The Mating Season (by P G Wodehouse)

(Amazon UK link)

'The Mating Season' is one of the books about Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves, by the brilliant PG Wodehouse. It's set in the early part of the 20th century amongst the unashamed upper-class 'idle rich'.

Bertie is one of the 'idle rich', who does no work, but regularly has to sort out problems for his friends. He's not academic, and not always very quick on the uptake. But he's kind, and can be very generous. 

Bertie has a manservant - a valet - known as Jeeves. Jeeves is astute, very well-read, and highly intuitive. Most of the books about the pair involve Bertie coming up against tricky problems, which Jeeves manages to sort out. The humour is in the situations, the dialogue and sometimes the people. 

In this book, Bertie goes to stay at a mansion known as Deverill Hall. He lives in fear that the rather soppy Madeleine Bassett will decide to marry him. Complex and amusing situations arise, and are tidily resolved by his Jeeves, as ever.

There is some gentle humour and clever plotting. The writing is good, full of ironies and subtleties. These books work particularly well when read aloud.  I have just read 'The Mating Season'  to my sons (aged 11 and 13) and we all enjoyed it very much.

Recommended.