Mr Mulliner

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Mr Mulliner is a fictional character from the short stories of P. G. Wodehouse. Mr Mulliner is a long-winded pub raconteur who tells outrageous stories about his family.

[edit] Overview

Mulliner is a habitué of the Angler's Rest, and his fellow drinkingmen are identified only by their beverages. (Hot Scotch and Lemon is Mulliner himself.) Like his fellow Wodehousian the Oldest Member, Mr Mulliner can enter any conversation and turn it to a reflection on a notable event from his recollection, and begin spinning his tale. Wodehouse revealed in an introduction that he devised Mr Mulliner after collecting notebooks full of ideas that could not be used because they were too outlandish, until he had the happy notion of a fisherman whose veracity would be doubted.

The tales of Mulliner are unique in that they all happen to involve some blood relation. Mulliner's parents, siblings, and progeny must have been fairly fecund, as there are dozens upon dozens of cousins, nieces, and nephews with remarkable life experiences to be shared. These stories are mainly about love lost and found; about fortunes made and failed; and opportunities sought and missed; they take place across the globe, though Hollywood and the English Country House are the settings for many.

[edit] Stories

Though Mulliner's character is never revealed beyond his large family and choice of beverage, he narrates forty-one short stories. Three books, containing nine stories each, bear his name:

The remaining fifteen stories are scattered in other volumes:

  • Five in Blandings Castle (1935)
  • Three in Young Men in Spats (1936)
  • One in Lord Emsworth and Others (1937) (U.S. title: Crime Wave at Blandings)
  • One in Eggs, Beans, and Crumpets (1940)
  • Two in A Few Quick Ones (1959)
  • One in Plum Pie (1966)
  • One ("Another Christmas Carol") found only in The World of Mr Mulliner (1972) - an omnibus of all 41 stories narrated by Mr. Mulliner. This volume also contains one additional story: "From a Detective's Notebook" is about Adrian Mulliner, who had previously been established as one of Mr. Mulliner's innumerable nephews. Strictly speaking, however, "From A Detective's Notebook" is not a Mr. Mulliner story, as Mr. Mulliner does not narrate it, appear in it, or even receive a mention.

[edit] References