The Real Jeeves: "The Cricketer Who Gave His Life for His Country and His Name to a Legend - Hardcover

**Runner-up in the MCC Cricket Book of the Year Award**

"One of the finest cricket biographies I have ever read." --David Warner, Yorkshire CCC website

"Percy Jeeves's really story puts things into perspective. Reading about what Percy and his comrades went through in the trenches makes you think. The Real Jeeves is an eye-opening book." --Ashley Giles

"A wonderful new book... Halford recounts magnificently - and with aching poignancy - the terrible fate suffered by Jeeves and his comrades in the trenches." --Chris Waters, The Yorkshire Post

"A thought-provoking glimpse into an aspect of the past that must never be forgotten... this is one that should not be missed." --Martin Chandler, CricketWeb

"Brian Halford, one of the many excellent cricket writers in regional journalism, retells the story [of Jeeves] in a new book, The Real Jeeves." --The Times

"A wonderful book, worth far more than most of the formulaic cricket autobiographies. The author has made a major contribution to cricket literature with this memorable book, that is deservedly among the contenders for the 2014 Cricket Book of the Year." --Peakfan Blog

"This true-life story is as memorable - and surely more poignant - than any of [P G Wodehouse's] much-loved creations." --Simon Briggs, The Telegraph

"The Real Jeeves: I couldn't recommend it more." --George Dobell, CricInfo

"It's an amazing book, for a cricket fan, a Wodehouse fan and well, a great stories fan. Loved it." --Vic Minett, BBC CWR

"A fascinating story and a very well-researched book, it relates the tale of a very young cricketer for youth. The story is of immense human interest, with an insight into life in the trenches." --The Cricket Memorabilia Society Magazine.

"Beautifully written, touching without ever drifting towards maudlinism, detailed yet not remotely dry. There are any number of such stories that deserve to be told but some demand to be told by a writer capable of doing them justice. The Real Jeeves is one of those happy projects where content and style coalesce to perfection." --The Coventry Evening Telegraph

"At lunchtime on the second day of this game, as Josh Shaw, Gloucestershire's loanee from Yorkshire, took refreshment in the middle of an eight-over spell in which he took three prime wickets, another tree was planted. It is a poplar and it commemorates the centenary of the death of Percy Jeeves, who died on the Somme on July 22, 1917. As many now know, thanks to Brian Halford's outstanding biography, Jeeves was playing for Warwickshire at Cheltenham in August 1913 when his style was spotted by P G Wodehouse, who wanted a name for a 'gentleman's personal gentleman' in a forthcoming short story. 'I remember admiring his action very much,' said Wodehouse." --Paul Edwards, ESPNcricinfo blog

"An outstandingly well-written story of a former Warwickshire player. A very haunting account of his final days - truly thought-provoking." --Keith Cook, secretary of Warwickshire Old County Cricketers Association.

"Brian Halford evokes the squalour and the futility of trench warfare. This part of the book contains some very fine writing indeed. A compelling account of a life cut short and congratulations to the author and the publishers for opening a window on to this neglected part of cricket history." --The Cricket Journal

The Real Jeeves tells the story of a young cricketer whose glorious life was snuffed out, but whose name will live forever. Plucked from country-house cricket, all-rounder Percy Jeeves was to outshine the Golden Age's greats over two seasons with Warwickshire, clean bowling Jack Hobbs, hitting Wilfred Rhodes for six and outclassing England captain Plum Warner. In September 1914, Jeeves bowled Warwickshire to victory over champions Surrey. It was his 50th first-class match - and his last. The Real Jeeves traces Percy's life from idyllic childhood via county cricket into the nightmare of war. Excerpts from battalion diaries detail the horrors of the Western Front, and ultimately his demise on the Somme. Yet Percy Jeeves' name lived on thanks to PG Wodehouse, who saw him play at Cheltenham in 1913 and was so impressed he noted the name for a character who shared the modest Yorkshireman's immaculate conduct and appearance.