Classic Wodehouse Illustrations, Part 3: "Leave It to Jeeves"
I'm back with more of these wonderful vintage illustrations! Today, I'd like to go back to where it all began.
Well, not quite, actually -- Bertie and Jeeves first appeared in "Extricating Young Gussie," published in The Strand in January 1916, but Jeeves played such a small role in that one that he didn't even rate an illustration. (It's still worth a look for several reasons, so I'll definitely post it at some point.)
But today I'd like to post the illustrations from "Leave It to Jeeves," a story that appeared in the same magazine only a few months later. You may know it better as "The Artistic Career of Young Corky." Here the foundation is laid for the familiar Jeeves and Bertie dynamic that we all know and love.
This one was illustrated by Alfred Leete, who illustrated all these stories before A. W. Mills took over in 1921. I love Leete's line-work, and his style is fun, but I much prefer the way Mills handled the characters.
Here's our first look at Jeeves:
A rather grim-looking chappie, isn't he?
And Bertie with Corky and Muriel:
Yeah, I can't really say I care for Leete's Bertie. But I suppose he looks about right for the character that Bertie was at the time: a stereotypical "English Dude".
Here Muriel introduced Bertie to a positively chummy-looking Alexander Worple:
Why do all these artists insist on giving Bertie a monocle? I guess it was just part of the "English Dude" look?
Corky at work on his masterpiece:
I was always struck by how uncharacteristically dark this story is. I guess part of the reason for that is that it came so early in the series. The Woosterverse hadn't taken on that defining aura of sweetness and innocence yet.
Mr. Worple prepares to cut up rough:
Other entries:
"Aunt Agatha Takes the Count"
"Comrade Bingo"
"Bertie Changes His Mind"
Right Ho, Jeeves
"The Delayed Exit of Claude and Eustace"
"Jeeves in the Springtime"
Well, not quite, actually -- Bertie and Jeeves first appeared in "Extricating Young Gussie," published in The Strand in January 1916, but Jeeves played such a small role in that one that he didn't even rate an illustration. (It's still worth a look for several reasons, so I'll definitely post it at some point.)
But today I'd like to post the illustrations from "Leave It to Jeeves," a story that appeared in the same magazine only a few months later. You may know it better as "The Artistic Career of Young Corky." Here the foundation is laid for the familiar Jeeves and Bertie dynamic that we all know and love.
This one was illustrated by Alfred Leete, who illustrated all these stories before A. W. Mills took over in 1921. I love Leete's line-work, and his style is fun, but I much prefer the way Mills handled the characters.
Here's our first look at Jeeves:
A rather grim-looking chappie, isn't he?
And Bertie with Corky and Muriel:
Yeah, I can't really say I care for Leete's Bertie. But I suppose he looks about right for the character that Bertie was at the time: a stereotypical "English Dude".
Here Muriel introduced Bertie to a positively chummy-looking Alexander Worple:
Why do all these artists insist on giving Bertie a monocle? I guess it was just part of the "English Dude" look?
Corky at work on his masterpiece:
I was always struck by how uncharacteristically dark this story is. I guess part of the reason for that is that it came so early in the series. The Woosterverse hadn't taken on that defining aura of sweetness and innocence yet.
Mr. Worple prepares to cut up rough:
Other entries:
"Aunt Agatha Takes the Count"
"Comrade Bingo"
"Bertie Changes His Mind"
Right Ho, Jeeves
"The Delayed Exit of Claude and Eustace"
"Jeeves in the Springtime"