Mike: A Public School Story


Read by Debra Lynn

(4.4 stars; 145 reviews)

This novel introduces the characters Mike Jackson and Psmith, who are featured in several of Wodehouse’s later works. It shows how the two characters first met each other as teenagers at boarding school. As Psmith doesn’t appear until about halfway through this book, it was later released as two separate books, Mike at Wrykyn and Mike and Psmith. There’s lots of cricket, but you don’t need to understand the game to enjoy the antics of these public school boys as they "rag" each other and the authorities.

-Summary by Debra Lynn (10 hr 54 min)

Chapters

01 - Ch. 01 Mike, Ch. 02 The Journey Down, Ch. 03 Mike Finds A Friendly Native 33:14 Read by Debra Lynn
02 - Ch. 04 At The Nets, Ch. 05 Revelry By Night, Ch. 06 In Which A Tight Corne… 33:09 Read by Debra Lynn
03 - Ch. 07 In Which Mike Is Discussed, Ch. 08 A Row With The Town 24:27 Read by Debra Lynn
04 - Ch. 09 Before The Storm, Ch. 10 The Great Picnic, Ch. 11 The Conclusion Of… 31:27 Read by Debra Lynn
05 - Ch. 12 Mike Gets His Chance, Ch. 13 The M.C.C. Match, Ch. 14 A Slight Imbr… 36:30 Read by Debra Lynn
06 - Ch. 15 Mike Creates A Vacancy, Ch. 16 An Expert Examination, Ch. 17 Anothe… 33:12 Read by Debra Lynn
07 - Ch. 18 Bob Has News To Impart, Ch. 19 Mike Goes To Sleep Again, Ch. 20 The… 31:30 Read by Debra Lynn
08 - Ch. 21 Marjory The Frank, Ch. 22 Wyatt Is Reminded Of An Engagement, Ch. 2… 30:35 Read by Debra Lynn
09 - Ch. 24 Caught, Ch. 25 Marching Orders, Ch. 26 The Aftermath 26:30 Read by Debra Lynn
10 - Ch. 27 The Ripton Match, Ch. 28 Mike Wins Home 35:59 Read by Debra Lynn
11 - 29 Wyatt Again, Ch. 30 Mr. Jackson Makes Up His Mind, Ch. 31 Sedleigh 25:44 Read by Debra Lynn
12 - Ch. 32 Psmith, Ch. 33 Staking Out A Claim, Ch. 34 Guerilla Warfare 33:31 Read by Debra Lynn
13 - Ch. 35 Unpleasantness In The Small Hours, Ch. 36 Adair, Ch. 37 Mike Finds … 34:45 Read by Debra Lynn
14 - Ch. 38 The Fire Brigade Meeting, Ch. 39 Achilles Leaves His Tent 22:51 Read by Debra Lynn
15 - Ch. 40 The Match With Downing's, Ch. 41 The Singular Behaviour Of Jellicoe… 35:04 Read by Debra Lynn
16 - Ch. 43 Mike Receives A Commission, Ch. 44 And Fulfils It, Ch. 45 Pursuit 32:53 Read by Debra Lynn
17 - Ch. 46 The Decoration Of Sammy, Ch. 47 Mr. Downing On The Scent, Ch. 48 Th… 28:56 Read by Debra Lynn
18 - Ch. 49 A Check, Ch. 50 The Destroyer Of Evidence, Ch. 51 Mainly About Boots 36:51 Read by Debra Lynn
19 - Ch. 52 On The Trail Again, Ch. 53 The Kettle Method, Ch. 54 Adair Has A Wo… 26:49 Read by Debra Lynn
20 - Ch. 55 Clearing The Air, Ch. 56 In Which Peace Is Declared, Ch. 57 Mr. Dow… 34:19 Read by Debra Lynn
58 The Artist Claims His Work, Ch. 59 Sedleigh V. Wrykyn 26:41 Read by Debra Lynn

Reviews

good sports story if you understand cricket


(3 stars)

Glad it's over


(2 stars)

I agree not the usual Wodehouse wit. I'm from USA and seeing the reviews, I spent about 30 minutes on YouTube watching several videos about Cricket rules. This helped. I listen to many books and have come to enjoy the British readers, while others often make me cringe. I appreciate the time taken to read, and yet, her dialect which I guess as upstate New York, is one of my least favorites. Also the recording quality and voice tone we're piercing. I used a 5-band EQ and totally cut the mid frequencies, and it still hurt. The story did pick up at chapter 12 as a familiar character arrived.

Have listened over and over!


(5 stars)

I have to agree with Wodehouse that this is his best work! Funny and lighthearted, this is the world’s first introduction to the eccentricities of Psmith. A character well worth knowing, and quoting. I found the accounts of cricket games in this book to be humorous and engaging despite my extremely limited knowledge of the sport. Most Wodehouse books jokingly point to money and marriage as the only means to happiness it is a relief to have this one step outside of that trope. The reader did an excellent job speaking clearly and catching the attitude of the moment.

An odd offering from Wodehouse


(3 stars)

A strangely unfunny Wodehouse, about boys at public school playing tricks on each other and their teachers. There’s an awful lot of cricket, taken far more seriously than necessary. It's all right as a public school story, although the plot's a bit flat and obvious, but from the author, as a reader I bought certain expectations of humorousness that were not met. The read is clear and well done, but the plot lets it down. Hard to recommend – Wodehouse completists?

Really makes me want to take up cricket


(5 stars)

I enjoyed this story a lot. Mike starts out at one school, but is a bit of a lazy bones. So, his pop moves him to another school where the real adventures begin, thanks to the appearance of Psmith. I really enjoyed this story. Reader and recordings were good, I did have to use GE filtering a bit, but nothing huge or detracting to the story.

Surprisingly Boring


(1.5 stars)

I've been trying to read as many Wodehouse books as I can because I enjoy his wit. Unfortunately, if there was much in this book I must have missed it as I was pretty bored most of the time. I don't think it matters that I don't know about cricket. There was just way too much of it in this story.


(4 stars)

A delightful tale of life in an English public school. The cricket matches get a bit confusing for those of us unfamiliar with the tradition, but the characters and story rise above it. It's wonderful to hear Wodehouse's penchant for simile and metaphor develop and to meet the future Psmith.

PG Wodehouse at his Best


(5 stars)

Please read this book. Even if you do not like cricket even if you know nothing about cricket. It is all kinds of hilarious. It is so good I feel like I should drop all other five star reviews down to four.