Mr. Mulliner


Mr. Mulliner is a fictional character from the short stories of P. G. Wodehouse. Mr. Mulliner is a loquacious pub raconteur who, no matter what the topic of conversation, can find an appropriate story about a member of his family to match it.
Like much of Wodehouse's work, the Mr. Mulliner stories were originally written for magazine publication. Thirty-eight of the 43 overall Mulliner stories were originally published between 1926 and 1937. After one brief 1940 anecdote, the final four stories appeared much later, being published between 1958 and 1972.

Overview

Like his fellow Wodehouse character, the Oldest Member, the raconteur Mr. Mulliner can turn any conversation into a "recollection", or funny story. 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 could be doubted.
In the first Mr. Mulliner story "The Truth About George", Wodehouse provides a description of Mr. Mulliner as "a short, stout, comfortable man of middle age" with eyes that are "large and round and earnest" and full of "extraordinarily childlike candor." A habitué of the Angler's Rest pub, where his fellow drinkers are identified only by their beverages, Mr. Mulliner is a "hot Scotch and lemon".
The tales of Mulliner all involve one of his relations: there are dozens upon dozens of cousins, nieces, and nephews. These include stories about loves lost, found and rekindled; fortunes made and lost; and opportunities grasped or missed. They take place across the globe: Los Angeles's Hollywood and the English country house are the settings for many.
Two Mulliner stories are not primarily about one of Mr. Mulliner's relatives. However, in these two cases, Mr. Mulliner states that the stories were told to him by relatives; he is therefore reporting a story told to him by a relation, rather than a story about a relation.

Stories

The Mulliner stories all employ an unusual structure. At the beginning of each story, an unnamed first-person narrator sets the scene at the Angler's Rest pub, describing the conversation at the bar-parlour. This will lead to Mr. Mulliner entering the conversation, generally elaborating on the conversational theme, and remarking that it reminds him of a story involving a relative. Then, no more than a page or two into the story, Mr. Mulliner effectively takes over the narration of the tale, describing the events that befell the relative in question. In the earlier stories, the unnamed first-person narrator returns very briefly to close out the tale back at the Angler's Rest—in later stories, the story ends when Mr. Mulliner has concluded it.
Mr. Mulliner himself is rarely a character in the tales he tells. An exception is the story "George and Alfred", in which Mr. Mulliner tries to help out one of his nephews who has been accused of a crime. In this story, we learn that Mr. Mulliner is a friend of Hollywood studio head Jacob Z. Schnellenhamer, and that he has stayed on Schnellenhamer's yacht while it was cruising the Mediterranean. We also learn that Mr. Mulliner's first name, whatever it may be, is not George.
Little else is revealed of Mulliner's character beyond his large family, his choice of beverage, and his hobby of fishing. Nevertheless, Mulliner narrates forty-three short stories. Many are collected in the three books, containing nine stories each, which bear his name:Meet Mr Mulliner Mr Mulliner Speaking Mulliner Nights
Fifteen other stories are scattered in other volumes:
One story -- 1940's "Shock Dogs", which is more of a brief topical conversation than a story -- has never been reprinted or collected in any form outside of its original publication in Punch magazine. It is signed with initials only but the Articles and Verse listing in the bound Punch volume CXCVIIJ Jan-June 1940 attributes the story to Wodehouse, P. G. It mentions by name Hitler, Brauchitsch, and Goebbels, which is very unusual for an author who so seldom allowed politics to impinge on his novels and stories.
The World of Mr Mulliner is an omnibus containing 41 of the 43 stories narrated by Mr. Mulliner. It omits "Shock Dogs", and 1937's "Romance at Droitgate Spa", which appears in several other Wodehouse compilations but without the framework of Mr. Mulliner's narration. The World of Mr Mulliner also includes one other story which has a tangential connection to the series: "From a Detective's Notebook" is narrated by the detective Adrian Mulliner, who had previously been established as one of Mr. Mulliner's innumerable nephews. Strictly speaking, despite its appearance in the Mr. Mulliner omnibus, this tale cannot be considered a Mr. Mulliner story, as Mr. Mulliner does not narrate it, appear in it, and is not actually referenced in it in any way.
Also note that a handful of what were to become "Mr. Mulliner stories" were originally published in magazines without the framework of Mr. Mulliner telling the story in question. When revised for book publication, Wodehouse added the Mulliner openings and narration — and it is these revised versions which appear in all Mulliner and Wodehouse anthologies to this day. These revised stories can often be distinguished by Mulliner identifying the prime character of the story as a "distant cousin" whose surname is not Mulliner.

