The Man Upstairs and Other Stories

"The Man Upstairs and Other Stories" by P. G. Wodehouse, is a compilation of amusing short tales from the early 1900s, brimming with Wodehouse's distinctive wit and affection. The stories often portray funny people dealing with the confusing parts of love and society, usually in a funny or mocking setting. In "The Man Upstairs," we meet Annette Brougham, a dedicated musician annoyed by constant banging from the studio above. Angered by this, she faces Alan Beverley, the artist, which sparks a funny mix of frustration and surprise attraction between them. Their first irritation changes into interesting talks about their art problems. Annette shows how unhappy she is with music companies, and Beverley shows his kind but funny way of looking at art. As they talk, Annette starts to like Beverley, highlighting the funny, yet gentle, relationships that Wodehouse is great at showing in his stories.