Let’s see…it’s a romantic comedy that takes place in a castle. It has love triangles, mistaken identities, lovesick heroes, feisty heroines, and if that doesn’t check all your boxes, I don’t know what will! I’m telling you, this story has it all. Just imagine, Downton Abbey as a romantic comedy. That, in a nutshell, is Damsel in Distress.
Published in 1919, the plot centers on the romance between George, our lovesick hero, and Maud, the clever young woman and target of George’s affections. But it doesn’t stop there. You get a whole slew of funny, charismatic characters, most of whom are involved in their own hilarious romantic entanglements.
P. G. Wodehouse, well-known for his short stories about Jeeves the butler, is one of the funniest fiction writers EVER. While I love and recommend all of Wodehouse’s short stories and novels, Damsel in Distress is my favorite. It’s one of those novels that makes you happy. Basically, it’s pure sunshine.
And it’s public domain! You can find it online or buy the print version by clicking here.
