Book #7

Mr. Mulliner Speaks
P.G. Wodehouse

Yes, P.G. Wodehouse again.  I needed something fun and light after being bludgeoned by another volume of The Wheel of Time.

This is the second volume of the Mr. Mulliner stories.  The stories are told by Mr. Mulliner, a patron of a pub called the Angler's Rest, where he is a regular imbider of a Hot Scotch and Lemon.  The stories all concern persons related to him, most carrying the last name of Mulliner.

In the preface of the omnibus edition, The World of Mr. Mulliner, he gives an anecdote from Oliver Wendell Holmes about writing so funny that it gave his butler convulsions and vowing never to write as funny as he can.  Wodehouse then follows with:

"I must warn my public that in 'The World of Mr. Mulliner' I am writing as funny as I can, and can only hope that there are no ill results."

 

For those who have read any of the Jeeves and Wooster stories, it is easy to say that the Mr. Mulliner stories are in the same vein, but a bit sillier.  Some will find that hard to believe, after reading any Jeeves and Wooster book, but it is true.

 

This second volume is notable for finishing with a series of Bobbie Wickham stories.  Bobbie Wickham is a rather pretty young lady.  Men are constantly falling for her, and then being put off because she puts them into the most embarrassing situations imaginable.  She was once the intended fiancé of Bertie Wooster, who managed to escape from her, and the stories are generally about men who decide that they are better off without her.

 

More fun with Wodehouse and a truly enjoyable read.