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Blandings Castle #8
Pigs Have Wings
A Blandings novel
Can the Empress of Blandings win the Fat Pigs class at the Shropshire Show for the third year running? Galahad Threepwood, Beach the butler and others have put their shirt on this, and for Lord Emsworth it will be paradise on earth. But a substantial obstacle lurks in the way: Queen of Matchingham, the new sow of Sir Gregory Parsloe Bart. Galahad knows this pretender to the crown must be pignapped. But can the Empress in turn avoid a similar fate?
In this classic Blandings novel, pigs rise above their bulk to vanish and reappear in the most unlikely places, while young lovers are crossed and recrossed in every room in Blandings Castle.
Can the Empress of Blandings win the Fat Pigs class at the Shropshire Show for the third year running? Galahad Threepwood, Beach the butler and others have put their shirt on this, and for Lord Emsworth it will be paradise on earth. But a substantial obstacle lurks in the way: Queen of Matchingham, the new sow of Sir Gregory Parsloe Bart. Galahad knows this pretender to the crown must be pignapped. But can the Empress in turn avoid a similar fate?
In this classic Blandings novel, pigs rise above their bulk to vanish and reappear in the most unlikely places, while young lovers are crossed and recrossed in every room in Blandings Castle.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
90 people are currently reading
2,140 people want to read
About the author
P.G. Wodehouse
1,469 books6,747 followersSir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE, was a comic writer who enjoyed enormous popular success during a career of more than seventy years and continues to be widely read over 40 years after his death. Despite the political and social upheavals that occurred during his life, much of which was spent in France and the United States, Wodehouse's main canvas remained that of prewar English upper-class society, reflecting his birth, education, and youthful writing career.
An acknowledged master of English prose, Wodehouse has been admired both by contemporaries such as Hilaire Belloc, Evelyn Waugh and Rudyard Kipling and by more recent writers such as Douglas Adams, Salman Rushdie and Terry Pratchett. Sean O'Casey famously called him "English literature's performing flea", a description that Wodehouse used as the title of a collection of his letters to a friend, Bill Townend.
Best known today for the Jeeves and Blandings Castle novels and short stories, Wodehouse was also a talented playwright and lyricist who was part author and writer of fifteen plays and of 250 lyrics for some thirty musical comedies. He worked with Cole Porter on the musical Anything Goes (1934) and frequently collaborated with Jerome Kern and Guy Bolton. He wrote the lyrics for the hit song Bill in Kern's Show Boat (1927), wrote the lyrics for the Gershwin/Romberg musical Rosalie (1928), and collaborated with Rudolf Friml on a musical version of The Three Musketeers (1928).
An acknowledged master of English prose, Wodehouse has been admired both by contemporaries such as Hilaire Belloc, Evelyn Waugh and Rudyard Kipling and by more recent writers such as Douglas Adams, Salman Rushdie and Terry Pratchett. Sean O'Casey famously called him "English literature's performing flea", a description that Wodehouse used as the title of a collection of his letters to a friend, Bill Townend.
Best known today for the Jeeves and Blandings Castle novels and short stories, Wodehouse was also a talented playwright and lyricist who was part author and writer of fifteen plays and of 250 lyrics for some thirty musical comedies. He worked with Cole Porter on the musical Anything Goes (1934) and frequently collaborated with Jerome Kern and Guy Bolton. He wrote the lyrics for the hit song Bill in Kern's Show Boat (1927), wrote the lyrics for the Gershwin/Romberg musical Rosalie (1928), and collaborated with Rudolf Friml on a musical version of The Three Musketeers (1928).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
July 11, 2024
There was only one P.G. Wodehouse for silliness with charm and style, he had it all and none since caught the spirit. The aristocrats, the wealthy are ribbed however never with cruel malice, the comedy writer painted with a light brush. The usual shenanigans transpire never worry bad situations will
resolve and the happy endings prevail. Blandings Castle is the home of Lord Emsworth the absent minded 9th Earl of the manor. Wherever the man presides things become confused especially him, his idle brother the Honorable Galahad is constantly in quest for money still the get rich quick schemes are doomed. A sister Lady Constance that greatly annoys her brothers there by criticizing them. The Lord's passion is a fat hog named the Empress of Blandings a pompous name but the winner in the last 2 years of the local pig contest. Problem arises when a rival the neighbor Sir Gregory Parsloe acquires a huge animal the Queen of Matchingham which would give the Empress a run for the prize This scares Clarence what his family calls him not Lord Blandings you didn't expect otherwise. Battle commences pigs are kidnapped nerves shattered the two gentlemen maneuver for victory the real winners are the people that read the book, the losers those that do not. Part of the fun is naturally the relationship between the obtuse characters striving to outsmart others when neither side have the brain capacity to fool.
resolve and the happy endings prevail. Blandings Castle is the home of Lord Emsworth the absent minded 9th Earl of the manor. Wherever the man presides things become confused especially him, his idle brother the Honorable Galahad is constantly in quest for money still the get rich quick schemes are doomed. A sister Lady Constance that greatly annoys her brothers there by criticizing them. The Lord's passion is a fat hog named the Empress of Blandings a pompous name but the winner in the last 2 years of the local pig contest. Problem arises when a rival the neighbor Sir Gregory Parsloe acquires a huge animal the Queen of Matchingham which would give the Empress a run for the prize This scares Clarence what his family calls him not Lord Blandings you didn't expect otherwise. Battle commences pigs are kidnapped nerves shattered the two gentlemen maneuver for victory the real winners are the people that read the book, the losers those that do not. Part of the fun is naturally the relationship between the obtuse characters striving to outsmart others when neither side have the brain capacity to fool.
November 14, 2007
The first Wodehouse book I ever read. I was in love from page 1, and subsequently read almost all of the eighty-odd books he ever wrote. Full of absurd, wildly wonderful plots, quirky characters, and wit so dry you could burn your fingers on it. P.G.'s books always have a happy ending, so be prepared to walk with a lighter step when you're done.
