WODEHOUSE, P.G. The Luck of the Bodkins.

Unabridged for English Readers

WODEHOUSE, P.G. The Luck of the Bodkins. London: Herbert Jenkins. 1935.

8vo. Publisher’s red cloth, spine and upper board lettered in black, printer’s device to spine in black, top-edge red, illustrated dust-jacket by ‘Abbey’ priced 7/6 to spine; pp. 311, [1 (blank)], [8 (publisher’s advertisements)]; small chips to jacket with areas of loss to rear panel (c. 30 x 50 mm) and head of spine (15 x 15 mm), light spotting to edges of textblock and fading to top-edge; light spotting and offsetting to endpapers; but very good; 1935 Christmas gift inscription to ‘Kenneth … from Uncle Willie’ to front free endpaper.

First edition in book form, first printing of the novel set onboard an ocean liner bound for New York, following the amiable Monty Bodkin as he attempts to win back his fiancée, Gertrude Butterwick.

The novel was first serialised in the UK in The Passing Show Magazine from 21 September to 23 November 1935. Wodehouse then substantially revised the story for its American publication, shortening the text and simplifying aspects of the plot. This revised version was serialised in The Red Book from August 1935 to January 1936, and Little, Brown & Co. subsequently used the revised text for the US book edition rather than the longer, original English version.

Mcllvaine A54a.

SKU: 2126106