C   Novels by Wodehouse appearing in Magazines or Journals

Introduction

Of the novels written by P G Wodehouse, the vast majority were serialised in magazines, some appearing in a single issue.  The nature of the serialisation changed with time.  The early novels were serialised in almost identical form to the published book, but from the mid-1930s there was an increasing tendency for the magazine serialisation to be a condensed version of the novel.  In some cases, the condensed version was written first.

Section C Novels by Wodehouse which appeared in Magazines or Journals

Attention is drawn in particular to the following titles:

The Prince and Betty, which in both the UK and US magazine appearances, was based on the UK rather than the very different US book version of the text.

A Prince for Hire, which was a serialised novelette based broadly on The Prince and Betty, but completely rewritten in 1931.

The Eighteen Carat Kid, which in serial form consisted only of the adventure aspects of The Little Nugget, the love interest being added to ‘flesh out’ the book.

Something New, which contained a substantial scene from The Lost Lambs (the second half of Mike) which was included in the American book but not Something Fresh, the UK equivalent.

Leave It To Psmith, the magazine ending of which in both the US and the UK was rewritten for book publication in both countries.

Laughing Gas, which started life as a serial of novelette length, and was rewritten for book publication to more than double its original length.

The Luck of the Bodkins, which after being rejected by the Saturday Evening Post for a wholly unrelated reason, was rewritten some 25,000 words shorter.  The original version appeared as the UK book; the rewritten version was published in the US.

Uncle Fred in the Springtime, at the request of the Editor of the Saturday Evening Post, the original version was reduced in complexity by the exclusion of two important characters before magazine publication.  The original version appeared in book form in both UK and US.

The Gem Collector, which was a novelette magazine version of A Gentleman of Leisure.

Many other serialisations differed from book texts in relatively minor ways.  The novels listed above are considered to be the ones with variations in which aficionados would be most interested.

It is most probable that some serialisations, especially in Canadian or provincial US magazines, have been inadvertently omitted. Information as to such matters would be most welcome. Readers should note that no attempt has been made to list serialisation outside the UK, the US and Canada.