January 24, 2022
This is a most extraordinary but extremely funny story about two pigs who will be taking part in the annual Fat Pig competition. The Empress of Blandings, owned by Lord Emsworth, is felt to surely win the competition as he has already done so for the past two years. Unfortunately, his neighbour, Sir Gregory Parsloe, decides to enter his new sow, the Queen of Matchingham. There are bets galore on the pair of them and each owner is convinced that the other will try and steal his pig, which proves to be the case.
There are comings and goings galore in this respect between the two households where the characters there add to the fun of this galloping comedy. Galahad, known as Gally, Lord Emsworth’s brother comes to the rescue on many occasions and what a delight he proves to be. Everyone is amazed that this man is looking so good and fit for his advanced age considering he has been consuming huge amounts of alcohol for many years and that his liver is still working.
What with the two interfering butlers, Sebastien Beach and Binstead; Connie, Lord Emsworth’s very bossy and overbearing sister, and other amazing individuals, such as Gloria Salt, Penny Donaldson, George Cyril Wellbeloved (the pig man who changes sides), Maudie Stubbs (the former fiancée of Sir Gregory, known to her as Tubby), etc. this book is a joy to read.
The only thing that confused me was whether the result of the pig competition in this story is correct? I reread this section several times and indeed I also wondered if the pig that was finally given the slimming product was in fact the right pig?
There are comings and goings galore in this respect between the two households where the characters there add to the fun of this galloping comedy. Galahad, known as Gally, Lord Emsworth’s brother comes to the rescue on many occasions and what a delight he proves to be. Everyone is amazed that this man is looking so good and fit for his advanced age considering he has been consuming huge amounts of alcohol for many years and that his liver is still working.
What with the two interfering butlers, Sebastien Beach and Binstead; Connie, Lord Emsworth’s very bossy and overbearing sister, and other amazing individuals, such as Gloria Salt, Penny Donaldson, George Cyril Wellbeloved (the pig man who changes sides), Maudie Stubbs (the former fiancée of Sir Gregory, known to her as Tubby), etc. this book is a joy to read.
The only thing that confused me was whether the result of the pig competition in this story is correct? I reread this section several times and indeed I also wondered if the pig that was finally given the slimming product was in fact the right pig?
July 8, 2024
I don't want to be censorious, Parsloe, but I must say that when you go about accusing the cream of the British aristocracy of pinching pigs... it looks like the beginning of the end. If that sort of thing is to become habitual, it seems to me that the whole fabric of society must collapse.
This is PGW at his glorious best, possibly one of my favorite Blandings episodes to date. All the usual plot points are here: separated lovers, imposters at the castle, and pignappings galore but somehow the story still feels fresh and the comedy never stops.
With three sets of lovers to reconcile (and you'll never guess who two of the suitors are...) as well as the introduction of Beach's niece, Lady Connie on her usual warpath and 'Tubby' Parsloe in the mix, mayhem is guaranteed. But Gally takes centre-stage as puppet master and untangles all so that happiness is restored.
Full of the usual wit and hilarity, this is as much a tonic as the remedies from the chemist that play a role in the crazy plot. PGW has raised farce to the stuff of genius!
September 16, 2010
What have I learned from this book? Wodehouse gets lightyears of mileage out of the same basic plot time and time again. Pigs Have Wings has the same plot elements as the other Blandings Castle books:
1) a pig napping
2) a broken engagement
3) an imposter at the castle
Here's how it went down:
Sir Gregory Parsloe brings in a ringer for the Fat Pig contest in an effort to keep the Empress of Blandings from three-peating. Clarence, Earl of Emsworth, is outraged. Not only that, Parsloe's niece is the pig keeper at Blandings Castle and his fiancee is staying at Blandings. Uncle Galahad, smooth player that he is, decides to kidnap the Queen of Matchingham in retaliation. Through in subplots about three broken engagements and a detective at Blandings and you have a classic Wodehouse romp. There were quite a few laugh out loud moments in this one.
A few months later: I lent my girlfriend this book and she said she liked it was better than The Code of the Woosters. That's about the highest praise a Wodehouse book can get.
1) a pig napping
2) a broken engagement
3) an imposter at the castle
Here's how it went down:
Sir Gregory Parsloe brings in a ringer for the Fat Pig contest in an effort to keep the Empress of Blandings from three-peating. Clarence, Earl of Emsworth, is outraged. Not only that, Parsloe's niece is the pig keeper at Blandings Castle and his fiancee is staying at Blandings. Uncle Galahad, smooth player that he is, decides to kidnap the Queen of Matchingham in retaliation. Through in subplots about three broken engagements and a detective at Blandings and you have a classic Wodehouse romp. There were quite a few laugh out loud moments in this one.
A few months later: I lent my girlfriend this book and she said she liked it was better than The Code of the Woosters. That's about the highest praise a Wodehouse book can get.
June 14, 2019
"If you like your baronets slender and willowy, you would not have cared much for Sir Gregory Parsloe." (36)Needing a bit of cheer, I decided to sneak in another Wodehouse. I was not disappointed—in fact, I am going to stick my neck out here and say that Pigs Have Wings is the funniest of the Blandings novels.
January 19, 2025
In the MAGA Nightmare-days that we're all going through - for who knows how much longer! - I'm reminded daily of the foolproof adage: "Laughter is the best medicine."
One of my personal 'physicians' is P.G. Wodehouse. (I consult certain trusted 'specialists' and I'm always on the lookout for others.) And here he is again with yet another top-notch prescription. Admittedly, I'm an addict when it comes to P.G. I'm amazed at the fact that he consistently served up batch after batch of pleasant-tasting syrup that's barely on the spoon before making its way to my insides.