Known relatives

Forebears:
  • A Sieur de Moulinières "came over with the Conqueror", presumably in 1066.
  • A Mulliner "once received the thanks of his Sovereign for services rendered on the field of Crecy".
Grandmother:
  • Unnamed. Died in the late 19th century. It is this grandmother who made William pledge to not drink until he turned 21—or 41, William can't quite remember which.
Uncles:
Aunts:
  • Myrtle Banks, married William
Brothers:
  • [|Wilfred Mulliner], a chemist and inventor of various creams, lotions, and tonics, known in the trade as Mulliner's Magic Marvels. Featured mainly in A Slice of Life (short story) he also has a cameo role in Mulliner's Buck-U-Uppo, where the tonic Buck-U-Uppo is introduced. Wilfred marries Angela Purdue, the ward of Sir Jasper ffinch-ffarrowmere and they have two sons, Percival who goes to a prep school in Sussex and Ferdinand who attends Eton College.
  • Sir Sholto Mulliner, M.V.O.
  • Joseph Mulliner, being the father of Bulstrode.
Sisters-in-law:
  • Angela Purdue, married Wilfred
  • Lady Wilhelmina Mulliner, the widow of Sir Sholto Mulliner and the mother of Archibald.
First cousins:
  • John San Francisco Earthquake Mulliner, son of William and Myrtle
  • Clarence Mulliner, photographer
  • Cedric Mulliner, a foppish bachelor of 45 years.
  • Lady Wickham, novelist under the pen-name "George Masterman"
  • Edward Mulliner
  • Rupert Mulliner; the father of Anselm.
  • Egbert Mulliner, civil servant
Cousins by marriage:
  • Gladys Biggs, married Clarence
  • Myrtle Watling, married Cedric
  • Sir Cuthbert Wickham, married Lady Wickham
First cousins, once removed:
  • Roberta "Bobbie" Wickham, daughter of Sir Cuthbert and Lady Wickham
  • Lancelot Mulliner, an artist, Edward's son; a portrait painter in Bott St, London. Brought up by his uncle Theodore.
  • Mervyn Mulliner, a son of a Mr Mulliner's cousin, being a chump.
  • Anselm Mulliner, a curate, Rupert's younger son
First cousin, once removed, by marriage:
  • Gladys Bingley, married Lancelot
Distant cousins:
  • James Rodman, mystery novelist
  • Agnes Flack, championship golfer and "daughter of a distant cousin"
  • Frederick Fitch-Fitch, prospective antique shop owner
  • Montrose Mulliner, Assistant Director of the Perfecto-Zizzbaum Motion Picture Corp. of Hollywood
  • Wilmot Mulliner, a "nodder" at Perfecto-Zizzbaum
  • , a young second cousin who has left his wife and is filing papers of divorce
Distant cousins by marriage:
  • Sidney George McMurdo, insurance executive and scratch golfer; marries Agnes
  • Angela Purvis, conjurer's assistant; marries Frederick
  • Rosalie Beamish, marries Montrose
  • Mabel Potter, a private secretary and ex-bird imitator in Vaudeville; marries Wilmot
Nephews:
Note that Mr. Mulliner has three nephews named George, all different people.
  • George Mulliner, a stammerer and crossword puzzle enthusiast, being in love with Susan Blake.
  • Ferdinand Mulliner, studying at Eton.
  • Percival Mulliner, at preparatory school in Sussex.
  • Augustine Mulliner, being a meek curate who eventually rose to become vicar of Walsingford-below-Chiveney-on-Thames thanks to the Buck-U-Uppo tonic invented by Wilfred Mulliner.
  • , a student at Harchester, younger brother of Augustine.
  • Lancelot Bassington Mulliner, an aspiring poet.
  • Osbert Mulliner, a rich jade collector.
  • Frederick Mulliner, brother of Dr. George.
  • Dr. George Mulliner, brother of Frederick.
  • [|Archibald Mulliner], son of Sir Sholto and Lady Wilhelmina, who does a masterful impression of a hen laying an egg; a member of the Drones Club and a sock collector. Engaged to [|Aurelia Cammarleigh].
  • Ignatius Mulliner, portrait painter and ukulele player.
  • Mordred Mulliner, a poet and an accidental pyromaniac.
  • Adrian Mulliner, a private detective who possesses a sinister smile.
  • Sacheverall Mulliner, a very timid man who suffers from Headmaster Phobia.
  • Eustace Mulliner, attached to the British Embassy in Switzerland.
  • Egbert Mulliner, assistant editor of 'The Weekly Booklover'.
  • Cyril Mulliner, interior decorator and avid reader of mystery novels.
  • Bulstrode Mulliner, screenwriter in Hollywood.
  • Brancepeth Mulliner, an artist in search of a character.
  • Augustus Mulliner, in love with Hermione Brimble.
  • Reginald Mulliner, inheritor of a substantial sum of money
  • George Mulliner, screenwriter in Hollywood, identical twin of Alfred
  • Alfred Mulliner, professional conjurer known as the Great Alfredo, identical twin of George
Nephews by marriage:
  • Aubrey Bassinger, married Charlotte
Nieces:
  • Charlotte Mulliner, a poet writing "Vignettes in Verse".
Nieces by marriage:
  • Aurelia Cammerleigh, married Archibald
  • Annabella Spockett-Sprockett, married Mordred
  • Hermione Rossiter, married Ignatius
  • Mabel Petherick-Soames, married Osbert
  • Evangeline Pembury, novelist, married Egbert
  • Amelia Bassett, married Cyril
  • Jane, married Augustine
  • Hermione Brimble, married Augustus
  • Jane Oliphant, married Frederick
  • Lady Millicent Shipton-Bellinger, married Adrian
  • Muriel Branksome, married Sacheverell
  • Susan Blake, married George
Nature of relationship uncertain:
  • Theophilus Mulliner, the bishop of Bognor

