel was initially serialized in the United Kingdom’s The Passing Show magazine with artwork by "Illingworth," and in the United States’ Red Book magazine illustrated by Foster.
Wodehouse’s earlier 1922 novel The Girl on the Boat similarly includes a voyage aboard the RMS Atlantic, journeying from New York to Southampton.
Reception
Biographer Richard Usborne considers this novel among Wodehouse’s finest works.
In 2000, Patricia Hooker adapted the story for radio. The cast included Nicholas Boulton as Monty Bodkin, Jonathan Firth portraying Reggie, Eleanor Tremain as Gertrude, Lorelei King as Lottie, Peter Woodthorpe playing Peasemarch, John Guerrasio as Ivor Llewellyn, Barbara Barnes as Mabel, and Ian Masters as Ambrose. Gordon House directed this production, which was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 17 June 2000.
References
- Notes
- Sources
External links
- The Russian Wodehouse Society's page, including a character list