The nearest Wodehouse ever came to a serious story, The Coming of Bill is a fascinating blend of social commentary and light comedy.
Kirk, an impecunious artist of perfect physique, and Ruth, a spoiled heiress, were blissfully happy through their early days of marriage and the birth of their first son. But when Kirk returns from a trip to Colombia to find Ruth under the thumb of her aunt Lora, an advocate of eugenics, parenting philosophies divide them. It takes a series of comic mishaps, featuring a galaxy of vintage Wodehouse characters, to retrieve the family’s happiness from the overbearing aunt.
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (1881–1975) was an English humorist who
wrote novels, short stories, plays, poems, song lyrics, and numerous pieces of
journalism. He was highly popular throughout a career that lasted more than
seventy years, and his many writings continue to be widely read. He is best
known for his novels and short stories of Bertie Wooster and his manservant
Jeeves and for his settings of English upper-class society of the pre– and
post–World War I era. He lived in several countries before settling in the United States after
World War II. During the 1920s, he collaborated with Broadway legends like Cole
Porter and George Gershwin on musicals and, in the 1930s, expanded his
repertoire by writing for motion pictures. He was honored with a knighthood in
1975.
Frederick Davidson (1932–2005), also known as David Case, was one of the most prolific readers in the audiobook industry, recording more than eight hundred audiobooks in his lifetime, including over two hundred for Blackstone Audio. Born in London, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed for many years in radio plays for the British Broadcasting Company before coming to America in 1976. He received AudioFile’s Golden Voice Award and numerous Earphones Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for his readings.
Overview
The nearest Wodehouse ever came to a serious story, The Coming of Bill is a fascinating blend of social commentary and light comedy.
Kirk, an impecunious artist of perfect physique, and Ruth, a spoiled heiress, were blissfully happy through their early days of marriage and the birth of their first son. But when Kirk returns from a trip to Colombia to find Ruth under the thumb of her aunt Lora, an advocate of eugenics, parenting philosophies divide them. It takes a series of comic mishaps, featuring a galaxy of vintage Wodehouse characters, to retrieve the family’s happiness from the overbearing aunt.