THE acclaimed English humourist P. G. Wodehouse may have died in 1975 but a clever "copy cat" is alive and living in a monastery at Kogarah.
Father Max Barrett, a devotee of Wodehouse for more than 70 years, has written a short novel in the same style as "a tribute" to the creator of characters such as Jeeves, Bertie Wooster, Lord Emsworth of Blandings Castle and his formidable sister Lady Constance.
A Plum of Great Price makes use of the nickname given to Wodehouse by friends.
Father Barrett, 88, who grew up at Mortdale and attended Marist Brothers Kogarah, has lived since 1999 in the Garden Street monastery, which is home to about 15 retired priests and brothers of the Redemptorist order of the Catholic Church.
He said his former school mates, who were "still recognisably St George" included Barry Carolan, Sep Nethery, Ray O'Leary, Pat O'Meara, Tony Pittorino, Tony Sheridan, Kenny Short, Bernie Stinson, Lloyd Tidmarsh and Arthur Wedesweiler. They had been "a couple of years junior to Ray Lindwall whom Sir Donald rated the peer of the pace bowlers".
During the 70 years since he took vows, Father Barrett has written about 15 books and produced many other publications, but none like his latest offering.
Asked if readers of Wodehouse would be able to tell the difference, he said with a smile, "I don't do too badly, I think it's a pretty good imitation".
In the introduction, written in his own style, Father Barrett posed the question whether it was "an impertinence, even an irreverence, to imitate the master".
"My response to my own question is imitation is meant as a compliment," he answered.
CREATIVE LIFE
Sir Pelham Grenville (P.G.) Wodehouse’s gentle, comical stories about fictional characters in the English upper class in the early part of the 20th century were ‘‘escapism literature,’’ Father Barrett said.
‘‘It wasn’t the real world, but it was a world that people loved,’’ he said.
Father Barrett said he was introduced to Wodehouse by his two brothers at 16 years.
‘‘I found myself in a new realm where, for instance, a person was not just a careless dresser; rather, he looked as though he had been poured into his clothes and had forgotten to say when’’.
‘‘I responded to this type of word picture with a laugh that started in the diaphragm but which then took wings, fluttering above the top of the keyboard in a happy crescendo...
‘‘Devotees of Wodehouse will know the sensation.’’
The Wodehouse estate has approved a limited print run. The book ($20 or $25 if ordered by post) is from Redemptorist Publications, PO Box 370, Kogarah, 1485.
