The Great Sermon Handicap by P. G. Wodehouse

Name: The Great Sermon Handicap
Author: P. G. Wodehouse

The story revolves around the events that unfold after Bertie Wooster and his friend Bingo bet on a horse race at Twing Hall. They place their bets on G. Hayward, who is expected to win due to his impressive performance at a wedding where he preached. However, just as they are about to collect their winnings, they receive a note from the Reverend Mr. Heppenstall stating that he will not be able to preach his sermon on Brotherly Love, but has lent it to his nephew James Bates instead. The reason for this is that James is one of the candidates for the headmastership of a well-known public school and the Board of Governors will be judging him based on his preaching skills. The Reverend Mr. Heppenstall wants to help his nephew secure the position, which would lead to a better life for him and his fiancée, Lady Cynthia. Bertie and Bingo are shocked by this revelation and feel that they have been cheated out of their winnings. They realize that Jeeves had inside information about the situation and had placed a bet on Bates instead of G. Hayward. This leads to a heated discussion between Bertie and Bingo, with Bingo expressing his outrage at the situation. The story highlights the complexities of human relationships and the lengths people will go to achieve their goals. It also showcases the wit and cleverness of Jeeves, who is able to navigate these complex situations with ease.

By P. G. Wodehouse · First published 1934 · Genre: Comedy, Short Stories, Classic Literature · 7,757 words

First lines

After Goodwood's over, I generally find that I get a bit restless. I'm not much of a lad for the birds and the trees and the great open spaces as a rule, but there's no doubt that London's not at its best in August, and rather tends to give me the pip and make me think of popping down into the country till things have bucked up a trifle. London, about a couple of weeks after that spectacular finish of young Bingo's which I've just been telling you about, was empty and smelled of burning asphalt. All my pals were away, most of the theatres were shut, and they were taking up Piccadilly in large spadefuls.

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The Great Sermon Handicap is listed on Textopian as a novel by P. G. Wodehouse, dated 1934 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: P. G. Wodehouse
Date: 1934 CE
Language: English
Genres: Comedy, Short Stories, Classic Literature, Humor
Length: 7,757 words
Structure: 1 section, 241 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Genres

Comedy — Written by P. G. Wodehouse, renown for his humorous and comedic style of writing, this book features elements such as satire and wit, typical of the comedy genre.
Short Stories — 'The Great Sermon Handicap' is one part of a collection of short stories, featuring a variety of characters with their own narratives.
Classic Literature — P. G. Wodehouse is a recognised writer in English literature, making his works a part of the classic literature canon.
Humor — Wodehouse's haphazard, witty, and often humorous character interactions and predicaments categorise this book in the humor genre.