THE WORLD OF JEEVES <i> by P. G. Wodehouse (Harper & Row: $10.95) </i>

P. G. Wodehouse is one of the few comedy writers to enjoy both widespread popularity and critical acclaim. As a master of the elegant nonsense story, his only rival is H. H. Munro, but Wodehouse is a gentler writer, who never treats his characters cruelly. Bertie Wooster may be an idle, overcivilized twit, but he remains an endearing twit, probably because he’s so utterly helpless when left to his own devices. Lacking the acidulous wit that enables Munro’s Clovis Sangrail to triumph over bullying dowagers, Bertie must rely on the infinitely competent Jeeves to extricate him from his predicaments. Master and servant complement each other prefectly, forming a sort of effete Yin/Yang that never fails to amuse. The 34 stories in this anthology are best savored one at a time, as insurance against holiday season gloom.