Decades later (in many cases, adding up to over 100 years), what Wodehouse gave us largely remains as fresh as when first published.
What makes the reading experiences that much more rewarding is the fact that Wodehouse books are not only immersive diversions but they're also marvelously crafted novels. What reads like frivolity personified could not have been easy to construct - yet, each time, the result feels effortless.
Wodehouse is to word usage what Fred Astaire is to the dance step. Astaire said he was fastidious about avoiding repetition of any dance move he had already delivered on-screen. Wodehouse appears to do almost the same with language. Of course, here and there, Wodehouse fans may notice the repeat of a certain verbal tic but, overall, with each book, P.G. seems to reinvent his whole linguistic approach - in part, no doubt, to act against his work coming off as 'formulaic' (a claim sometimes thrown at his structure; a claim of small importance).
'Pigs Have Wings' belongs to the Blandings Castle series. Jeeves and Wooster are, therefore, absent. However, very much on-board is The Honourable Galahad "Gally" Threepwood - that refreshingly eccentric, tireless ex-lad-about-town who lives to do good for those he loves, as well as those he marginally cares about (who also turn to him in time of need). He's a gem!
As with most Wodehouse stories, you can forget whether there's a plot - even though there's a fairly sturdy one (of a sort) here. This one has to do with 'dueling prize pigs'. But you needn't worry if pigs, in themselves, hold little interest for you. The animals capture little territory in the narrative; they serve to hold together the zaniness around them.
Zaniness reigns supreme here - and that's all... that's everything... that matters.
One of my personal 'physicians' is P.G. Wodehouse. (I consult certain trusted 'specialists' and I'm always on the lookout for others.) And here he is again with yet another top-notch prescription. Admittedly, I'm an addict when it comes to P.G. I'm amazed at the fact that he consistently served up batch after batch of pleasant-tasting syrup that's barely on the spoon before making its way to my insides.
Decades later (in many cases, adding up to over 100 years), what Wodehouse gave us largely remains as fresh as when first published.
What makes the reading experiences that much more rewarding is the fact that Wodehouse books are not only immersive diversions but they're also marvelously crafted novels. What reads like frivolity personified could not have been easy to construct - yet, each time, the result feels effortless.
Wodehouse is to word usage what Fred Astaire is to the dance step. Astaire said he was fastidious about avoiding repetition of any dance move he had already delivered on-screen. Wodehouse appears to do almost the same with language. Of course, here and there, Wodehouse fans may notice the repeat of a certain verbal tic but, overall, with each book, P.G. seems to reinvent his whole linguistic approach - in part, no doubt, to act against his work coming off as 'formulaic' (a claim sometimes thrown at his structure; a claim of small importance).
'Pigs Have Wings' belongs to the Blandings Castle series. Jeeves and Wooster are, therefore, absent. However, very much on-board is The Honourable Galahad "Gally" Threepwood - that refreshingly eccentric, tireless ex-lad-about-town who lives to do good for those he loves, as well as those he marginally cares about (who also turn to him in time of need). He's a gem!
As with most Wodehouse stories, you can forget whether there's a plot - even though there's a fairly sturdy one (of a sort) here. This one has to do with 'dueling prize pigs'. But you needn't worry if pigs, in themselves, hold little interest for you. The animals capture little territory in the narrative; they serve to hold together the zaniness around them.
Zaniness reigns supreme here - and that's all... that's everything... that matters.
November 27, 2020
It's been several years since I re visited Blandings Castle,the domain of Lord Emsworth and his prized pig,the Empress of Blandings.
As in several Wodehouse books,a contest is going on.This one pits the Empress of Blandings against Lord Emsworth's neighbour's pig,the Queen of Matchingham.
The stakes are high,big wagers are being placed on both pigs to determine which one is fatter.Will the Empress keep her two year unbeaten run intact or will the Queen pile on some extra pounds to snatch away the crown ?
But,dark deeds are afoot.The Empress is stolen,and in retaliation,a similar fate befalls the Queen.
In the background,there is a string of tangled love affairs,which have to be untangled and which inevitably end happily.
A quick read with familiar plot devices and methods employed by Wodehouse.
As in several Wodehouse books,a contest is going on.This one pits the Empress of Blandings against Lord Emsworth's neighbour's pig,the Queen of Matchingham.
The stakes are high,big wagers are being placed on both pigs to determine which one is fatter.Will the Empress keep her two year unbeaten run intact or will the Queen pile on some extra pounds to snatch away the crown ?
But,dark deeds are afoot.The Empress is stolen,and in retaliation,a similar fate befalls the Queen.
In the background,there is a string of tangled love affairs,which have to be untangled and which inevitably end happily.
A quick read with familiar plot devices and methods employed by Wodehouse.
September 9, 2020
In this groundbreaking treatise, Wodehouse has set out to answer some of the most perplexing questions of mankind, such as: what to do when you unexpectedly find a large pig in your kitchen? Should you feed your pig weight loss drugs? Where should a thirsty pig man find his drink when his master has forbidden all pubs to serve him? What happens to a dignified gray-haired butler when he must ride a bicycle? How to deal with an engagement hexagon? And many more such weighty matters. At the end of which my family was darting curious glances at me, as I was loudly laughing, listening to this ditty.
July 19, 2015
Reading Wodehouse is pure bliss. His writing style seems simple but it is not. Wodehouse is a genius and he painstakingly creates humor out of ordinary everyday situations. It is not slap stick, satire or comic. It is pure unadulterated humor. Reading Wodehouse is the best stress buster and anti-depressant. He doesn’t claim to very highly literary writing prowess. In his own words “I believe there are two ways of writing novels. One is making a sort of musical comedy without music and ignoring real life altogether; the other is going deep down into life and not caring a damn...”.
Wodehouse believed that one of the factors that made his stories humorous was his view of life, and he stated that "If you take life fairly easily, then you take a humorous view of things. It's probably because you were born that way."
