Wodehouse the war years

During the 20’s, Ethel and Plum travelled between America and England, but this led to tax problems.  Wodehouse was being taxed as a resident in the US and in England. So in the 1930s they settled in France.   Plum was happy provided he could work.  Ethel’s daughter Leonora got married.  But in 1939 France and England were at war with Germany.  The Wodehouses did not leave, partly because they adored their pet dogs and didn’t want to have to put them into quarantine.  Partly however it was because Plum was as always absorbed in his work and did not take much interest in politics.  The German invasion took them by surprise.

And once the Germans invaded France, they were caught there and unable to get away.  They made an effort to flee from the advancing Germans in May 1940, trying to drive down to Portugal and thence go back to America.  However, their car broke down and then roads were so clogged with refugees that they gave up the attempt.

 This led to the one big disaster of Wodehouse’s life.   Soon after the invasion, the Germans imprisoned all male enemy nationals under 60, and Wodehouse was sent to a prison in Lille.  Later he was transferred to other prisons, ending up in one in Germany.   His wife had a difficult time getting news of him, and some prominent Americans tried to get him released.  However, Wodehouse made the best of internment, and was cheerful enough. Conditions were uncomfortable but he was naturally inclined to be good tempered and get on with life…

 He managed to get permission to use a typewriter and did some writing, and also used his typewriter to write to his literary agent, to  try to send messages to various Canadian families, to let them know that their sons were alive and well….  it was evading the German censorship but he got away with it.

However in 1941, he was allowed to leave the prison some months before his 60^th birthday,   the age at which internees were usually released.  But it was suggested by the German authorities that he should do some broadcasts. Wodehouse, being naïve and uninterested in politics, did not see the obvious trap.  He was quite keen on the idea, wanting to get in touch with his readers in America in particular…

He lived at a hotel in Germany, going on with his writing and living off his own money.  However, he was incredibly foolish to agree to the broadcasts.  While they were simply amusing anecdotes about life in prison, and in no way “supportive to Germany”, they cause a storm in Britain.  Not surprisingly, the British, who were suffering privations and difficulties, and who didn’t hear the broadcasts, got a general idea that Wodehouse had been given privileges for “playing along” with the Nazis. Journalists and writers who tried to calm the outrage, pointing out that there was no evidence of collaboration, were shouted down. 

When Paris was liberated, the British authorities interviewed him and concluded that he had been stupid and naive but there was no evidence of wrong doing.... but when the War was over, Wodehouse and his wife moved back to America.....and there was a certain estrangement between him and his native country. 
He continued to write and to lead a solitary life, keeping in touch with friends by letter while Ethel still managed his affairs and his daily life.  Ethel's daughter had died during the war, and they gave their affection to a brood of pet dogs.   Over time, Plum's wartime "folly" was forgiven.. and it was realised that it had been the result of naivety rather than any kind of political intent.   In his later years, he was finally offered a knighthood but was not well enough to travel to England.  He lived to be over 90.. writing to the end....