Other minor characters

  • Aurelia Cammarleigh is a handsome girl, being the one Archibald Mulliner falls in love with.
  • Algernon "Algy" Wymondham-Wymondham is a member of the Drones Club, being the one helped his fellow Archibald Mulliner find back the anonymous girls of his dreams, Aurelia Cammarleigh.

Original appearances

  1. "The Truth about George"
  2. * U.K.: Strand, July 1926
  3. * U.S.: Liberty, 3 July 1926
  4. "A Slice of Life"
  5. * U.K.: Strand, August 1926
  6. * U.S.: Liberty, 7 August 1926
  7. "Mulliner's Buck-U-Uppo"
  8. * U.K.: Strand, November 1926
  9. * U.S.: Liberty, 4 September 1926
  10. "The Romance of a Bulb-Squeezer"
  11. * U.K.: Strand, March 1927
  12. * U.S.: Liberty, 12 March 1927
  13. "The Story of William"
  14. * U.K.: Strand, May 1927
  15. * U.S.: Liberty, 9 April 1927
  16. "Those in Peril on the Tee"
  17. * UK: Strand, June 1927
  18. * US: Liberty, 21 May 1927
  19. ** Original UK version is narrated by the Oldest Member, not Mr. Mulliner.
  20. "Came the Dawn"
  21. * U.K.: Strand, July 1927
  22. * U.S.: Liberty, 11 June 1927
  23. "The Bishop's Move"
  24. * U.K.: Strand, September 1927
  25. * U.S.: Liberty, 20 August 1927
  26. "Portrait of a Disciplinarian"
  27. * U.K.: Strand, October 1927
  28. * U.S.: Liberty, 24 September 1927
  29. "Honeysuckle Cottage"
  30. * Initially published without Mr. Mulliner framework
  31. ** U.K.: Strand, February 1925
  32. ** U.S.: Saturday Evening Post, 24 January 1925
  33. * Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in Meet Mr. Mulliner, September 1927
  34. "The Reverent Wooing of Archibald"
  35. * UK: Strand, August 1928
  36. * US: Cosmopolitan, September 1928
  37. "The Ordeal of Osbert Mulliner"
  38. * UK: Strand, December 1928
  39. * US: Liberty, 24 November 1928
  40. "Unpleasantness at Bludleigh Court"
  41. * UK: Strand, February 1929
  42. * US: Liberty, 2 February 1929
  43. "The Man Who Gave Up Smoking"
  44. * UK: Strand, March 1929
  45. * US: Liberty, 23 March 1929
  46. "The Story of Cedric"
  47. * UK: Strand, May 1929
  48. * US: Liberty, 11 May 1929
  49. "Something Squishy"
  50. * Initially published without Mr. Mulliner framework
  51. ** UK: Strand, January 1925
  52. ** US: Saturday Evening Post, 20 December 1924
  53. * Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in Mr. Mulliner Speaking, April 1929
  54. "The Awful Gladness of the Mater"
  55. * Initially published without Mr. Mulliner framework
  56. ** UK: Strand, May 1925
  57. ** US: Saturday Evening Post, 21 March 1925
  58. * Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in Mr. Mulliner Speaking, April 1929
  59. "The Passing of Ambrose"
  60. * Initially published without Mr. Mulliner framework
  61. ** UK: Strand, July 1928
  62. ** US: Cosmopolitan, August 1928
  63. * Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in Mr. Mulliner Speaking, April 1929
  64. "Gala Night"
  65. * UK: Strand, June 1930
  66. * US: Cosmopolitan, May 1930
  67. "Best Seller"
  68. * Early version published without Mr. Mulliner framework as "Parted Ways"
  69. ** UK: Strand, December 1914
  70. ** US: Pictorial Review, June 1915
  71. * Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story:
  72. ** UK: Strand, July 1930
  73. ** US: Cosmopolitan, June 1930
  74. "The Knightly Quest of Mervyn"
  75. * UK: Strand, July 1931
  76. * US: Cosmopolitan, April 1931
  77. "The Voice from the Past"
  78. * UK: Strand, December 1931
  79. * US: American, November 1931
  80. "The Smile that Wins"
  81. * UK: Strand, February 1932
  82. * US: American, October 1931
  83. "Strychnine in the Soup"
  84. * UK: Strand, March 1932
  85. * US: American, December 1931
  86. "The Story of Webster"
  87. * UK: Strand, May 1932
  88. * US: American, February 1932
  89. "Cats will be Cats"
