The Swoop! facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | P. G. Wodehouse |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Satire |
| Publisher | Alston Rivers Ltd |
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Publication date
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16 April 1909 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
The Swoop!, or How Clarence Saved England is a funny, short novel by P. G. Wodehouse. It was first published in the United Kingdom on April 16, 1909. The book's full title also includes A Tale of the Great Invasion.
A shorter version of the story was later published in the United States. It appeared in Vanity Fair magazine in 1915. This version was called The Military Invasion of America. It was set in the United States instead of England.
The original story was not available in the United States until 1979. This was four years after Wodehouse passed away. It was part of a collection called The Swoop! and Other Stories.
Contents
What is The Swoop! about?
The Swoop! tells a very funny story about England being invaded. But it's not just one army invading. Nine different armies attack England at the same time! The book jokes that there was "barely standing-room" for everyone.
The invaders include the Russians and the Germans. There's also the Swiss Navy and people from Monaco. Even a group of Moroccan bandits and the Young Turks join in. The Mad Mullah from Somaliland, the Chinese, and the Bollygollans in war canoes also invade.
How do people react to the invasion?
At first, people in England don't seem to care much about the invasion. It happened during a time of year when not much was going on. So, newspapers wrote about it, but people were more interested in other things.
For example, one newspaper headline said "Surrey Doing Badly" (at cricket). This was printed before the news that "German Army Lands in England."
When the Germans started bombing London, it was August. Most people were out of town on vacation. So, the destruction of famous places like the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Academy of Arts didn't bother many. In fact, the German leader, Prince Otto, even got a thank-you from the people!
How England is saved
The European invading armies decide to team up. They kick out the other invaders. But then, the Swiss army leaves to go home for the winter hotel season.
Later, the German and Russian leaders are offered jobs performing in a music hall. The leader from Monaco doesn't get an offer. He gets upset and takes his troops away.
Only two armies are left. They are defeated by a clever plan from a 14-year-old boy. His name is Clarence Chugwater. He is the leader of the Boy Scouts.
Clarence makes the two remaining commanders jealous of each other's music hall earnings. This breaks up their team. In the confusion, Clarence and his Boy Scouts are able to defeat the invaders.
In the American version of the story, The Military Invasion of America, the United States is invaded. Armies from Germany and Japan attack. Again, Clarence Chugwater is the hero who saves the day.
Why is it called The Swoop!?
The title of the book makes fun of another novel. That book was called The Swoop of the Vulture. It was about a surprise attack by German forces.
In The Swoop!, the German leader, Prince Otto, complains about all the invasions. He even mentions the other book. He grumbles, "It all comes of this dashed Swoop of the Vulture business."
What is the main message of the book?
The Swoop! is a satire. This means it uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to make fun of something. Here, Wodehouse is making fun of "invasion literature." This was a popular type of story at the time. These stories were about other countries invading Britain.
Making fun of invasion stories
Many writers of invasion stories wanted to warn people. They thought Britain's army wasn't ready for an attack. They hoped their books would make people care more about defending the country. For example, a play called An Englishman's Home was very popular. It argued that everyone should have military training.
But Wodehouse did the opposite in The Swoop!. He made the story completely silly. The British public doesn't care about the invasion. They see it as entertainment. And the invading armies are not defeated by a powerful military. Instead, they are outsmarted by a clever teenager and his Boy Scouts!
Wodehouse created a ridiculous plot on purpose. He wanted to show how silly the serious invasion stories were.
