Out of School by P. G. Wodehouse

Name: Out of School
Author: P. G. Wodehouse

The story revolves around the lives of several characters in a school setting. The main character, James Datchett, is a young man who works as an assistant to the proprietor of Harrow House, a boarding school for boys. He is struggling with his writing career and is trying to come up with new ideas. Meanwhile, Mr. Blatherwick, the proprietor of Harrow House, is dealing with his own problems. His brother-in-law, Bertie Baxter, has been borrowing money from him for years, and Mr. Blatherwick is starting to feel harassed by these constant requests. One day, a young German student named Adolf arrives at the school. He is eager to learn English and begins taking lessons from James. However, Adolf's persistence soon becomes annoying, and James starts to resent his presence. As the story progresses, we see glimpses of the lives of other characters in the school. There is Violet, the friendly and warm-hearted housekeeper who seems to be the center of attention for both Mr. Blatherwick and James. We also meet Bertie Baxter, who is trying to borrow money from his brother-in-law once again. The story takes a turn when Adolf tries to add night classes to his curriculum, which causes tension between him and James. Eventually, Adolf's behavior becomes too much for James, and he kicks him out of the school. Throughout the story, we see Mr. Blatherwick struggling with his own emotions. He is torn between his desire to help others and his frustration with Bertie's constant borrowing. We also see glimpses of his relationship with Violet, who seems to be the only person who can bring a smile to his face. The story ends with James receiving news that one of his stories has been accepted by an editor, which gives him a sense of hope for his writing career. However, the tone of the story remains somewhat bleak, suggesting that life is full of challenges and difficulties, but also moments of beauty and connection.

By P. G. Wodehouse · First published 1956 · Genre: Comedy, School Story, Young Adult Fiction · 4,791 words

First lines

Mark you, I am not defending James Datchett. I hold no brief for James. On the contrary, I am very decidedly of the opinion that he should not have done it. I merely say that there were extenuating circumstances. Just that. Ext. circ. Nothing more.

Let us review the matter calmly and judicially, not condemning James offhand, but rather probing the whole affair to its core, to see if we can confirm my view that it is possible to find excuses for him.

What this Textopian page supports

Out of School is listed on Textopian as a short story by P. G. Wodehouse, dated 1956 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: P. G. Wodehouse
Date: 1956 CE
Language: English
Genres: Comedy, School Story, Young Adult Fiction
Length: 4,791 words
Structure: 1 section, 136 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Work identity for Out of School by P. G. Wodehouse
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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Out of School?
How does this short story by P. G. Wodehouse fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Comedy — P. G. Wodehouse is known for his humorous and witty writing style, and 'Out of School' carries this style consistently throughout the book.
School Story — School settings, themes, and characters are prominently featured in 'Out of School'.
Young Adult Fiction — The book involves themes and characters relatable to young adult readers, such as school life and adolescent friendship.