''Performing Flea'' is a non-fiction book, based on a series of letters written by P. G. Wodehouse to

William Townend William is a masculine given name of Norman French origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conques ...

, a friend of Wodehouse's since their schooldays together at Dulwich College. It was originally published in the United Kingdom on 9 October 1953 by Herbert Jenkins, London.McIlvaine, E., Sherby, L.S. and Heineman, J.H. (1990) ''P.G. Wodehouse: A comprehensive bibliography and checklist''. New York: James H. Heineman, pp. 89-90. The title alludes to a disparaging comment by the playwright Seán O'Casey, who, in a letter to '' The Daily Telegraph'' in July 1941, referring to Wodehouse's radio broadcasts from Berlin, wrote that "If England has any dignity left in the way of literature, she will forget for ever the pitiful antics of English literature's performing flea". The letters are introduced and annotated by Townend, who had provided Wodehouse with the story that inspired his character

Ukridge Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge ( ) is a fictional character in comedic stories by author P. G. Wodehouse. Ukridge appears in one novel and nineteen short stories. Ukridge is a charismatic opportunist who will do anything to increase his capita ...

. The letters were, in some cases, heavily revised by Wodehouse for the collection with the goal of making them more entertaining.Ratcliffe, Sophie, ed. (2013). ''P. G. Wodehouse: A Life in Letters''. W. W. Norton, p. 12. The United States version of the book, titled ''Author! Author!'', was published on 20 June 1962 by Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York. It was substantially reworked, with commentary by Wodehouse replacing much of Townend's contribution.

References

External links

The Russian Wodehouse Society's pageP. G. Wodehouse, A Life in LettersYours, Plum
Books by P. G. Wodehouse 1953 non-fiction books Herbert Jenkins books Collections of letters {{nonfiction-book-stub