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Something Fresh
- Narrated by: Jonathan Cecil
- Series: Blandings Castle, Book 1
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Humour & Satire
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Summary
This is the first Blandings novel, in which P.G. Wodehouse introduces us to the delightfully dotty Lord Emsworth, his bone-headed younger son, the Hon. Freddie Threepwood, his log-suffering secretary, the Efficient Baxter, and Beach the Blandings butler.
As Wodehouse wrote, 'without at least one imposter on the premises, Blandings Castle is never itself'. In Something Fresh there are two, each with an eye on a valuable Egyptian amulet which Lord Emsworth has acquired without quite realizing how it came into his pocket. But of course things get a lot more complicated than this...
Critic reviews
"For Wodehouse there has been no fall of Man....The gardens of Blandings Castle are the original gardens of Eden from which we are all exiled." (Evelyn Waugh)
More from the same
What listeners say about Something Fresh
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Seimon
- 25-06-09
Breathtaking
I am a huge fan of P G Wodehouse, and thought that I had devoured all of his books which were available in audio format. However, when I came across this one I realised that I had missed the jewel of the collection. Something Fresh is, in my opinion, Wodehouse's most enchanting book. The name really says it all; listen and be delighted!
24 people found this helpful
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- Mrs. E. D'agostino
- 22-09-17
Loved it!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've listened to quite a few of PG Wodehouse's books and enjoyed them all but there was something about this one, the story wasn't quite so fantastical or convoluted, that really made it stand out for me.
16 people found this helpful
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- Jake B.
- 16-07-20
Best Book I've Ever Read/Listened To
one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen
9 people found this helpful
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- APPY
- 14-12-19
amusing wodehouse
excellent comical story full of eccentric characters and capturing the era.
The readers voice and style is absolutely right for the book.
I would have given it 5 stars other than for one minor irritation.It appears to have been slightly "americanised" as there are instances of flats being rented in dollars and things like people standing on sidewalks.l haven't read the original and I have nothing against American expressions but it doesn't seem to fit with how I assume the characters would have spoken.
8 people found this helpful
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- Tim and Mary
- 25-09-21
Is it possible that Wodehouse can be improved on?
Wodehouse's writings are one of the great pleasures in life. Is it possible they can be improved on? Yes, by getting Jonathan Cecil to you!
5 people found this helpful
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- Helen
- 31-07-20
Ageless and hilarious
Brilliant, ageless and hilarious. The humour does not date at all and at times I was convulsed with laughter. Makes a long drive a pleasure.
4 people found this helpful
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- Mrs. P.
- 27-01-17
Can't beat it for a bit of a lighthearted frivolous read!
If you love Bertie Worcester and Jeeves then you'll love this too! Just as silly and fun. 😂
4 people found this helpful
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- Brian B.
- 04-11-21
The first of the Blandings novels
Unfortunately I came upon the first of the Blandings novels after reading some of the later stories. However it did not spoil the enjoyment. Great characters and great narration.
2 people found this helpful
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- HoneyRose (London, England)
- 28-07-21
Classic Wodehouse comedy set in Blandings Castle
Loved this. So funny. Starring Lord Emsworth and the Hon Freddie in a Blandings Castle adventure.
Brilliantly performed by Jonathan Cecil.
2 people found this helpful
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- Mr Alexander R Gill
- 06-12-20
Thoroughly Enjoyable
Great story yet again about the idle rich written by Wodehouse. Excellent reading bringing the characters to life. I have heard other readings who make the Earl sound too much like a miserable grandad, Cecil does not do this. Likeable characters and will certainly be listening to again.
2 people found this helpful
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- Virginia Waldron
- 28-05-12
Pure Rollicking Fun
If you want a bit of fun, this book is for you. The narrator is perfect for the story. I enjoyed this book immensely. It has all the elements that you would expect of a P.G. Wodehouse story. If you like this sort of comedy, you won't regret listening to this. Jonathan Cecil really reflects the class and era of the story's setting. Utterly charming and delightful in every way. I loved it.
1 person found this helpful
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- "hugoperezlaroche"
- 29-11-20
Excellent story and performance. Very poor Audible chapter division.
This is a very good story from the Blandings Castle series, and the performance is very good also. However, the Audible chapters do not match the chapters of the story and that degrades the listening experience. The Audible chapters are too long and some include two and a half chapters of the book. That makes the Audible version difficult to use. It’s a pity that a great book and performance is marred by somethinfg so easy to fix. Why can’t the audio chapters division follow rhe book’s division?
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Story

- Rakhesh Sasidharan
- 29-05-16
Great story! Wonderful narration.
Loved it! Absolutely loved it!! Excellent narration. Perfect for the story and it's characters.
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Overall

- Anonymous User
- 28-05-10
Lovely
One of the sweeter Wodehousian stories, wherein everyone is paired off with beautiful ease. Excellent narrator. I'm off to add all to my wish list!
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Overall

- Sarah
- 18-12-08
Fantastic!
I bought the Frederick Davidson version of this first and thought it was terrible; then I listened to this version and realized what a tremendous difference a good narrator can make. This is a great Blandings Castle story - the first one in the Blandings series, I think - and has great sub-plots and some truly hilarious lines. And Jonathan Cecil - as usual - does a terrific job of reading it.
Makes me wish that Audible would hurry up and get some of the Blandings series dramatizations, actually (Jonathan Cecil appears in the Jeeves dramatizations, incidentally - he's clearly got a good grasp of the tone of Wodehouse material).
Highly recommended.
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Overall

- Abhay
- 05-08-08
something less fresh than pg's standard excellence
this is one of the master humourist's lesser offerings.
it sounds a little stale for those who are avid fans. for first meeters with pg wodehouses, it gives a great introdcution.