"For a humorous novel you've got to have a scenario, and you've got to test it so that you know where the comedy comes in, where the situations come in … splitting it up into scenes (you can make a scene of almost anything) and have as little stuff in between as possible."
Bandings castle and its characters is one the best of his creations. All other charaters Jeevs, Ukridge, Bertram Wooster, Psimth, Mulliner, Clarence Threepwood, Sebastian Beach, Ashe Marson, Joan Valentine, J. Preston Peters, Aline Peters, Freddie Threepwood, Mrs. Twemlow, Mrs. Bell, Richard Jones, George Emerson, Lord Stockheath, Adams, Rupert J. Baxter, Thorne, George Threepwood, Ann Warblington, Merridew, James, Alfred, Mildred Mant, Horace Mant, Judson, Algernon Wooster, Bishop of Godalming, Billy, Muriel, Dr. Bird, Slingsby, Chester, Ferris, Miss Willoughby etc are highly likable.
I think there will not be a single person who cannot like Wodehouse.
Wodehouse believed that one of the factors that made his stories humorous was his view of life, and he stated that "If you take life fairly easily, then you take a humorous view of things. It's probably because you were born that way."
"For a humorous novel you've got to have a scenario, and you've got to test it so that you know where the comedy comes in, where the situations come in … splitting it up into scenes (you can make a scene of almost anything) and have as little stuff in between as possible."
Bandings castle and its characters is one the best of his creations. All other charaters Jeevs, Ukridge, Bertram Wooster, Psimth, Mulliner, Clarence Threepwood, Sebastian Beach, Ashe Marson, Joan Valentine, J. Preston Peters, Aline Peters, Freddie Threepwood, Mrs. Twemlow, Mrs. Bell, Richard Jones, George Emerson, Lord Stockheath, Adams, Rupert J. Baxter, Thorne, George Threepwood, Ann Warblington, Merridew, James, Alfred, Mildred Mant, Horace Mant, Judson, Algernon Wooster, Bishop of Godalming, Billy, Muriel, Dr. Bird, Slingsby, Chester, Ferris, Miss Willoughby etc are highly likable.
I think there will not be a single person who cannot like Wodehouse.
September 10, 2022
I really do appreciate the Blandings Castle books of PG Wodehouse.
The characters are larger than life and magnificent in their individual traits.
Here both of the pigs vying for the Silver medal at the Fat Pigs event at the local agricultural show are stolen at different times but are returned in the nick of time before the police get too heavily involved.
Lord Emsworth's butler, Beach, has a niece, Maudie, who in her younger days was well known to Galahad Threepwood (Lord Emsworth's brother), but is hired to look after The Empress of Blandings. She was jilted at the altar by Lord Emsworth's neighbour Sir Geoffrey Parsloe-Parsloe and means to vent her feelings to him about this event, but ends up falling in love with him. This happens just after Sir Gregory is dumped by Gloria Salt to whom he'd recently become engaged with the proviso he lose at lot of weight which he doesn't want to do.
Gloria really wants to marry Lord Orlo Vosper but he's in love with Penny Donaldson who accepts his proposal of marriage after Penny sees her beau Jerry Vail being affectionate towards Gloria Salt in a London restaurant when Jerry things Gloria can help him obtain 2,000 pounds towards the start-up costs of a gentleman's gymansium and health club.
Add into all this intrigue the regal presence of Lady Constance Keeble, who treats most of her family members with disdain, Cyril Wellbeloved the pig-man for Sir Geoffrey Parsloe- Parsloe who likes a drink and used to be employed at Blandings Castle, and the much put upon Sebastian Beach, the butler at Blandings who is required to steal pigs, deliver messages, and provide drinks to various members of the household in his pantry.
Recommended.
The characters are larger than life and magnificent in their individual traits.
Here both of the pigs vying for the Silver medal at the Fat Pigs event at the local agricultural show are stolen at different times but are returned in the nick of time before the police get too heavily involved.
Lord Emsworth's butler, Beach, has a niece, Maudie, who in her younger days was well known to Galahad Threepwood (Lord Emsworth's brother), but is hired to look after The Empress of Blandings. She was jilted at the altar by Lord Emsworth's neighbour Sir Geoffrey Parsloe-Parsloe and means to vent her feelings to him about this event, but ends up falling in love with him. This happens just after Sir Gregory is dumped by Gloria Salt to whom he'd recently become engaged with the proviso he lose at lot of weight which he doesn't want to do.
Gloria really wants to marry Lord Orlo Vosper but he's in love with Penny Donaldson who accepts his proposal of marriage after Penny sees her beau Jerry Vail being affectionate towards Gloria Salt in a London restaurant when Jerry things Gloria can help him obtain 2,000 pounds towards the start-up costs of a gentleman's gymansium and health club.
Add into all this intrigue the regal presence of Lady Constance Keeble, who treats most of her family members with disdain, Cyril Wellbeloved the pig-man for Sir Geoffrey Parsloe- Parsloe who likes a drink and used to be employed at Blandings Castle, and the much put upon Sebastian Beach, the butler at Blandings who is required to steal pigs, deliver messages, and provide drinks to various members of the household in his pantry.
Recommended.
September 28, 2020
More mayhem ensues at Blandings Castle with the forthcoming annual Fat Pig contest. The Empress of Blandings has some stiff competition in the shape of the Queen of Matchingham, owned by that bounder Sir Gregory (Tubby) Parsloe. Add some star-crossed lovers into the mix and you have another thumpingly good read from Wodehouse.
July 13, 2024
I thought I had read all the Blandings Series before but it transpired that Pigs Have Wings (Blandings Castle #8) had passed me by until now. It is superb. P.G. Wodehouse at his very best. The plot, the tropes, the characters are all familiar and yet such is his genius that this matters not a jot as the grateful reader is treated to sublime prose, a delightful plot, the fat pig contest, skullduggery, star crossed lovers and happy endings. Hurrah.
