The world of Jeeves is full of quirky, fun facts for fans just beginning to read Wodehouse’s comic novels. Below are a few no fan should be without when it comes to Jeeves and Wodehouse.

Jeeves’ First Employer

Bertie Wooster wasn’t always the hapless victim rescued by Jeeves — in fact, Jeeves’ first employer wasn’t Bertie at all. The character of Reggie Pepper, who bore a striking resemblance to Bertie on the page, appears in Wodehouse’s first Jeeves stories, including the compilation “My Man Jeeves”.

No Jeeves?

That’s right–a few of Wodehouse’s first stories featured a clueless gentleman fumbling his way through problems, but not necessarily rescued by his brilliant valet. Some of Reggie’s scrapes were solo affairs, including the stories “Absent Treatment” and “Helping Freddie”, not to mention “Rallying Round Old George” which features a most unhelpful valet named Voules who almost ensures the failure of Wodehouse’s hapless hero.

A Book Without Bertie?

Even Bertie wasn’t indispensable in a Jeeves novel. In “Ring for Jeeves” Bertie (and his comical narrative) is absent, leaving a substitute in Jeeves’ capable hands, but leaving some fans disappointed at the shift in storytelling style.

Jeeves’ Real Name

Fans who read “Jeeves and the Tie that Binds” finally learn the first name of Wodehouse’s brilliant butler. “Reggie” as his friends affectionately call him, is Jeeves first (and only) familiar address in Wodehouse’s series of novels.

For diehard fans, Jeeves’ first name and Bertie’s absent are trivia tidbits one should never be without — and fun knowledge for everyone else who encounters Wodehouse’s comedy.