  90. * UK: Strand, June 1932
  91. * US: American, March 1932
  92. "Open House"
  93. * UK: Strand, April 1932
  94. * US: American, April 1932
  95. "Monkey Business"
  96. * UK: Strand, December 1932
  97. * US: American Magazine, December 1932
  98. "The Nodder"
  99. * UK: Strand, January 1933
  100. * US: American Magazine, January 1933
  101. "The Juice of an Orange"
  102. * UK: Strand, February 1933
  103. * US: American Magazine, February 1933
  104. "The Rise of Minna Nordstrom"
  105. * Early US version published without Mr. Mulliner framework; UK version is narrated by Mr. Mulliner
  106. * UK: Strand, April 1933
  107. * US: American Magazine, March 1933
  108. "The Castaways"
  109. * UK: Strand, June 1933
  110. "The Fiery Wooing of Mordred"
  111. * US: Cosmopolitan, December 1934
  112. * UK: Strand, February 1935
  113. "Archibald and the Masses"
  114. * US: Cosmopolitan, August 1935
  115. * UK: Strand, February 1936
  116. "The Code of the Mulliners"
  117. * US: Cosmopolitan, February 1935
  118. * UK: Strand, April 1935
  119. "Buried Treasure"
  120. * UK: Strand, September 1936
  121. * US: This Week, 27 September 1936
  122. "Romance at Droitgate Spa"
  123. * Early version published without Mr. Mulliner framework
  124. * US: Saturday Evening Post, 20 February 1937
  125. * UK: Strand, August 1937
  126. * Subsequently, rewritten. First -- and ONLY -- appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in the 1937 US-only book The Crime Wave at Blandings. All further appearances of this story revert to the pre-Mulliner version. Not collected in The World of Mr. Mulliner.
  127. "Anselm Gets His Chance"
  128. * US: Saturday Evening Post, 3 July 1937
  129. * UK: Strand, July 1937
  130. "Shock Dogs"
  131. * UK: Punch, 14 February 1940
  132. * A very brief topical discussion, never reprinted. Not collected in The World of Mr. Mulliner.
  133. "The Right Approach"
  134. * Early version published without Mr. Mulliner framework as "Joy Bells For Barmy"
  135. ** US: Cosmopolitan, October 1947
  136. * Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story:
  137. ** UK: Lilliput, September 1958
  138. ** US: Playboy, January 1959
  139. "Big Business"
  140. * Early version published without Mr. Mulliner framework
  141. ** US: Collier's, 13 December 1952
  142. ** UK: Lilliput, March/April 1953
  143. * Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in the 1959 book A Few Quick Ones
  144. "George and Alfred"
  145. * Early version published without Mr. Mulliner framework as "Rallying Round Old George"
  146. ** UK: Strand Magazine, December 1912
  147. ** US: Collier's Weekly, 27 September 1913
  148. * Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story:
  149. ** US: Playboy, January 1967
  150. "Another Christmas Carol"
  151. * Early version published without Mr. Mulliner framework
  152. ** US: Playboy, December 1970
  153. * Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in the 1972 book ''The World of Mr. Mulliner''

Adaptations

Fourteen Mulliner stories were adapted for television as part of the 1974–1978 television series Wodehouse Playhouse, though Mr Mulliner himself only appeared in the pilot episode. In the episode, "The Reverent Wooing of Archibald", Mr Mulliner was portrayed by William Mervyn.
BBC Radio 4, in 2002, aired a series of 15-minute adaptations by Roger Davenport of the short stories in six episodes, under the title Meet Mr Mulliner, with Richard Griffiths starring as the narrator, Mr Mulliner and directed by Ned Chaillet. An ensemble cast of Matilda Ziegler as Miss Postlethwaite with Peter Acre, Sandra Clark, Tom George, Martin Hyder, Carl Prekopp, Marlene Sidaway, David Timson in a variety of roles performed the playlets. In 2004, a further four episodes under the title More Mr Mulliner were broadcast.