Gonff the Mousethief

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Gonff the Mousethief is an anthropomorphic mouse from the Redwall book series.

Known as the Prince of Mousethieves, a troublemaker and composer of songs and poems, Gonff was truly a humorous character. An orphaned woodland mouse in the time when Mossflower was dominated by Verdauga Greeneyes, Gonff was raised by - and became a member of - Corim, the resistance to the wildcat's tyranny. With skills of stealth and mimicry learned from just about every type of woodland creature, mainly the otters - whom Gonff even went so far as to mimic in speech - he regularly raided the larders of castle Kotir.

Eventually, Gonff was caught and thrown in a cell with Martin the Warrior. With help from Corim, the two escaped and became best friends, Gonff always following along on Martin's journeys. Upon returning to the Corim camp, Gonff fell in love with a lovely mouse from Loamhedge Abbey named Columbine, whom he later married. Gonff accompanied Martin on the journey to Salamandastron, and upon their return and victory over Tsarmina, Verdauga's daughter, he married Columbine.

The two later took up residence at Redwall Abbey, along with their son Gonflet, a chip off his father's block. Gonff accompanied Martin and several others on another journey, this time to learn the fate of Martin's father, Luke the Warrior. Along the way, they met an orphan squirrel named Chugger, whom Gonff later adopted.

Gonff's line would continue for some years, his heroic qualities expressing themselves in his descendant Dandin the Sword Carrier and Byrony his great-granddaughter. Gonff rarely participated in battle, his best weapon being his wit. He was friendly with all decent Mossflower residents, knowing many of their customs and speaking in their manners. He was also a player of the reed flute, though he was once offered a wooden one crafted by Abbess Germaine. He declined, and the flute later passed on to Dandin.

Gonff was voiced by Dave Foode in the full-cast audiobook of Mossflower.

[edit] Trivia

  • The character of Gonff is based on the author Brian Jacques as a young boy.