Roderick Glossop

Sir Roderick Glossop is a recurring fictional character in the comic novels of P. G. Wodehouse.

Sometimes referred to as "the brain guy" or "the loony doctor", he is the most famous practitioner of psychiatry in Wodehouse's works, appearing in several Wooster-Jeeves stories and one Blandings story. Glossop represents one of the most fearsome authority-figures in the Wodehouse canon who is not an aunt. His character does not satirize any psychological fads in particular, but he manages to appear on the scene whenever one of Wodehouse's hapless heroes happens to be dressed or behaving in a way that might be construed to indicate insanity.

In "The Inimitable Jeeves", he is the president of the West London branch of the Anti-Gambling League. Bertie Wooster's Aunt Agatha is a friend of Sir Roderick's wife Lady Glossop.

In "Thank You, Jeeves" his wife has been dead for 2 years and he has gotten himself engaged to Lady Chuffnell. In "Jeeves in the Offing" they have gotten married.

Early in the series, Sir Roderick suspects Bertie of suffering from a mental disability. Bertie's aunts frequently quote Sir Roderick when displeased with Bertie.

In "Uncle Fred in the Springtime", he is impersonated by Lord Ickenham, who borrows his identity to take lodgings in Blandings so as to resolve a series of complications. Sir Roderick, of course, suspects nothing.

He later becomes a friend of Bertie (in "Jeeves in the Offing") when they operate together in a case. At one point, Sir Roderick Glossop pretends to be a butler named Swordfish to hide his identity.

His nephew Tuppy Glossop is also a close friend of Bertie and is engaged to Angela, Bertie's cousin and Aunt Dahlia's daughter. His daughter Honoria Glossop is briefly engaged to Bertie Wooster (in "The Inimitable Jeeves").

In the television series "Jeeves and Wooster", Glossop is portrayed by Roger Brierley.

References

*Usborne, Richard (2003). "Plum Sauce: A P.G. Wodehouse Companion". New York: The Overlook Press. ISBN 1-58567-441-9.