Pearls, Girls and Monty Bodkin
P.G. Wodehouse Audio Book

Monty Bodkin is the foppish hero of this CD audiobook. Penned by the master of mocking the upper classes, it sees Monty finding himself engaged to a somewhat bullish girl, Gertrude. However, poor Monty is actually enamoured of a very quick and clever girl, who is the secretary to the wife of the chap to whom he is secretary. To complicate matters even further, Monty’s employer’s wife owns a string of very expensive pearls, which three different sets of thieves are after. It all adds up to a typically Wodehousian romp, taking in the busy streets of London and the near-comatose village roads of Sussex.

Jonathan Cecil narrates in spectacular style. Cecil has practically cornered the market in upper-class twits and his plummy tones and air of bafflement perfectly convey the brick-headedness of the idle rich who suddenly find themselves out of their depth. Cecil has a long and illustrious list of credits, even playing Bertie Wooster in TV’s Thank You, PG Wodehouse.

This MP3 audiobook is a real treat and a fine way to leave the stresses and strains of the day behind you. Light and witty, yet packed with intrigue and twists, it’s best enjoyed in your favourite armchair with a glass of something special.