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 (if improbable) 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-seven of the 41 overall Mulliner stories were originally published between 1926 and 1937. 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. A habitué of the Angler's Rest pub, his fellow drinkers are identified only by their beverages. (Mr. Mulliner is a '' Hot Scotch and Lemon''.) 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. 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 Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

and the English Country House are the settings for many. Two Mulliner stores (" Gala Night" and "

The Rise of Minna Nordstrom ''Blandings Castle and Elsewhere'' is a collection of short stories by P. G. Wodehouse. It was first published in the United Kingdom on 12 April 1935 by Herbert Jenkins, London, and, as ''Blandings Castle'', in the United States on 20 Septembe ...

") 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 (which he mentions in one story replaced his earlier hobby of golf). Nevertheless, Mulliner narrates forty short stories. Many are collected in the three books, containing nine stories each, which bear his name: * '' Meet Mr Mulliner'' (1927) * ''

Mr Mulliner Speaking ''Mr Mulliner Speaking'' is a collection of nine short stories by P. G. Wodehouse. It was first published in the United Kingdom on April 30, 1929 by Herbert Jenkins, and in the United States on February 21, 1930 by Doubleday, Doran.McIlvaine ...

'' (1929) * ''

Mulliner Nights ''Mulliner Nights'' is a collection of short stories by P. G. Wodehouse. First published in the United Kingdom on 17 January 1933 by Herbert Jenkins, and in the United States on 15 February 1933 by Doubleday, Doran.McIlvaine (1990), pp. 63– ...

'' (1933) The remaining fourteen stories are scattered in other volumes: * Five in ''

Blandings Castle and Elsewhere ''Blandings Castle and Elsewhere'' is a collection of short stories by P. G. Wodehouse. It was first published in the United Kingdom on 12 April 1935 by Herbert Jenkins, London, and, as ''Blandings Castle'', in the United States on 20 Septembe ...

'' (1935) * Three in ''

Young Men in Spats ''Young Men in Spats'' is a collection of short stories by P. G. Wodehouse, first published in the United Kingdom on 3 April 1936 by Herbert Jenkins, London, then in the United States with a slightly different selection of stories on 24 July 1 ...

'' (1936) * One in ''

Lord Emsworth and Others ''Lord Emsworth and Others'' is a collection of nine short stories by P. G. Wodehouse, first published in the United Kingdom on 19 March 1937 by Herbert Jenkins, London; it was not published in the United States.McIlvaine, E., Sherby, L.S. and H ...

'' (1937) (US title: ''Crime Wave at Blandings'') * One in ''

Eggs, Beans and Crumpets ''Eggs, Beans and Crumpets'' is a collection of short stories by P. G. Wodehouse, first published in the United Kingdom on April 26, 1940 by Herbert Jenkins, London, then with a slightly different content in the United States on May 10, 1940 by ...

'' (1940) * Two in ''

A Few Quick Ones ''A Few Quick Ones'' is a collection of ten short stories by P. G. Wodehouse. It was first published in the United States on 13 April 1959 by Simon & Schuster, New York, and in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1959 by Herbert Jenkins, London. Th ...

'' (1959) * One in ''

Plum Pie ''Plum Pie'' is a collection of nine short stories by P. G. Wodehouse, first published in the United Kingdom on 22 September 1966 by Barrie & Jenkins (under the Herbert Jenkins imprint), and in the United States on 1 December 1967 by Simon & S ...

'' (1966) * One in ''The World of Mr Mulliner'' (1972) ''The World of Mr Mulliner'' is an omnibus containing all 41 stories narrated by Mr. Mulliner. It also includes one other story which has a tangential connection to the series: "From a Detective's Notebook" (1959) 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. Another story tangentially connected to the series is the very short Mulliner story entitled "Shock Dogs", which was not published in any story collection. The story was published in the 14 February 1940 issue of the British satirical magazine ''

Punch Punch commonly refers to: * Punch (combat), a strike made using the hand closed into a fist * Punch (drink), a wide assortment of drinks, non-alcoholic or alcoholic, generally containing fruit or fruit juice Punch may also refer to: Places * Pu ...

'' and is not more than two pages long. It is signed with initials only (P.G.W.) 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. 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. (These include three stories about

Bobbie Wickham Roberta "Bobbie" Wickham is a recurring fictional character in the Jeeves and Mr. Mulliner stories of English comic writer P. G. Wodehouse, being a mischievous red-headed girl who is fond of practical jokes. She is a friend and one-time love in ...

