Jeeves And The King Of Clubs

Ben Schott Hutchinson €21.60 Pastiches of PG Wodehouse are hard to pull off. ‘Nothing can cap perfection,’ admits Ben Schott. But this is a hugely entertaining homage. Familiar faces flit across the pages, from Florence Craye, authoress and maneater, to Roderick Spode, fascist leader of the Black Shorts. And if a sub-plot involving espionage feels out of place, there are some great one-liners and inspired set pieces – none better than a country house dinner at which Bertie’s Aunt Dahlia tries to her spicy sauces.

Max Davidson