Of all the books Wodehouse wrote, about 54 have dedications. Perhaps the most famous is the one shown here, that he wrote for the apple of his eye, his stepdaughter Leonora (can you guess which book?). Forty-two people have been honored as dedicatees in the canon, according to The Wodehouse Society (TWS) member Ken Clevenger, who researched Wodehouse book dedications for an article he wrote for Plum Lines, the Society’s quarterly journal, way back in 2009. Ken also compiled a Wodehouse book dedications quiz for the same issue. Here are a few questions from that quiz to test your Wodehouse knowledge!
- Two of the dedications refer to the support and encouragement of the dedicatees, without which the books could have been “finished in half the time.” One, shown in the picture, was to Leonora. Who was the other person honored with the same dedication? Can you also name the book?
- Name the two Hollywood stars to whom Wodehouse dedicated books.
- Only once was a Wodehouse dedication made in Latin. Which book and to whom?
- Agatha Christie, Anthony Berkeley (A. B. Cox), Compton Mackenzie, and Leslie Charteris share a common Wodehouse book dedication circumstance. What is it?
- How many sports were mentioned in Wodehouse book dedications and what were they? N.B.: We do not count dog fighting as a sport!
Want the answers? Well, we could give them to you, but it’s more fun to head on over and check the Plum Lines archives section for the Summer 2009 issue. And don’t forget to read Ken Clevenger’s excellent article on Wodehouse Book Dedications in the same issue!
Plum Lines is chock-full of fascinating information about Wodehouse and his life and times. Back issues have been archived on the website, but there’s nothing like getting the latest issue delivered to your home and the excitement of reading something new about the Master. To get Plum Lines hot off the presses, all you have to do is become a member of The Wodehouse Society!
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