, as well as one about James Rodman.) 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" (or some other far-flung relation) 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". (The Battle of Crecy occurred in 1346.) Grandmother: * Unnamed. Died in the late 19th century. It is this grandmother who made William (below) pledge to not drink until he turned 21—or 41, William can't quite remember which. Uncles: * William Mulliner, a businessman Aunts: * Myrtle Banks, married William Brothers: * Wilfred Mulliner, a chemist and inventor * Sir Sholto Mulliner, M.V.O. * Joseph Mulliner Sisters-in-law: * Angela Purdue, married Wilfred * Lady Wilhelmina Mulliner, widow of Sir Sholto First cousins: * John San Francisco Earthquake Mulliner, son of William and Myrtle * (unnamed brother of above) * Clarence Mulliner, photographer * Cedric Mulliner * Lady Wickham, novelist under the pen-name "George Masterman" * Edward Mulliner * Rupert Mulliner * 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 * Mervyn Mulliner * Anselm Mulliner, a curate, Rupert's son * (unnamed older brother of Anselm) 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" * Montrose Mulliner, Assistant Director of the Perfecto-Zizzbaum Motion Picture Corp. of Hollywood * Wilmot Mulliner, a "nodder" at Perfecto-Zizzbaum Distant cousins by marriage: * Sidney George McMurdo, insurance executive and scratch golfer; marries Agnes * 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 * Ferdinand Mulliner, studying at Eton (older son of Wilfred and Angela) * Percival Mulliner, at preparatory school in Sussex (younger son of Wilfred and Angela) *

Augustine Mulliner The following is an incomplete list of fictional characters featured in the books and stories of P. G. Wodehouse, by series, in alphabetical order by series name. Due to overlap between the various classifications of Wodehouse's work, some cha ...

, a curate (later a vicar) * (name unknown), a student at Harchester, younger brother of Augustine * Lancelot Bassington Mulliner, an aspiring poet * Osbert Mulliner, a jade collector * Frederick Mulliner * Dr. George Mulliner, brother of Frederick * Archibald Mulliner, member of the

Drones Club The Drones Club is a recurring fictional location in the stories of British humorist P. G. Wodehouse. It is a gentlemen's club in London. Many of Wodehouse's Jeeves and Blandings Castle stories feature the club or its members. Various memb ...

, son of Sir Sholto and Lady Wilhelmina, and a skilled chicken-impersonator * Ignatius Mulliner, portrait painter and ukulele player * Mordred Mulliner, a poet * Adrian Mulliner, a detective * Sacheverell Mulliner * Eustace Mulliner, works at the Swiss Embassy * Egbert Mulliner, assistant editor of The Weekly Booklover * Cyril Mulliner, interior decorator * Bulstrode Mulliner, screenwriter in Hollywood * Brancepeth Mulliner, an artist * Augustus Mulliner * 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 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 (her fellow crossword puzzle enthusiast) Nature of relationship uncertain: * Theophilus Mulliner, the bishop of Bognor

Original appearances

# "

The Truth about George "The Truth About George" is a short story by the British comic writer P. G. Wodehouse. A part of the Mr. Mulliner series, the story was first published in July 1926 in '' Strand Magazine'', and appeared almost simultaneously in ''Liberty'' in th ...

" #* U.K.: ''

Strand Strand may refer to: Topography *The flat area of land bordering a body of water, a: ** Beach ** Shoreline * Strand swamp, a type of swamp habitat in Florida Places Africa * Strand, Western Cape, a seaside town in South Africa * Strand Street ...

'', July 1926 #* U.S.: ''

Liberty Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom. In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...

'', 3 July 1926 # " A Slice of Life" #* U.K.: ''Strand'', August 1926 #* U.S.: ''Liberty'', 7 August 1926 # "

Mulliner's Buck-U-Uppo "Mulliner's Buck-U-Uppo" is a short story by the British comic writer P. G. Wodehouse. A part of the Mr. Mulliner series, the story was first published in the United States by '' Liberty Magazine'' on September 4, 1926 and in the United Kingdom ...

