I don't remember much being said about Bertie's looks, though there is one story from Carry On Jeeves that is told from Jeeves' point of view, and he describes Bertie's responses frequently. Just not his physical build, if I recall correctly. Here's one quote I love: The guv’nor’s is not one of those inscrutable faces which it is impossible to read. On the contrary, it is a limpid pool in which is mirrored each passing emotion. I could read it now like a book, and his first words were very much on the lines I had anticipated. “Jeeves,” he said, hoarsely,” is that damned car mended yet?”
Jeeves is often described as having chiseled features, as in this excerpt from Thank You, Jeeves: "But she was looking past me at something to the south-east; and, turning, I perceived that we were no longer alone. There, standing in an attitude of respectful courtliness, with the sunshine playing upon his finely chiselled features, was Jeeves."I could swear that Jeeves is described as having oiled black hair in one of the earlier New York stories,
( ... )
Thanks very much old bean! That first quote is as hilarious as it is adorable, and the rest are topping as well. I wish I had more access to the stories so I could find more quotes! I've only got three currently. Your wonderful post has greatly added to my compendium of descriptions.
Yes! Jeeves calls him guv'nor through the whole thing! It's pretty great. It's called "Bertie Changes His Mind" if you haven't read it yet. It's the one where Jeeves steers Bertie to the girls school, to dissuade him from taking up with his sister and her kids. Hilarious! A must-read of the canon.
Just a few hours ago I found a few of P. G.'s stories online and I found a few bits and bobs. These are all I could find though, and they're only about Jeeves.
Jeeves is a tallish man, with one of those dark, shrewd faces. His eye gleams with the light of pure intelligence. -Leave It To Jeeves
A kind of darkish sort of respectful Johnnie stood without. -Jeeves Takes Charge
"How does he do it, Bertie?" he said. "I'll tell you what I think it is. I believe it's something to do with the shape of his head. Have you ever noticed his head, Bertie, old man? It sort of sticks out at the back!" -Jeeves and the Hard Boiled Egg
Yeah, in one story Bertie says that Jeeves' head sticks out at the back, but in another it's a "bulging forehead" (boy, he starts to sound like a hammerhead shark...) The bowler hat is book canon.
In that story about the communists Bertie is described as "that tall thin one who has a face like a motor mascot". So, a bit silly, I guess? Hugh Laurie somehow fits that description perfectly ;)
The other thing is that everything is, of course, told from Bertie's POV. He may think his nose is big, but that doesn't mean you have to draw him with a big, hooked nose. At some point he talks about his own "clear-cut face", but I can't figure out what that's supposed to mean. And he often uses "finely chiseled" as a substitute for "face" in general, and on pretty much any male, so that's not much help.
The good news is that it really doesn't matter too much how you draw them, you just have a lot of freedom.
I just googled 1920's Motor Mascot, and it seems to be the hood ornaments of the day. Back then, they tended to be silver angeles or classic beautiful sculptures. So can we assume Bertie is a looker, classically speaking?
Could be, but it's not used as a compliment, more an insult...
I googled it at some point, I remember, and what I got was mostly funny little rodents with spanners or the Michelin man - as in, mascots for a certain brand.
Ah, but that's our modern versions. In the 1920's it seems to be mostly winged Johnny's, although I did spot a few horses so maybe that's where the insult comes in? But to be fair, I also spotted a few owls so who knows. Mostly beazels with wings and a limited amount of clothing, and a lot of statues of Hermes.
I don't have quotes, unfortunately, but i'm chiming in to say how gorgeous J&W would look in that style! <3 I'll definitely be checking out that comic :)
It's a fun comic, with amazing artwork. I just got an email back from her saying that she's a great fan of our boys, but she won't be able to do anything during the summer months due to making a second Lackadaisy book. So it'll be a few months before I can push the old doubloons upon her, but then, pwhoar! Watch out!
Doesn't Bertie describe himself as willowy in canon? I'm pretty sure he does, which would make him tall and slender. For some reason I picture him with reddish hair, but that could just be from the various illustrations I've seen.
He definitely uses the word willowy. It's when he's describing how he got tricked at the Drones into falling into the pool (which he never really seems to get over!)
I found this quote from Thank You Jeeves: But I don't look like old Glossop. We're built on different lines. Me - slender and willowy; him ... well, I don't wish to say anything derogatory concerning one who is bound to the aunt of an old friend by ties warmer than those of ... well, what I'm driving at is that you couldn't by any stretch of the imag. call him slender and willowy.
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The guv’nor’s is not one of those inscrutable faces which it is impossible to read. On the contrary, it is a limpid pool in which is mirrored each passing emotion. I could read it now like a book, and his first words were very much on the lines I had anticipated. “Jeeves,” he said, hoarsely,” is that damned car mended yet?”
Jeeves is often described as having chiseled features, as in this excerpt from Thank You, Jeeves:
"But she was looking past me at something to the south-east; and, turning, I perceived that we were no longer alone. There, standing in an attitude of respectful courtliness, with the sunshine playing upon his finely chiselled features, was Jeeves."I could swear that Jeeves is described as having oiled black hair in one of the earlier New York stories, ( ... )
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Thanks very much old bean! That first quote is as hilarious as it is adorable, and the rest are topping as well. I wish I had more access to the stories so I could find more quotes! I've only got three currently. Your wonderful post has greatly added to my compendium of descriptions.
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Jeeves is a tallish man, with one of those dark, shrewd faces. His eye gleams with the light of pure intelligence.
-Leave It To Jeeves
A kind of darkish sort of respectful Johnnie stood without.
-Jeeves Takes Charge
"How does he do it, Bertie?" he said. "I'll tell you what I think it is. I believe it's something to do with the shape of his head. Have you ever noticed his head, Bertie, old man? It sort of sticks out at the back!"
-Jeeves and the Hard Boiled Egg
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In that story about the communists Bertie is described as "that tall thin one who has a face like a motor mascot". So, a bit silly, I guess? Hugh Laurie somehow fits that description perfectly ;)
The other thing is that everything is, of course, told from Bertie's POV. He may think his nose is big, but that doesn't mean you have to draw him with a big, hooked nose. At some point he talks about his own "clear-cut face", but I can't figure out what that's supposed to mean.
And he often uses "finely chiseled" as a substitute for "face" in general, and on pretty much any male, so that's not much help.
The good news is that it really doesn't matter too much how you draw them, you just have a lot of freedom.
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I googled it at some point, I remember, and what I got was mostly funny little rodents with spanners or the Michelin man - as in, mascots for a certain brand.
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I found this quote from Thank You Jeeves:
But I don't look like old Glossop. We're built on different lines. Me - slender and willowy; him ... well, I don't wish to say anything derogatory concerning one who is bound to the aunt of an old friend by ties warmer than those of ... well, what I'm driving at is that you couldn't by any stretch of the imag. call him slender and willowy.
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Thanks for the quote from Thank You, Jeeves. Now I'm going to dig through my collection and read it.
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