Classic Wodehouse Illustrations, Part 12: "Jeeves and the Hard-Boiled Egg"

[wotwotleigh]

So, we've all been wondering about the preponderance of story-inappropriate mustaches in these illustrations. But what about the couple of tales where Bertie actually does have a soup-strainer?

As far as I know, this only happens in one of the short stories and one of the novels, and happily I have the short story right here. It was illustrated by

Comments

[ladymoondancer]

Good heavens, you're right . . . He is the spitting image of 007!

[wotwotleigh]

Ooh, he does look like Bond! I hadn't noticed the resemblance until you pointed it out.

You're most welcome! :D

[durffy]

WAHHH!! Leete's BadCombOver!Jeeves is going to give me nightmares, I just know it....

Your comments over Raleigh's depiction of the costume ball are simply hilarious! I laugh harder every time I re-read them.

As always, thanks for taking the time to share these with us! Gosh, I love this fandom! Where else can one have so much fun with turn-of-the-century magazine illustrations?

[wotwotleigh]

That is some terrifying head, isn't it? o.0 I guess it does stick out at the back, though . . .

Hee, so glad you're enjoying both the pics and my silly commentary! :D

[sunsetsinthewes]

I think I adore Raleigh's Jeeves.

I love this posts, thank you so much.

[wotwotleigh]

Raleigh's work in general is pretty awesome, despite his crimes against Bertie's upper lip! :D

You're welcome! So glad you're enjoying them. :)

[stalkerbunny]

Bwahahaha that mysterious costume ball illustration... perhaps poor Mr. Raleigh read the story and about the debackle re. the moustache, and went "D: Waitwhat...b-but I like them... FFFUUUU :T" And then he just went a bit crazy with "I DRAW WHAT I WANT D':"-mentality.

...probably not though. But this mental image amuses me nevertheless.

[wotwotleigh]

Heee! I like this interpretation.

[derien]

That's an interesting style in that last picture, where everything else is sketchy and Jeeves is the only thing really intensely BLACK. Like he's the only real thing.

[wotwotleigh]

Hmm, that's an interesting interpretation! I know there have been a few "Bertie lives in a fantasy world" stories, but it would be interesting to do a spin on it where Jeeves is the one who's constructed this elaborate fantasy for himself, filled with amiable but daffy young gentlemen who always need his help . . .

[wotwotleigh]

Judging from the plot bunny I now have rattling around in my skull, I'm inclined to agree. :(