The Small Bachelor

Name: The Small Bachelor
Author: P. G. Wodehouse

The narrative follows George Finch, a young man from Idaho who inherits a fortune and moves to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming an artist. Unfortunately, he is a terrible painter. Living in a bachelor apartment, he becomes infatuated with a young woman named Molly Waddington, who lives nearby. George's life takes a turn when he meets J. Hamilton Beamish, a self-help author who believes in the power of observation and efficiency. Beamish becomes a mentor to George, but he is also critical of George's romantic pursuits. George's valet, Mullett, reveals that George has been acting strangely due to his infatuation with Molly, leading Beamish to express concern about love at first sight. Meanwhile, George is too shy to approach Molly directly, leading to comedic misunderstandings. Beamish learns that George has an old acquaintance, May Stubbs, who may complicate his relationship with Molly. May arrives in New York, and George is worried about her intentions, fearing she might disrupt his plans to marry Molly. As the wedding day approaches, a series of mishaps occur, including the clergyman spraining his ankle, which delays the ceremony. Molly and her mother, Mrs. Waddington, go to fetch a replacement minister, leaving George anxious. During this time, Beamish devises a plan to help George by creating a scenario where May Stubbs appears to confront him, hoping to scare her off. The story culminates in a chaotic wedding day filled with misunderstandings, comedic encounters, and the revelation of hidden truths. Mullett's past as an ex-convict and the dynamics between the characters create a humorous backdrop as George navigates his feelings for Molly and the complications introduced by May. Ultimately, the narrative explores themes of love, identity, and the absurdities of social expectations, all wrapped in Wodehouse's signature comedic style.

By P. G. Wodehouse · First published 1912 · Genre: Comedy, Romance, Fiction · 18 chapters · 91,378 words

First lines

The roof of the Sheridan Apartment House, near Washington Square, New York. Let us examine it. There will be stirring happenings on this roof in due season, and it is well to know the ground.

What this Textopian page supports

The Small Bachelor is listed on Textopian as a novel by P. G. Wodehouse, dated 1912 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: P. G. Wodehouse
Date: 1912 CE
Language: English
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Fiction, Satire, Adventure
Length: 91,378 words
Structure: 18 chapters, 3,475 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Work identity for The Small Bachelor by P. G. Wodehouse
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Small Bachelor?
How does this novel by P. G. Wodehouse fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Comedy — The book features humorous situations and witty dialogue characteristic of Wodehouse's comedic style.
Romance — The plot revolves around romantic entanglements and relationships, central to the narrative.
Fiction — The story is a work of fiction, presenting a narrative that is not based on real events.
Satire — The book satirizes social norms and the upper class, typical of Wodehouse's critique of society.