Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (1881–1975) was one of the most celebrated English humorists of the 20th century. Renowned for his sharp wit and inventive prose, he created enduring characters like Bertie Wooster and his ingenious valet Jeeves, Psmith, Lord Emsworth, and the eccentric residents of Blandings Castle. Born in Guildford and educated at Dulwich College, Wodehouse began his career writing school stories before becoming famous for his comic novels and short stories set in Britain, as well as in New York and Hollywood, where he spent much of his life. Beyond fiction, Wodehouse co-wrote numerous influential Broadway musicals with partners such as Guy Bolton and Jerome Kern, helping to shape the American musical theater. His career was not without controversy; during World War II, he was interned in France and made broadcasts from Germany, which led to public outcry in Britain. He settled in the United States after the war and became a US citizen while retaining his British nationality. Over his prolific career, Wodehouse published more than ninety books, forty plays, and two hundred short stories, earning a devoted readership among the public and fellow writers alike. He died in New York in 1975, shortly after being knighted.