Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, also known as Plum, was a renowned English author, born on October 15, 1881, in Guilford, Surrey, England. He spent his early years in Hong Kong, where his father was a magistrate, before moving back to England for his education at Dulwich College in London.
Wodehouse began his career as a banker at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, but soon switched to the Globe newspaper as a sports reporter and columnist. It was during this time that he developed his talent for writing and started to write his own stories. Initially, he wrote school novels about life in English universities, but soon shifted his focus to comic dialogue.
By 1910, Wodehouse had established himself as a successful author, and he spent his time between residences in the US and France. He developed an obsession with golf, which featured prominently in many of his short stories. Wodehouse met his wife, Ethel, an American widow, in 1913 and they married in 1914.
During World War II, Wodehouse was captured by German forces and imprisoned in a camp. Despite the challenging circumstances, he continued to write, and his work was even broadcast on German radio. However, he was tricked into giving humorous appearances, which were later redirected to Britain, causing a stir among his readers and publisher. Wodehouse was eventually released and returned to America, where he became a citizen in 1955.
Hollywood attempted to capitalize on Wodehouse's fame, but he remained unimpressed. Instead, his popularity continued to grow, and in 1975, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, despite his wartime mistakes. Wodehouse's final years were marked by poor health, but he continued to write until his death on February 14, 1975.
Wodehouse's personal life was also marked by tragedy, including the death of his adopted daughter, Leonora, in 1942. His wife, Ethel, survived him until 1984. Despite the challenges he faced, Wodehouse remained a prolific author, leaving behind a legacy of over 200 novels, short stories, plays, and song lyrics.
