A Damsel in Distress was written in 1919, by P. G. Wodehouse. It was made into a silent movie in 1919, a play in 1928, and later a musical with Fred Astaire in 1937.
The story is about how American composer George Bevan falls in love with a mysterious girl, when she rushes into his cab in London while trying to get away from a man. After saving her, she disappears again. He tracks her down and learns that she is the Lady Maud Marshmoreton, daughter of the Earl of Belpher. He also finds out that she is kept within the grounds at all times by her aunt Caroline, a hard-hearted lady who is angry with her niece because of her summer romance with another man in Wales. In her pursuit of a more suitable match, she is not supported by her brother the Earl, who is a peculiar and rather eccentric gardener. But she is comforted by Percy, Maud's brother, who is of the same mind as his aunt. Meanwhile, Caroline's step-son Reggie, is in love with the Earl's personal assistant, Alice Faraday. Unaware of this, Caroline's dream is for a match between Reggie and Maud. George decides to stay for some weeks at a local cottage in the hopes of spending time with the Earl's daughter. But from there it goes down hill. Mistaken identities, family quarrels, and scheming servants are just some of the humorous twists to this excellent novel.
The book was well-written, with classic Wodehouse wit. The characters were portrayed beautifully, the setting vividly described, and the plot interesting and funny. A book I would certainly read again, I give this a 9/10.
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