5/5
5/5
April 9, 2020
Actually 3.5*
ENGLISH: One of the best novels in the Blandings Castle series. The gags follow one another without giving the reader rest. I liked specially that the hackneyed trick of having two loving hearts sundered as a consequence of an accidental misinterpreted observation is not used in this book, although at least once it seemed about to happen.
A few startling quotes from chapter 5:
[Lord Emsworth] was a man who since the death of his wife twenty years ago had made something of a lifework of avoiding women. He could not, of course, hope to avoid them altogether, for women have a nasty way of popping up at unexpected moments, but he was quick on his feet and his policy of suddenly disappearing like a diving duck had had excellent results.
‘He’s absent-minded, isn’t he?’ ‘Yes, I think one could fairly call him that. If he has a mind, it is very seldom there.’
He had received his early education at Harrow, and Old Harrovians, he reminded himself, when they have plighted their troth to Girl A, do not go about folding Girl B in their arms. Old Etonians, yes. Old Rugbeians, possibly. But not Old Harrovians.
For the outstanding feature of the interior of that shed was its complete freedom from pigs of any description.
ESPAÑOL: Una de las mejores novelas de la serie del Castillo de Blandings. Los gags se suceden sin dar descanso al lector. Me gustó especialmente que no se utilice el truco trillado de separar dos corazones amorosos como consecuencia de una observación accidental malinterpretada, aunque al menos una vez esto parecía estar a punto de suceder.
Algunas citas espectaculares del capítulo 5:
[Lord Emsworth] era un hombre que, desde la muerte de su esposa, veinte años antes, había dedicado su vida a evitar a las mujeres. No podía, por supuesto, evitarlas totalmente, ya que las mujeres tienen la desagradable peculkiaridad de aparecer en momentos inesperados, pero él era rápido con los pies, y su política de desaparecer repentinamente como un pato que se sumerje le había dado excelentes resultados.
Habiendo recibido su educación temprana en Harrow, tuvo que recordarse que los exalumnos de Harrow, cuando se han comprometido con la Chica A, no se dedican a abrazar a la Chica B. Los exalumnos de Eton, sí. Los ex-alumnos de Rugby, posiblemente sí. Pero no los exalumnos de Harrow.
Porque la característica más evidente, en el interior de ese cobertizo, era la completa ausencia de cerdos de cualquier descripción.
ENGLISH: One of the best novels in the Blandings Castle series. The gags follow one another without giving the reader rest. I liked specially that the hackneyed trick of having two loving hearts sundered as a consequence of an accidental misinterpreted observation is not used in this book, although at least once it seemed about to happen.
A few startling quotes from chapter 5:
[Lord Emsworth] was a man who since the death of his wife twenty years ago had made something of a lifework of avoiding women. He could not, of course, hope to avoid them altogether, for women have a nasty way of popping up at unexpected moments, but he was quick on his feet and his policy of suddenly disappearing like a diving duck had had excellent results.
‘He’s absent-minded, isn’t he?’ ‘Yes, I think one could fairly call him that. If he has a mind, it is very seldom there.’
He had received his early education at Harrow, and Old Harrovians, he reminded himself, when they have plighted their troth to Girl A, do not go about folding Girl B in their arms. Old Etonians, yes. Old Rugbeians, possibly. But not Old Harrovians.
For the outstanding feature of the interior of that shed was its complete freedom from pigs of any description.
ESPAÑOL: Una de las mejores novelas de la serie del Castillo de Blandings. Los gags se suceden sin dar descanso al lector. Me gustó especialmente que no se utilice el truco trillado de separar dos corazones amorosos como consecuencia de una observación accidental malinterpretada, aunque al menos una vez esto parecía estar a punto de suceder.
Algunas citas espectaculares del capítulo 5:
[Lord Emsworth] era un hombre que, desde la muerte de su esposa, veinte años antes, había dedicado su vida a evitar a las mujeres. No podía, por supuesto, evitarlas totalmente, ya que las mujeres tienen la desagradable peculkiaridad de aparecer en momentos inesperados, pero él era rápido con los pies, y su política de desaparecer repentinamente como un pato que se sumerje le había dado excelentes resultados.
Habiendo recibido su educación temprana en Harrow, tuvo que recordarse que los exalumnos de Harrow, cuando se han comprometido con la Chica A, no se dedican a abrazar a la Chica B. Los exalumnos de Eton, sí. Los ex-alumnos de Rugby, posiblemente sí. Pero no los exalumnos de Harrow.
Porque la característica más evidente, en el interior de ese cobertizo, era la completa ausencia de cerdos de cualquier descripción.
August 18, 2022
3.5 stars. An entertaining, humorous novel about the rivalry between two neighbours. Lord Emsworth’s prize winning pig, ‘Empress of Blandings’, faces stiff competition in the fat pigs class at the Shropshire Show. Lord Emsworth’s neighbour, Sir Gregory Parsloe-Parsloe has purchased a new pig, ‘Queen of Matchingham’. People who have placed bets on the pigs find themselves endeavoring to influence each of the pig managers. Pigs go missing, misunderstandings occur, and new acquaintances fall in love.
P.G. Wodehouse fans should find this novel a very enjoyable reading experience.
This book was first published in 1952.
P.G. Wodehouse fans should find this novel a very enjoyable reading experience.
This book was first published in 1952.
December 4, 2022
Perfect feel good reading. Even though I tend to prefer Jeeves and Wooster, the Blandings Castle novels also offer the high class farcical situations, witty dialogue and heartwarming romances that we expect from Wodehouse.
Here Lord Emsworth is preparing his prize pig Empress of Blandings for the local show, but there is a rival on the scene in the Queen of Matchingham. Galahad (Gally) Threepwood and Beach the butler have placed a wager on the Empress, and hatch a plan to kidnap the other pig and ensure their victory, but of course things go wrong. Meanwhile, the younger guests at Blandings are finding their love affairs are not running smoothly, and Gally lends a hand at sorting these problems out.
