Uneasy Money came as quite a pleasant surprise. It’s a
transitional work, published in 1916, before he’d fully constructed his
world of farce and foolishness, and hence has a more realistic tone than
the Jeeves or Blandings tales–indeed, except for a few short moments it
isn’t really a farce at all. On the other hand, the overly realistic
atmosphere that mars the earlier A Gentleman
of Leisure is completely missing.

In consequence, Uneasy Money falls into a category all of its
own: it’s a delightful romantic comedy written in Wodehouse’ remarkable
style. Because of the extra bit of realism, it matters that our hero
marries the right girl, who is indeed a real peach, sweet, pretty, and
capable of taking care of herself in every way that matters.

Our hero, William Lord Dawlish (Bill to everyone), is especially
remarkable. Like many a Wodehouse leading man, he isn’t the sharpest tack
in the carpet; but he’s solid. He has integrity–if it’s not playing the
game he simply won’t do it. He’d love more than anything else to settle
down and farm or something of the kind, but as impoverished peer he’s got
no money to invest, as a peer of any kind employers won’t take him
seriously, and he won’t suck up to the kind of bounders who might advance
his career for their own sakes.

It’s a common scene: one of a pair of lovers is found in a seemingly
compromising but actually innocent situation, and the other refuses even
to listen, instead rushing off in a snit. (Don’t you hate that?)
Bill’s the kind of guy who would listen–and assume his girl was
telling him the truth, purely as a matter of course.

Anyway, I enjoyed this one thoroughly, which in this case means “more than
usual for Wodehouse”. Don’t miss it.