One of Wodehouse’s early efforts, A Gentleman of Leisure is certainly not in the same league as a Blandings Castle or a Jeeves-Wooster story, but it has all the classic elements of a typical Wodehouse novel. Much of the story happens in Dreevers Castle, located in Shropshire, England, where James Pitt, young and well to do with a keen eye on jewels stumbles through plenty of (mis)adventures before settling down happily ever after with Molly McEachern. Spike Mullins, a small time thief, John McEachern, a New York police captain, the ever broke Lord Dreever, his tight fisted uncle Sir Thomas Blunt and a smattering of other characters feature in this easy to read, comical story.

Every true Wodehouse fan should give this early effort of his a read, even if only to get a glimpse into how the master’s writing felt like early in his writing career.