Most of us know P.G. Wodehouse as the master of the perfect, frothy comic novel—the world of butlers who know everything and young men who know nothing. 'The Coming of Bill' is a delightful detour. It has all the wit and sparkling dialogue you'd expect, but it's wrapped around a story with genuine emotional stakes and a plot that feels more like a classic romantic drama with a brilliant comic villain.

The Story

The novel follows Kirk Winfield, a charming but not-terribly-successful artist, who marries Ruth, the daughter of a millionaire. They are wildly in love and perfectly happy in their modest life. Then, their son Bill arrives. Enter Ruth's aunt, the formidable Mrs. Lora Delane Porter. She's a bestselling author on 'scientific' child-rearing, a woman of immense will and zero warmth. She sees Kirk as a frivolous, unhealthy influence and decides that for little Bill's sake, Ruth must leave him and submit to Aunt Lora's rigid, sterile system of upbringing. What follows is Kirk's desperate, often funny, and deeply heartfelt struggle to prove that love and laughter are just as important as rules and routines, and to reclaim his place as a husband and father.

Why You Should Read It

This book works because the characters feel real. Kirk's desperation is palpable, and Ruth's torn loyalty is perfectly drawn. But the star, for me, is Aunt Lora. Wodehouse creates in her one of his greatest comic antagonists—she's not evil, she's just monumentally, hilariously convinced of her own rightness. The book is a sharp, funny critique of faddish parenting advice and the people who treat children like projects instead of little human beings. Underneath the comedy, there's a warm and moving defense of simple, joyful, imperfect family love.

Final Verdict

Perfect for Wodehouse fans curious to see him tackle a more domestic story, and absolutely great for anyone who enjoys a smart, funny novel about family. If you've ever side-eyed overly strict parenting advice or rooted for the underdog dad, you'll find a lot to love here. It's a reminder that Wodehouse wasn't just a genius of farce; he was a brilliant observer of the human heart, too.