A Damsel in Distress is a splendid example of early Wodehouse. As with many Wodehouse classics, this one includes a collection of colorful characters, a complex love story involving many characters, and of course the happy ending where everything works out.
It is the story of an American Composer, George Bevan, who falls in love with Maud (The Earl of Marshmoretons daughter). Maud is already in love with another American, Geoffrey Raymond, who she met in Wales the previous year. Her brother and aunt, Lord Belpher and Lady Caroline Byng oppose her getting involved with the American and want her to marry someone from her social class. There are more characters as well, including some servants, Lady Carolines son Reggie, Lord Marshmoretons secretary Alice Faraday, and an acquaintance of Georges Billie Dore who is in the Chorus of Georges latest musical comedy.
As with most Wodehouse stories, the plot is very complicated, and attempts to describe it in detail would fail to do it justice. It does involve a case of mistaken identity, a pool among the servants on who will marry Maud, and several characters finding their loves.
Overall this is a very good example of a classic Wodehouse story, and it is well worth reading.