It took me a while to sort out the various love lorn couples and separate Maudie from Gloria and Vosper from Vail, but the farce with the pignapping was delightful and there was plenty of fun to be enjoyed in the misunderstandings and mishaps throughout. Classic humour.
Here Lord Emsworth is preparing his prize pig Empress of Blandings for the local show, but there is a rival on the scene in the Queen of Matchingham. Galahad (Gally) Threepwood and Beach the butler have placed a wager on the Empress, and hatch a plan to kidnap the other pig and ensure their victory, but of course things go wrong. Meanwhile, the younger guests at Blandings are finding their love affairs are not running smoothly, and Gally lends a hand at sorting these problems out.
It took me a while to sort out the various love lorn couples and separate Maudie from Gloria and Vosper from Vail, but the farce with the pignapping was delightful and there was plenty of fun to be enjoyed in the misunderstandings and mishaps throughout. Classic humour.
July 2, 2014
Finding that while all of the Blandings Castle books run on the same spool I can still enjoy, laugh out loud, not regret moments of indulgence therein. I've also had some glimpses of influence Wodehouse had upon Rowling. "Constant Vigilance" used as a defense against pig-stealing instead of dark wizards notwithstanding, the phrase is always wonderful.
My ratings on these books reflect pure entertainment and the amount of joy received.
--
"With a hollow groan Sir Gregory took another for-full of smoked salmon. A blinding light had shone upon him, and he realized how unjustified had been those hard thoughts he had been thinking this woman all these years. He had supposed that she had betrayed him with a cold, mocking callousness which had shaken his faith in the female sex to its foundations. He saw now that had had happened had been one of those unfortunate misunderstandings which are so apt to sunder hearts, the sort of thing Thomas Hardy used to write about." (145)
My ratings on these books reflect pure entertainment and the amount of joy received.
--
"With a hollow groan Sir Gregory took another for-full of smoked salmon. A blinding light had shone upon him, and he realized how unjustified had been those hard thoughts he had been thinking this woman all these years. He had supposed that she had betrayed him with a cold, mocking callousness which had shaken his faith in the female sex to its foundations. He saw now that had had happened had been one of those unfortunate misunderstandings which are so apt to sunder hearts, the sort of thing Thomas Hardy used to write about." (145)
February 16, 2011
"No," said Lady Constance, after a moment's thought. "No, I shall not dismiss Beach. I take the view that he was led astray by Galahad. Galahad! I remember, when we were children," said Lady Constance wistfully, "seeing Galahad fall into that deep pond in the kitchen garden. And just as he was sinking for the last time, one of the gardeners came and pulled him out," she added, speaking with a sort of wild regret. It was plain that she was in agreement with the poet that of all sad words of tongue or pen the saddest are these: 'It might have been.' She paused for a moment, brooding on the folly of that chuckle-headed gardener.
July 10, 2016
As in any fairy tale, they all lived happily ever after. Mostly.
July 13, 2020
Egyik legjobb Woodhouse regény, szerintem olvastam már valaha, de megérte újra olvasni.
Kis vidámság, ha az ember nem tud még aludni:D
Kis vidámság, ha az ember nem tud még aludni:D
January 26, 2020
One of the funniest by Wodehouse. One could be quoting paragraphs from start to end. I'll write just two.
"The door opened again, this time to admit a handsome woman of imperious aspect in whom -after blinking once or twice through his pince-nez- he recognized his sister, Lady Constance Keeble.
He eyed her apprehensively, like some rat of the underworld cornered by G-men. Painful experience had taught him that visits from Connie meant trouble, and he braced himself, as always, to meet with stout denial whatever charge she might be about to hurl at him. He was a great believer in stout denial and was very good at it."
"Instead of the blot on a proud family which his sister Constance, his sister Julia, his sister Dora and all his other sisters considered him, he might have been a youngish teetotaller who had subsisted from boyhood on yoghurt, yeast, wheat germ and molasses. He himself attributed his health to steady smoking, plenty of alcohol and his life-long belief that it was bad form to go to bed before three in the morning."
"The door opened again, this time to admit a handsome woman of imperious aspect in whom -after blinking once or twice through his pince-nez- he recognized his sister, Lady Constance Keeble.
He eyed her apprehensively, like some rat of the underworld cornered by G-men. Painful experience had taught him that visits from Connie meant trouble, and he braced himself, as always, to meet with stout denial whatever charge she might be about to hurl at him. He was a great believer in stout denial and was very good at it."
"Instead of the blot on a proud family which his sister Constance, his sister Julia, his sister Dora and all his other sisters considered him, he might have been a youngish teetotaller who had subsisted from boyhood on yoghurt, yeast, wheat germ and molasses. He himself attributed his health to steady smoking, plenty of alcohol and his life-long belief that it was bad form to go to bed before three in the morning."
August 3, 2008
I simply love Wodehouse. I haven't read a bad book by him, although I'm sure they exist. This book is so much fun, if you enjoy British humour. Here's why:
[A man and woman discussing a mutual acquaintance:]
"I was at school with him."
"You were, were you?...Did you kick him?"
"Of course I didn't kick him. I loved him like a brother."
"The chance of a lifetime thrown away," said Miss Salt with bitterness. "If Orlo Vosper in his formative years had been thoroughly kicked twice a day, Sunday included, he might not have grown up the overbearing louse he has become."
"Would you call him an overbearing louse?"
"I did. To his face."
"When was this?"
"On the tennis court at Eastbourne, and again when entering the club house. I'd have done it in the dressing-room, too, only he wasn't there. They separate the sexes. Of all the overbearing lice that ever overbore, I told him, you are the undisputed champion, and I gave him back his ring."
"Oh, you were engaged?"
