Wodehouse's war: Writing internment in <i>Money in the Bank</i>

Money in the Bank was written by P. G. Wodehouse, while he was interned by the Germans in a civilian internment camp. Most critics see little in the novel that reflects its composition history. This article shows that view to be mistaken. Not only does Money in the Bank reflect upon camp life through historical allusions to treason and its focus on food, the critical view that Wodehouse was unmoved by his wartime experience creates a certain view of wartime Wodehouse that excuses him of any responsibility for his potential collaboration with the Germans.

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Publication Details

Journal
Literature & History
Published
2025-05-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/03061973251337846
Primary Topic
Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Wodehouse's war: Writing internment in Money in the Bank

Marius Hentea
Literature & History
Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism
article

Wodehouse's war: Writing internment in Money in the Bank

Marius Hentea
article en

Abstract

Money in the Bank was written by P. G. Wodehouse, while he was interned by the Germans in a civilian internment camp. Most critics see little in the novel that reflects its composition history. This article shows that view to be mistaken. Not only does Money in the Bank reflect upon camp life through historical allusions to treason and its focus on food, the critical view that Wodehouse was unmoved by his wartime experience creates a certain view of wartime Wodehouse that excuses him of any responsibility for his potential collaboration with the Germans.

Literature & HistoryVol. 34(1)
University of Gothenburg (SE)
Vetenskapsrådet
Openalex Percentile: Top 81%
Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism
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