Love Among the Chickens 3480553 162623255 2007-10-06T07:58:06Z MrsPlum 2523461 /* Plot introduction */ minor rewording {{Infobox Book | <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] --> | name = Love Among the Chickens | title_orig = | translator = | image = [[Image:Love among the Chickens - cover - Project Gutenberg etext 20532.jpg|200px]] | image_caption = Front cover and spine of the 1909 Circle Publishing edition of ''Love among the Chickens'' | author = [[P. G. Wodehouse]] | illustrator = | cover_artist = | country = [[United Kingdom]] | language = [[English language|English]] | series = | subject = <!-- Subject is not relevant for fiction --> | genre = [[Comic novel]]<!-- [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels/Novel categorization]] --> | publisher = [[George Newnes]] | release_date = June, 1906 | english_release_date = | media_type = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] & [[Paperback]]) | pages = | isbn = NA <!-- Released before ISBN system implimented --> | preceded_by = <!-- Preceding novel in series --> | followed_by = <!-- Following novel in series --> }} '''''Love Among the Chickens''''' is a [[novel]] by [[P. G. Wodehouse]], first published as a book in the [[United Kingdom|U.K.]] in June [[1906]] by [[George Newnes]], [[London]], and in the [[United States|U.S.]] by [[Circle Publishing]], [[New York]] on [[May 11]] [[1909]], having earlier appeared there as a serial in ''[[Circle (magazine)|Circle]]'' magazine between September [[1908]] and March [[1909]]. A substantially rewritten version was published in May [[1921]] by [[Herbert Jenkins (publisher)|Herbert Jenkins]]. It was Wodehouse's first novel to be published in the United States, and the only one to feature the recurring character [[Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge]]. ==Plot introduction== The novel is written in the [[Grammatical person|first person]], from the point of view of [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Jeremy Garnet|Jeremy Garnet]], an [[author]] and an old friend of Ukridge. Seeing Ukridge for the first time in years, with a new wife in tow, Garnet finds himself dragged along on holiday to Ukridge's new chicken farm in [[Dorset]]. The novel intertwines Garnet's difficult wooing of a girl living nearby, with the struggles of the farm, which are exacerbated by Ukridge's bizarre business ideas and methods. ==Plot summary== Jeremy Garnet, novelist, hears that his old friend Ukridge is back in England, getting involved in chicken farming in Dorset. He is preparing to head out of town for a time, it being rather uncomfortable in London during the summer, when Ukridge himself arrives at Garnet's flat, with his new wife [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Millie Ukridge|Millie]] in tow. Ukridge explains his egg-selling scheme, assuring Garnet it is sure to make them both a fortune, and using his forceful personality, persuades Garnet to accompany him down to the farm; there will, he assures his friend, be plenty of [[golf]] and [[Swimming#Recreational swimming|sea-bathing]] available. On the train on the way down, they are joined in a compartment by a pretty, brown-haired girl named [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Phyllis Cerrick|Phyllis]] and her elderly [[Ireland|Irish]] [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Profeesor Derrick|father]]. By coincidence, Phyllis is reading a copy of Garnet's new novel, given to her by [[P. G. Wodehouse minor characters#Molly MacEachern|Molly MacEachern]]. They arrive at the house, meet hired man [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Beale|Beale]] and his wife, and settle in. Next day a consignment of hens arrives, and they spend some busy days putting up fences and building coops; Ukridge buys various supplies on credit, and begins to arrange to supply eggs to various outlets. One day, chasing an escaped hen, Garnet tumbles into a garden containing the girl from the train, her father Professor Derrick, and a friendly young navy man named [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Tom Chase|Tom Chase]], whose familiarity with Phyllis irks Garnet. They recapture the chicken, and Garnet is invited to lunch, stays to play [[croquet]] afterwards, and his love for Phyllis is sealed. Soon the Ukridges invite their new neighbours over for dinner, but the cat gets stuck up the chimney and they are unable to cook. Fed cold food, and upset by Ukridge's small talk, especially concerning the problem of Irish [[devolution]], the Professor leaves in a cloud of anger, and Garnet finds himself in his beloved's father's bad books. The chickens become ill, and Garnet, on his way to fetch help, runs into Phyllis, who shows him some friendliness. Later, bathing at the beach, he spies the Professor, fishing from a boat. He hatches a plan, bribes a local, [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Harry Hawk|Harry Hawk]], to upset the Professors boat, and saves him from the sea, restoring the man's faith in him. He visits Phyllis, but is interrupted in his wooing by Chase, who hints that he is wise to Garnet's boat plot, and thrashes Garnet at [[tennis]]. With the chicken farm struggling, a local informs Derrick of Garnet's boat plot, and he finds himself once again despised. He buries himself in the farm and his writing, but after a week he comes across Phyillis alone, and explains his actions to her. He declares his love, and she returns it, revealing that Chase is in fact engaged to her sister Norah, but adds that her father, loathing Garnet, would never consent to them marrying. On Ukridge's advice, they beard the man in the sea, and Garnet announces his love for Phyllis, but only makes Derrick angrier. Garnet finds himself up against the Professor in the final of a local golf tournament, which, he has learned, the Professor has long been desperate to win. He plays a wily game, and wins the Professor round, giving him the match but winning his consent. Returning to the farm, he finds the Ukridges disappeared, apparently bolted to London to flee their creditors. A swarm of said creditors arrive, and begin ransacking the farm; they have turned to the chickens when Ukridge returns, bearing wealth courtesy of Millie's [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Lady Elizabeth Lakenheath|Aunt Elizabeth]]. He berates the assembled throng, and sends them off with fleas in their ears. Later, Garnet finds Ukridge on the beach, and hears of his plan - to start up a duck farm... == Characters in "Love Among the Chickens" == * '''[[Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge]]''', the irrepressible entrepreneur ** [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Millie Ukridge|Millie]], his new wife *** [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Beale|Beale]], their hired man * [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Jeremy Garnet|Jeremy Garnet]], a friend of Ukridge, a novelist * [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Professor Derrick|Professor Derrick]], Ukridge's Irish neighbour ** [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Phyllis Cerrick|Phyllis]], the professor's daughter *** [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Tom Chase|Tom Chase]], their house-guest * [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Harry Hawk|Harry Hawk]], a local man, who hires out his boat to fishermen * ''Aunt Elizabeth'', a temperamental hen, named after [[Minor characters in the Ukridge stories#Lady Elizabeth Lakenheath|Millie's aunt]] ==See also== * [[List of short stories by P. G. Wodehouse#Ukridge|List of Wodehouse's Ukridge stories]] ==External links== *[http://wodehouse.ru/07.htm The Russian Wodehouse Society's page], with numerous book covers and a list of characters *[http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/p-g-wodehouse/love-among-chickens.htm Fantastic Fiction's page], with details of published editions, photos of book covers and links to used copies *[http://www.aowy95.dsl.pipex.com/Wodehouse/PGWbooks/PGWlatc.html An analysis of the book], with pages of synopsis, character and setting lists, quotes, and notes on literary and cultural references *[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3829 Free eBook of ''Love Among the Chickens''] (1920 rewrite) at [[Project Gutenberg]] [[Category:Novels by P. G. Wodehouse]] [[Category:1906 novels]] [[Category:Comedy novels]]