Tuesday Book Club: The Code of the Woosters

A dose of joy from P.G. Wodehouse

Sometimes, the best remedy for the world’s troubles is a bit of laughter. That’s why this week’s Tuesday Book Club pick is The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse—one of the finest and funniest entries in the Jeeves and Wooster series. If you’re in need of some levity, this is the perfect literary tonic.

Why the Code of the Woosters?

Published in 1938, this novel finds Bertie Wooster once again entangled in a ridiculous web of misunderstandings, social obligations and absurd predicaments—most of which he has no hope of escaping without the intervention of his inimitable valet, Jeeves.

This time, Bertie’s troubles begin with an antique cow creamer, a scheming aunt and the bombastic presence of Sir Roderick Spode, a fascist leader with a penchant for dramatic speeches and an unfortunate choice of undergarments. As always, Wodehouse’s writing is a masterclass in comic timing, with dialogue so sharp and effortless that it feels like pure joy on the page.

A novel to lift the spirits

Wodehouse’s world is one where problems are never truly insurmountable, where even the most disastrous engagements and social faux pas can be undone with just the right amount of cunning (preferably on Jeeves’s part). In The Code of the Woosters, his satire is as sparkling as ever, gently poking fun at the British upper classes and their peculiar priorities.

More than anything, this novel is about the sheer delight of well-crafted humour. In uncertain times, returning to Wodehouse feels like stepping into a sunlit world where troubles are temporary, wit always triumphs and Jeeves is forever on hand to save the day.

Join the conversation

What’s your favourite Wodehouse novel? Do you have a beloved Jeeves and Wooster moment? And do you, like Bertie, find yourself utterly incapable of resisting the demands of a fearsome aunt?

Join the discussion with #TuesdayBookClub and #TheCodeOfTheWoosters on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky, and share your thoughts on this delightful classic.