The Hidden Connection Between Raymond Chandler and P.G. Wodehouse
In a stunning connection between literary giants, P. G. Wodehouse and Raymond Chandler, two renowned authors with strikingly similar writing styles, share an intriguing link through their brief stint at Dulwich College in South London. Although they attended the school simultaneously for only one term in 1900, there is no evidence to suggest that they ever interacted or influenced each other[1].
The fascinating parallel lies in their shared classical education at Dulwich College. Both writers were instructionally immersed in Latin and Greek by the esteemed Classics teacher, Phillip Hope, and the Headmaster, A.H. Gilkes—scholars renowned for their fierce dedication to classical languages and literature. Under their rigorous tutelage, the boys were made to memorize vast amounts of verses and free-translate passages, under the threat of corporal punishment, until they could compose effortlessly in Latin and Greek[1].
The significance of this shared background can be inferred in the sophisticated and sublime styles both authors employed, such as their exceptional use of similes, metaphors, and epithets[1]. In fact, they both acknowledged this classroom foundation as transformative for their work: Chandler contended that a classical education could serve as a robust foundation for writing in hardboiled vernacular, while Wodehouse spoke highly of his classical schooling as pivotal for his writing career[1].
Tragically, the romantic notion that these masters of melodrama could have been close friends remains unsubstantiated. Despite this unverified supposition, their entwined literary legacies serve as a testament to the indelible impact of their Dulwich education[2].
Dulwich College honors these luminaries with libraries dedicated to their literary contributions, affirming their enduring significance to the school's literary heritage[2]. It is an enlightening reminder that the origins of greatness often lie in the hallowed halls of educational institutions.
[1] Arvind Ethan David. (2016, March 17). In search of a shared past: P.G. Wodehouse and Raymond Chandler at Dulwich College. Retrieved https://www.ft.com/content/6879a498-11ea-11e6-a007-8bd6bee2c6d1[2] University of Exeter. (n.d.). Our authors. Retrieved https://www.exeter.ac.uk/ius/execlit/our-authors/wodehouse-chandler/
- The classical education both P. G. Wodehouse and Raymond Chandler received at Dulwich College, under the rigorous tutelage of scholars renowned for their dedication to classical languages and literature, is evident in the hardboiled books they wrote later in their careers.
- In the realization of their potential as writers, both Wodehouse and Chandler saw their education-and-self-development at Dulwich College as forging a foundation for their future works in literary entertainment, contributing to their current enduring status in the field.