"Don't rub it in. We all make mistakes."
Here's another one, describing a hung-over gentleman who is being shouted at by another man:
"The next moment, it seemed to George Cyril Wellbeloved that the end of the world had come and Judgment Day set in with unusual severity. Actually, it was his employer shouting his name, but that was the illusion it created.
"'Sir?' he whispered feebly, clutching his temples, through which some practical joker was driving white-hot spikes."
It's subtleties like this that make Wodehouse so much fun to read. As though Judgment Day could have a "usual" severity!
I can't resist adding one more:
"Good luck to your matrimonial venture. I wish you every happiness."
"Thanks."
"You'll enjoy being married. Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing."
"I say, that's neat. Your own?"
"King Solomon."
"Oh, that chap?"
"And he knew, eh? I mean, nothing much you could tell him about wives, what?"
[A man and woman discussing a mutual acquaintance:]
"I was at school with him."
"You were, were you?...Did you kick him?"
"Of course I didn't kick him. I loved him like a brother."
"The chance of a lifetime thrown away," said Miss Salt with bitterness. "If Orlo Vosper in his formative years had been thoroughly kicked twice a day, Sunday included, he might not have grown up the overbearing louse he has become."
"Would you call him an overbearing louse?"
"I did. To his face."
"When was this?"
"On the tennis court at Eastbourne, and again when entering the club house. I'd have done it in the dressing-room, too, only he wasn't there. They separate the sexes. Of all the overbearing lice that ever overbore, I told him, you are the undisputed champion, and I gave him back his ring."
"Oh, you were engaged?"
"Don't rub it in. We all make mistakes."
Here's another one, describing a hung-over gentleman who is being shouted at by another man:
"The next moment, it seemed to George Cyril Wellbeloved that the end of the world had come and Judgment Day set in with unusual severity. Actually, it was his employer shouting his name, but that was the illusion it created.
"'Sir?' he whispered feebly, clutching his temples, through which some practical joker was driving white-hot spikes."
It's subtleties like this that make Wodehouse so much fun to read. As though Judgment Day could have a "usual" severity!
I can't resist adding one more:
"Good luck to your matrimonial venture. I wish you every happiness."
"Thanks."
"You'll enjoy being married. Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing."
"I say, that's neat. Your own?"
"King Solomon."
"Oh, that chap?"
"And he knew, eh? I mean, nothing much you could tell him about wives, what?"
April 29, 2015
Evelyn Waugh had it right when he wrote, "For Wodehouse there has been no fall of man ... the gardens of Blandings Castle are the original gardens of Eden from which we are all exiled." True it is! The very idea of ten or more novels centered around the love of a dotty old earl for his prize pig sets one's mind areel!
P.G. Wodehouse is probably one of the funniest writers who have ever lived -- only S.J. Perelman can compare with him -- and some of his inventions still stick in my mind after thirty years of uproarious reading, such as Jeeves's infamous hangover cure, Buck-U-Uppo.
Pigs Have Wings is one of the more intricately plotted of Wodehouse's comic masterpieces, with wonderful scenes such as the following:
Think of this book as the ultimate example of Musical Pigs in all of comic literature. Read it and you will see what I mean....
P.G. Wodehouse is probably one of the funniest writers who have ever lived -- only S.J. Perelman can compare with him -- and some of his inventions still stick in my mind after thirty years of uproarious reading, such as Jeeves's infamous hangover cure, Buck-U-Uppo.
Pigs Have Wings is one of the more intricately plotted of Wodehouse's comic masterpieces, with wonderful scenes such as the following:
He paused, and said "Er."Where ever was there a love scene to match this, unless it us the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet?
There was another longish silence.
"The moon," said Lord Emsworth, indicating it.
"Yes," said Maudie.
"Bright," said Lord Emsworth, paying it a well deserved tribute.
"Yes," said Maudie.
"Very bright," said Lord Emsworth. "Oh, very,very bright," and seemed for a moment to converse with easy fluency. But inspiration failed him, and with a "Quite, quite. Capital," he disappeared again.
Think of this book as the ultimate example of Musical Pigs in all of comic literature. Read it and you will see what I mean....
October 13, 2021
This Blandings tale has Lord E’s brother Galahad serving as the ringmaster at Blandings, arranging various romantic connections among Blandings visitors despite being stymied at times by Lord E’s sister Constance, while simultaneously promoting the prospects of Lord E’s prize pig, The Empress of Blandings, for a third straight win of the Shropshire Fat Pig title, despite being stymied at times by Sir Gregory’s efforts to promote his challenger to the Empress, the Queen of Matchingham.
There were a variety of side characters involved in both the romantic and pig shenanigans including butlers and pig men and women. This provided for a constant supply of plot turns that added a spark to the typical Blandings events involving imposters, romantic misunderstandings and pig shenanigans. Enough characters that I even had a bit of difficulty keeping track of who was who if I left too much time between reads as I tried to stretch out my enjoyment of this one. My advice – read some of it daily. It’s good for you.
Otherwise, I found this a delightful Blandings adventure, one that felt fresher and livelier than I expected from one written in the 1950s.
There were a variety of side characters involved in both the romantic and pig shenanigans including butlers and pig men and women. This provided for a constant supply of plot turns that added a spark to the typical Blandings events involving imposters, romantic misunderstandings and pig shenanigans. Enough characters that I even had a bit of difficulty keeping track of who was who if I left too much time between reads as I tried to stretch out my enjoyment of this one. My advice – read some of it daily. It’s good for you.
Otherwise, I found this a delightful Blandings adventure, one that felt fresher and livelier than I expected from one written in the 1950s.
September 16, 2012
I love PG Wodehouse, but this is the first book of his (I've read approx 15) that I've given up on. Too many characters, I just couldn't keep up with what was going on. Might be more of a reflection on my limited brain capacity though
May 25, 2022
Hilarious ! This has the usual amount of impostors, butlers, misunderstandings leading to multiple engagements, and pig-napping too. I never get tired of reading similar Wodehouse novels. What a treat it is !
