The Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow - The Original Classic Edition

The story is typical Wodehouse, which is to say that it is simple and yet complicated with many twists and turns, all leading back to a place where the reader pretty much expects it to get after the initial setup section of the book. In this case, the key character is Jill Mariner, and she is joined by Freddie Rooke and Wally Mason, who (as we learn) were Jills childhood friends. Wally had a big crush on Jill in their earlier lives, but when the story starts Jill is engaged to Sir Derek Underhill, and is about to be introduced to his mother Lady Underhill. Jill is still in touch with Freddie, and Wally re-enters their lives when they go to see his new play. Other key characters are Major Christopher Selby, who is Jills uncle and was in charge of her inheritance; and Nelly Bryant, who is an American chorus girl who is stranded in London.

The story follows Jill through a broken engagement over a misunderstanding, the loss of her wealth, her living with relatives who have their own plans, her decision to get work as a chorus girl, and, as with all Wodehouse, the finding of the love of her life. The story starts in England, but moves to America which brings in her additional relatives, as well as Isaac Goble, Otis Pinkington, and his wealthy aunt Mrs. Peagrim. Isaac is a theatrical manager and has been contracted by Otis to put on a play which he wrote called The Rose of America.

A "bummel" is a journey without end. Whether we want to or not, most of us have to settle with a return to our regular exertions. So do these heroes of Three Men in a Boat, only on this occasion, a cycling trip through the Black Forest, it seems they may cycle on forever, such are their problems. Whether it's George attempting to buy a cushion for his aunt or Harris's harrowing experience with a road-waterer, not to mention the routine problems with language and directions, things get very confused indeed! "A delightful excursion in a world which, alas, exists no longer--and indeed may only have been found in the author's lively imagination."

Thackeray, an only child, was born in Calcutta, India, where his father, Richmond Thackeray (1 September 1781 – 13 September 1815), was secretary to the board of revenue in the British East India Company. His mother, Anne Becher (1792–1864) was the second daughter of Harriet Becher and John Harman Becher, who was also a secretary (writer) for the East India Company.
-wikipedia

Old Christmas From the Sketch Book of Washington Irving;

-Included TOC for Reader.

-This sample in ebook

I had not been long at the inn when a post-chaise drove up to the door. A young gentleman stepped out, and by the light of the lamps I caught a glimpse of a countenance which I thought I knew. I moved forward to get a nearer view, when his eye caught mine. I was not mistaken; it was Frank Bracebridge, a sprightly good-humoured young fellow, with whom I had once travelled on the Continent. Our meeting was extremely cordial; for the countenance of an old fellow-traveller always brings up the recollection of a thousand pleasant scenes, odd adventures, and excellent jokes. To discuss all these in a transient interview at an inn was impossible; and finding that I was not pressed for time, and was merely making a tour of observation, he insisted that I should give him a day or two at his father's country-seat, to which he was going to pass the holidays, and which lay at a few miles' distance. "It is better than eating a solitary Christmas dinner at an inn," said he; "and I can assure you of a hearty welcome in something of the old-fashion style." His reasoning was cogent; and I must confess the preparation I had seen for universal festivity and social enjoyment had made me feel a little impatient of my loneliness. I closed, therefore, at once with his invitation: the chaise drove up to the door; and in a few moments I was on my way to the family mansion of the Bracebridges.

Famous for 'Three Men in a Boat' Jerome published Paul Kelver in 1908 and is widely thought  by many to be autobiographical.

Full of the trademark wit that can only be found in a Wodehouse story. I didnt have any of the laugh out loud moments I did when reading the Jeeves books though that fact didnt detract from each storys lighthearted look at lifes most serious love issues.

Contents: The Man Upstairs, Something To Worry About, Deep Waters, When Doctors Disagree, By Advice Of Counsel, Rough-Hew Them How We Will, The Man Who Disliked Cats, Ruth In Exile, Archibalds Benefit, The Man, The Maid, And The Miasma, The Good Angel, Pots O Money, Out Of School, Three From Dunsterville, The Tuppenny Millionaire, Ahead Of Schedule, Sir Agravaine, The Goal-Keeper And The Plutocrat, In Alcala

I enjoyed diving deeper into the Wodehouse repertoire through this collection of short stories.

This is a new and freshly published edition of this culturally important work by O. Henry, which is now, at last, again available to you.

Enjoy this classic work today. These selected paragraphs distill the contents and give you a quick look inside Rolling Stones:

So, of the seven condemned only three called their farewells to Murray as he marched down the corridor between the two guards-Bonifacio, Marvin, who had killed a guard while trying to escape from the prison, and Bassett, the train-robber, who was driven to it because the express-messenger wouldnt raise his hands when ordered to do so.

...And my desire was granted, for I saw near a corner of Broadway and Twenty-ninth Street, a little flaxen-haired man with a face like a scaly-bark hickory-nut, selling to a fast-gathering crowd a tool that omnigeneously proclaimed itself a can-opener, a screw-driver, a button-hook, a nail-file, a shoe-horn, a watch-guard, a potato-peeler, and an ornament to any gentlemans key-ring.

Probably most famous for his Jeeves and Wooster books, P.G. Wodehouse was an avid golfer. The Clicking of Cuthbert was the first of two books Wodehouse wrote about golf (the other being The Heart of a Goof). It was originally published in the US as Golf Without Tears in 1924 - 2 years after the first UK publishing. Its also one of the first books by Wodehouse that I read, back in the days when I did play the game myself. However while I have, just like the Oldest Member, long since retired its still a book I can pick up and enjoy.

Rather than a straightforward novel, the book is a collection of ten short stories. With the exception of the tenth, each story is told by the clubs Oldest Member. There is a common theme throughout the stories the Oldest Member tells - how golf is vital to success in every aspect of life. The last story, however, is my favourite one in the book. Its a historical tale, telling of the coming of a strange new religion called Gowf to the country of Oom.