Three Men and a Maid
P. G. Wodehouse
Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019)
This book with two titles, Three Men and a Maid in the USA and The Girl on the Boat in the UK is a typical PG Wodehouse romantic comedy, involving, at various times: a disastrous talent quest, a lawyer with a revolver, a bulldog with a mind of his own and a suit of armour!
The maid, or marriageable young woman, of the American title is red-haired, dog-loving Wilhelmina "Billie" Bennet. The three men are Bream Mortimer, a long-time friend and admirer of Billie, Eustace Hignett, a poet of sensitive disposition who is engaged to Billie at the opening of the tale, and Sam Marlowe, Eustace's would-be-dashing cousin, who falls for Billie at first sight. All four find themselves on an ocean liner headed for England together (hence the British title), along with an elephant-gun-wielding young woman called Jane Hubbard who is smitten with Eustace the poet. Typically Wodehousian romantic shenanigans ensue. Even Estace's redoubtable mother (a Theosophist author and public speaker) fails to quell the excitement.(Summary by Wikipedia, adapted by Tim Bulkeley.) (5 hr 42 min)
Chapters
Chapter 01 | 22:41 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 02 | 42:05 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 03 | 18:12 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 04 | 29:39 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 05 | 13:39 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 06 | 9:55 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 07 | 19:59 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 08 | 10:56 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 09 | 17:35 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 10 | 5:45 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 11 | 17:20 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 12 | 13:41 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 13 | 13:21 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 14 | 21:00 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 15 | 19:54 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 16 - Part 1 | 11:33 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 16 - Part 2 | 9:55 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 16 - Part 3 | 11:38 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 16 - Part 4 | 16:18 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 16 - Part 5 | 7:40 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Chapter 16 - Part 6 | 9:36 | Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019) |
Reviews
Fantastic Reading of a Wonderful Story
Unknown
This reader is simply one of the best I've heard. I've bought books on tape with far worse readings than what this story offers for free. The story is very well written and has a very dry British sense of humor which comes off extremely well with this reader. I highly recommend you give this a listen.
A Twenty Minute Egg
Priscilla Barlow
This little-known but pricelessly funny early Wodehouse is given a superb reading by Tim Bulkeley. This is my first experience of TB’s talent, and I shall scurry to acquire the others as quickly as if I had a dozen aunts on my tail.
One of the best on Librivox
A LibriVox Listener
I love PG WODEHOUSE and the reader of this version of Three Men and a Maid has it absolutely spot on. This is laugh out loud audio book perfection. I can't praise it highly enough. Couldn't put it down.
Enjoyable story
mikezane
Another good Wodehouse classic! Eustace is the son of a selfish, overbearing mother who fears losing her house so much, she'd rather keep her son single for his whole life than see him fall in love and marry. Enter pretty Willhemina, who is first engaged to Eustace, than to Sam, and then to Bream (fickle thing!). Typical comedic situations ensue after that, but of course, with a happy ending for all. Reading was nicely done, I really enjoyed this story.
A refreshing change in pace for Wodehouse
DAusmus
Wodehouse weaves a complex intertangled set of personal views and lives in a hilarious tale of miscommunications and presumptions to create a constantly changing expectation of the listener of this book. The reader does a fine job with voices and inflections to make each character's life become real. Excellent listen!
5 stars! the story And the reader
A LibriVox Listener
Both the story and the reader definitely 5 stars...didn't want it to end...one I'd never even heard of but it one of the best - though it was. to me. not very Wodehouse like...no butler.but a gun! oh. what gun...odd but true.
Delightful
sueboss
I couldn't wait for each coming chapter, I was so enthralled. I love Wodehouse and this one is so Charming I hated for it to end. Mr bulkeley is a genius reader and adds to the delightfulness of the story with his excellent skills with the characters .
three Men and a maid
story lover
the narrator had a wonderful voice and accent for this story. Light-hearted humor and just a bit difficult to follow each character and scene in spite of different voices by narrator. Went back twice to recap. Very enjoyable. Recommend for bedtime listening.