The Episode of the Live Weekly
Encyclopedia
"The Episode of the Live Weekly" is a short story by P. G. Wodehouse
and C. H. Bovill, which first appeared in the United Kingdom in the July 1914 issue of the Strand
, and in the United States in the August 1916 Pictorial Review
. It was published in book form in the collection A Man of Means
in 1991.
It is the fourth of six stories to feature Roland Bleke, a young man for whom financial success is always a mixed blessing.
", sees a pretty young girl crying in the park. Trying to comfort her, he learns she has lost her job as editor
of the Woman's Page of Squibs magazine. His chivalry
stirred, Bleke tells her he plans to buy the paper.
Visiting the offices, he meets the vibrant young chief editor, and learns the condition of the paper - financially crippled following a competition run by early staff, the prize for which was £5 a week for life. The winner of the prize continues to drain the income of the paper, bringing it to the verge of ruin. Bleke buys it anyway, restoring the girl to her position, but he soon finds his attraction to her drained by her clear affection for her boss.
Frustrated by yet another problematic venture, Bleke repairs to Paris for a month. Returning to London, he finds the place overrun with bizarre advertising stunts for the paper. Confronting the editor, he finds the sales are up, thanks to the campaigns and a new scandal
page, which shocks Bleke. The editor explains the stories are all fake, except for one, about a notorious bookie
named Percy Pook, who he assures Bleke will never sue.
Next day Bleke finds the editor has been hospitalised following a severe beating, presumably at the hands of the bookie's representatives - he has told the girl to continue his work and to "slip it to" Pook some more. While she prepares the rest of the paper, Bleke volunteers to write the scandal page, to prevent any further insult being meted out. He finds writing difficult, but on seeing a piece about Mr Windelbird, who he had encountered in "The Episode of the Financial Napoleon
" and who he assumes is above suspicion, he is inspired to write a provocative piece on the financier's morals.
A week later he is approached with an offer to buy the paper. Happy to be rid of it, he nevertheless names a high price, which he is surprised to find accepted without quibble. He learns that the buyer is none other than his old friend, Mr Geoffrey Windelbird.
P. G. Wodehouse
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE was an English humorist, whose body of work includes novels, short stories, plays, poems, song lyrics, and numerous pieces of journalism. He enjoyed enormous popular success during a career that lasted more than seventy years and his many writings continue to be...
and C. H. Bovill, which first appeared in the United Kingdom in the July 1914 issue of the Strand
Strand Magazine
The Strand Magazine was a monthly magazine composed of fictional stories and factual articles founded by George Newnes. It was first published in the United Kingdom from January 1891 to March 1950 running to 711 issues, though the first issue was on sale well before Christmas 1890.Its immediate...
, and in the United States in the August 1916 Pictorial Review
Pictorial Review
Pictorial Review is a magazine which first appeared in September, 1899. The magazine was originally designed to showcase dress patterns of William Paul Ahnelt's American Fashion Company. By the late 1920s it was one of the largest of the "women's magazines"....
. It was published in book form in the collection A Man of Means
A Man of Means
A Man of Means is a collection of six short stories written in collaboration by P. G. Wodehouse and C. H. Bovill. The stories first appeared in the United Kingdom in the Strand in 1914, and in the United States in Pictorial Review in 1916...
in 1991.
It is the fourth of six stories to feature Roland Bleke, a young man for whom financial success is always a mixed blessing.
Plot summary
Roland Bleke, his wealth further increase following the outcome of "The Episode of the Theatrical VentureThe Episode of the Theatrical Venture
"The Episode of the Theatrical Venture" is a short story by P. G. Wodehouse and C. H. Bovill, which first appeared in the United Kingdom in the June 1914 issue of the Strand, and in the United States in the July 1916 Pictorial Review...
", sees a pretty young girl crying in the park. Trying to comfort her, he learns she has lost her job as editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of the Woman's Page of Squibs magazine. His chivalry
Chivalry
Chivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour...
stirred, Bleke tells her he plans to buy the paper.
Visiting the offices, he meets the vibrant young chief editor, and learns the condition of the paper - financially crippled following a competition run by early staff, the prize for which was £5 a week for life. The winner of the prize continues to drain the income of the paper, bringing it to the verge of ruin. Bleke buys it anyway, restoring the girl to her position, but he soon finds his attraction to her drained by her clear affection for her boss.
Frustrated by yet another problematic venture, Bleke repairs to Paris for a month. Returning to London, he finds the place overrun with bizarre advertising stunts for the paper. Confronting the editor, he finds the sales are up, thanks to the campaigns and a new scandal
Scandal
A scandal is a widely publicized allegation or set of allegations that damages the reputation of an institution, individual or creed...
page, which shocks Bleke. The editor explains the stories are all fake, except for one, about a notorious bookie
Bookmaker
A bookmaker, or bookie, is an organization or a person that takes bets on sporting and other events at agreed upon odds.- Range of events :...
named Percy Pook, who he assures Bleke will never sue.
Next day Bleke finds the editor has been hospitalised following a severe beating, presumably at the hands of the bookie's representatives - he has told the girl to continue his work and to "slip it to" Pook some more. While she prepares the rest of the paper, Bleke volunteers to write the scandal page, to prevent any further insult being meted out. He finds writing difficult, but on seeing a piece about Mr Windelbird, who he had encountered in "The Episode of the Financial Napoleon
The Episode of the Financial Napoleon
"The Episode of the Financial Napoleon" is a short story by P. G. Wodehouse and C. H. Bovill, which first appeared in the United Kingdom in the May 1914 issue of the Strand, and in the United States in the June 1916 Pictorial Review...
" and who he assumes is above suspicion, he is inspired to write a provocative piece on the financier's morals.
A week later he is approached with an offer to buy the paper. Happy to be rid of it, he nevertheless names a high price, which he is surprised to find accepted without quibble. He learns that the buyer is none other than his old friend, Mr Geoffrey Windelbird.
External links
- Free eBook of A Man of Means at Project GutenbergProject GutenbergProject Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks". Founded in 1971 by Michael S. Hart, it is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books...