P G Wodehouse Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank

After Wodehouse completed his education, he joined the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and worked there for around two years, even though he was not keen on the work. He began his writing career part-time, while working at the bank. His experiences in the bank probably prompted him to write extensively about banking work in the novel 'Psmith in the City', where Psmith and his friend go to work in a bank.

Answer: Psmith

Wodehouse initially started writing short 'school stories'. These were published initially in the 'Captain'. These stories included 'A Prefect's Uncle', 'Tales of St. Austin', 'The Head of Kays', etc. One of the short stories 'Mike' published in 1908 featured Psmith and his pal Mike Jackson at school. Psmith later on appears in three full-length novels 'Psmith in the City', 'Psmith, Journalist' and 'Leave it to Psmith'.

Answer: Something Fresh

'Something Fresh' was written in 1914 and first published by the 'Saturday Evening Post'. In the preface to the novel, Wodehouse mentions that the editor of the journal paid him a pricely sum of 3,500 dollars. This is also the first novel featuring Blandings Castle and Lord Emsworth, Rupert Baxter and Freddie Threepwood.

Answer: Psmith

Wodehouse wrote that all his characters are fictional, except one and that was Psmith. He mentions in the preface to 'Something Fresh', that he had based the character of Psmith on the son of the Savoy Theatre man, Rupert D'Oyly Carte. He writes that "He (Rupert Carte) was at a school with a cousin of mine, and my cousin happened to tell me about his monocle, his immaculate clothes, and his habit, when asked by a master how he was, of replying. 'Sir', I grow thinnah and thinnah'. I instantly recognized that I had been handed a piece of cake and I bunged him down on paper".

Answer: A Damsel in Distress

'A Damsel in Distress' was Wodehouse's popular novel which was made into a feature film in 1937. This film starred Fred Astaire, George Burns, Gracie Allens and Joan Fontaine. 'A Girl on the Boat' was adapted into a film in 1962 and 'Piccadilly Jim' in 1936.

Answer: Summer Lightning

In the preface to this novel, Wodehouse mentions that a critic had made a nasty remark about his previous novel (presumably 'Money for Nothing'), saying that it had contained all the old characters under different names. Wodehouse says "I have outgeneraled the man this time by putting all the old Wodehouse characters under the same names. Pretty silly it will make him feel, I rather fancy".

Answer: On charges of treason

Wodehouse was accused of treason during the Second World War. When WWII broke out, he was in France at Le Touqet. He was taken prisoner by the Germans and on his release made a series of light hearted radio broadcasts (on German radio) about his experiences in prison.

This did not go down well back home, and he had to face accusations of treason. At the end of the war, he was arrested by the French authorities and was released after intervention of British friends.

Answer: True

After his bitter experiences in the Second World War, when he was accused of treason, Wodehouse left Britain and went to New York. He bought an estate on Long Island and in 1955 became a citizen of the United States.

Answer: Aunts aren't Gentlemen

'Aunts aren't Gentlemen' published in 1974 was the last published novel written by Wodehouse. The novel featured Jeeves, Bertie Wooster, Aunt Dahlia and Brabazon Plank. 'The Pothunters' was incidentally the first published book of short stories, written by Wodehouse. One more work by Wodehouse, 'Sunset at Blandings' is an incomplete novel which Wodehouse was working on at the time of his death.

This novel was published posthumously in 1977.

Answer: 1975

P G Wodehouse died on Valentine's day - February 14, 1975 - at the age of 93. Prior to his death he was knighted. Though he could not personally go to receive the award, his wife received it on his behalf. His waxwork was also installed in Madame Tussaud's museum, which prompted him to say that he now had no ambitions left. He died in the United States.