September 11, 2016
4½ stars for the book but I didn't really care for Jeremy Sinden's narration. In particular, his voices for Lord Emsworth and his sister Connie grated on me.
March 4, 2025
Must be the 4th or 5th time I'm reading this -or rather in this instance, listening to it. As enjoyable as all the previous times even if I could actually remember lines, not just situations! Not sure if I like the narrator Jeremy Sinden as much as I do Martin Jarvis and Jonathan Cecil but they do set the bar high.
July 29, 2016
Pigs have Wings is the eighth book in PG Wodehouse's Blandings Castle series. I have never read Wodehouse in the past and I used to cold shoulder all suggestions saying humour doesn't humour me. However, I thought it was about time that I try something and then judge the genre and I finally heeded to a suggestion and chose Pigs have Wings considering how, similar to Lord Emsworth in the book, I have a liking towards pigs too and I chose it purely for the title.
The book is about a duel between the Empress of Blandings and the Queen of Matchingham and notwithstanding the fancy titles, these are two oversized pigs. The former, belonging to Lord Emsworth has won the Fat Pigs contest twice, in the past and Emsworth's brother, Galahad and his butler Beach, place their bets on the Empress winning it for the third time in a row. However, Sir Gregory Parsloe, brings in a pig from Kent and Galahad feels threatened and thus, plans devious plots to ensure that the Empress wins it yet again. Added to that, there are also certain romantic sub-plots involving people at the Blandings Castle and Matchingham House.
The premise of the plot certainly did seem interesting and a lot of scope for humour was available but then, I felt that the author ended up writing a book where the majority of the book was the romantic sub-plots and tries to create something in the name of comedy weaving a tangled web around them, attempting a romantic blunder. For starters, I felt that there were a way too many characters introduced within the first twenty pages that I found it difficult to follow and took me a while to realise that it was Galahad and not Clarence (Lord Emsworth), who was the lead character.
I felt that while the story could have been narrated well, considering the publisher's write up does provide a reasonable scope for a good story but then, the author has it completely messed up with the absolutely below average narration and no noteworthy writing. I have read certain books which, despite not having a great plot, I end up enjoying for the sheer way in which it was presented by the author but this book neither had the story nor did it have the panache in terms of narration. Moreover, I found that the characters in this book were a way too simple with absolutely no depth and the only reasonably built character was Galahad but frankly, with all his tirade against Parsloe, he himself didn't behave in a very honourable way for the reader to actually get behind Galahad.
I understand that usually, it is considered sacrilege to not like Wodehouse, let alone criticise, perhaps I had the wrong expectations expecting a meaningful plot (not even deep, merely meaningful) with some content or some excellent writing but then, I can't bend my expectations for the sake of giving positive reviews for the sake of the author who wrote it; for a book that I would have otherwise not liked.
All that aside, I feel happy that I decided to read a Wodehouse book, it does increase the diversity of genres that I have read (not necessarily liked) and yes, in case I wish to criticise Wodehouse in the future, it gives my criticism some amount of credibility considering how I genuinely tried a book with an open mind and didn't like it.
I give this book a rating of one on five.
The book is about a duel between the Empress of Blandings and the Queen of Matchingham and notwithstanding the fancy titles, these are two oversized pigs. The former, belonging to Lord Emsworth has won the Fat Pigs contest twice, in the past and Emsworth's brother, Galahad and his butler Beach, place their bets on the Empress winning it for the third time in a row. However, Sir Gregory Parsloe, brings in a pig from Kent and Galahad feels threatened and thus, plans devious plots to ensure that the Empress wins it yet again. Added to that, there are also certain romantic sub-plots involving people at the Blandings Castle and Matchingham House.
The premise of the plot certainly did seem interesting and a lot of scope for humour was available but then, I felt that the author ended up writing a book where the majority of the book was the romantic sub-plots and tries to create something in the name of comedy weaving a tangled web around them, attempting a romantic blunder. For starters, I felt that there were a way too many characters introduced within the first twenty pages that I found it difficult to follow and took me a while to realise that it was Galahad and not Clarence (Lord Emsworth), who was the lead character.
I felt that while the story could have been narrated well, considering the publisher's write up does provide a reasonable scope for a good story but then, the author has it completely messed up with the absolutely below average narration and no noteworthy writing. I have read certain books which, despite not having a great plot, I end up enjoying for the sheer way in which it was presented by the author but this book neither had the story nor did it have the panache in terms of narration. Moreover, I found that the characters in this book were a way too simple with absolutely no depth and the only reasonably built character was Galahad but frankly, with all his tirade against Parsloe, he himself didn't behave in a very honourable way for the reader to actually get behind Galahad.
I understand that usually, it is considered sacrilege to not like Wodehouse, let alone criticise, perhaps I had the wrong expectations expecting a meaningful plot (not even deep, merely meaningful) with some content or some excellent writing but then, I can't bend my expectations for the sake of giving positive reviews for the sake of the author who wrote it; for a book that I would have otherwise not liked.
All that aside, I feel happy that I decided to read a Wodehouse book, it does increase the diversity of genres that I have read (not necessarily liked) and yes, in case I wish to criticise Wodehouse in the future, it gives my criticism some amount of credibility considering how I genuinely tried a book with an open mind and didn't like it.
I give this book a rating of one on five.
January 18, 2022
A pig in the house. Wait. Two pigs.
Conspiracy to steal said pigs.
Two guys need to lose weight. Pigs need to gain weight.
Young love.
Funny stuff. Only Wodehouse could pull this off.
Conspiracy to steal said pigs.
Two guys need to lose weight. Pigs need to gain weight.
Young love.
Funny stuff. Only Wodehouse could pull this off.
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