'Ukridge' is perhaps the funniest collection of stories ever written, it's magic. I love all the books set in Blandings. While the Jeeves books were not my favorite when I was younger, I really really enjoy them now.
I've searched a lot to find more humorist writers but it's a very limited genre. Most comedy writing is too cynical for me. By contrast Wodehouse and Pratchett manage to be funny while also being uplifting.
Does anyone have any recommendations for not-too-cynical humorist authors beside these two?
I can vouch for it that it will make you laugh really hard.
gentle, fun and not cynical. Some of the characters are, but the series is not cynical, its slightly naive in it's own way.
In jeeves and wooster, there isn't much word play. It is somewhat antiquated english though, and wooster likes shortening words (the metrop, instead of metropolis/london, "thos" instead of thomas (almost pronounced "foss" but with a th sound))
Its not hard like oscar wilde, but its not overly easy. You _might_ want to try watching the Fry and Laurie version first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkLulnrecAQ
I also like the Psmith books. I need to try Ukridge.
If you like Ukridge, then you could also read 'Love Amount the Chickens', which features the Ukridge character.
All should be out of copyright by now.