" #* U.K.: ''Strand'', November 1926 #* U.S.: ''Liberty'', 4 September 1926 # " The Romance of a Bulb-Squeezer" #* U.K.: ''Strand'', March 1927 #* U.S.: ''Liberty'', 12 March 1927 # " The Story of William" #* U.K.: ''Strand'', May 1927 #* U.S.: ''Liberty'', 9 April 1927 (as "It Was Only a Fire") # " Those in Peril on the Tee" #* UK: ''Strand'', June 1927 #* US: ''Liberty'', 21 May 1927 #**Original UK version is narrated by the Oldest Member, not Mr. Mulliner. # "

Came the Dawn ''Came the Dawn'' is a 1949 thriller novel by the British writer and journalist Paul Winterton under the pseudonym of Roger Bax. Set in the Soviet Union it drew on Winterton's experience as Moscow correspondent for the ''News Chronicle'' and BBC. ...

" #* U.K.: ''Strand'', July 1927 #* U.S.: ''Liberty'', 11 June 1927 # "

The Bishop's Move "The Bishop's Move" is a short story by the British comic writer P. G. Wodehouse. A part of the Mr. Mulliner series, the story was first published in August 1927 in ''Liberty'' in the United States, and in September 1927 in '' The Strand Magazi ...

" #* U.K.: ''Strand'', September 1927 #* U.S.: ''Liberty'', 20 August 1927 # " Portrait of a Disciplinarian" #* U.K.: ''Strand'', October 1927 #* U.S.: ''Liberty'', 24 September 1927 # "

Honeysuckle Cottage "Honeysuckle Cottage" is a short story by the British author P. G. Wodehouse. The story was first published in the 24 January 1925 issue of the Saturday Evening Post in the United States, and in the February 1925 issue of the '' Strand Magazine ...

" #*Initially published without Mr. Mulliner framework #** U.K.: ''Strand'', February 1925 #** U.S.: ''

Saturday Evening Post ''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely ...

'', 24 January 1925 #*Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in ''Meet Mr. Mulliner'', September 1927 # " The Reverent Wooing of Archibald" #* UK: ''

'', August 1928 #* US: ''

Cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan may refer to: Food and drink * Cosmopolitan (cocktail), also known as a "Cosmo" History * Rootless cosmopolitan, a Soviet derogatory epithet during Joseph Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign of 1949–1953 Hotels and resorts * Cosmopoli ...

'', September 1928 # " The Ordeal of Osbert Mulliner" #* UK: ''Strand'', December 1928 #* US: ''Liberty'', 24 November 1928 # " Unpleasantness at Bludleigh Court" #* UK: ''Strand'', February 1929 #* US: ''Liberty'', 2 February 1929 # " The Man Who Gave Up Smoking" #* UK: ''Strand'', March 1929 #* US: ''

'', 23 March 1929 # " The Story of Cedric" #* UK: ''Strand'', May 1929 #* US: ''Liberty'', 11 May 1929 # " Something Squishy" #*Initially published without Mr. Mulliner framework #** UK: ''Strand'', January 1925 #** US: ''

'', 20 December 1924 #*Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in ''Mr. Mulliner Speaking'', April 1929 # " The Awful Gladness of the Mater" #*Initially published without Mr. Mulliner framework #** UK: ''Strand'', May 1925 #** US: ''Saturday Evening Post'', 21 March 1925 #*Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in ''Mr. Mulliner Speaking'', April 1929 # " The Passing of Ambrose" #*Initially published without Mr. Mulliner framework #** UK: ''Strand'', July 1928 #** US: ''Cosmopolitan'', August 1928 #*Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in ''Mr. Mulliner Speaking'', April 1929 # " Gala Night" #* UK: ''Strand'', June 1930 #* US: ''Cosmopolitan'', May 1930 # " Best Seller" #*Early version published without Mr. Mulliner framework as "Parted Ways" #** UK: ''Strand'', December 1914 #** US: ''Pictorial Review'', June 1915 #*Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story: #** UK: ''Strand'', July 1930 #** US: ''Cosmopolitan'', June 1930 # " The Knightly Quest of Mervyn" #* UK: ''Strand'', July 1931 (as "Quest") #* US: ''Cosmopolitan'', April 1931 (as "Quest") # " The Voice from the Past" #* UK: ''Strand'', December 1931 #* US: ''American'', November 1931 # " The Smile that Wins" #* UK: ''Strand'', February 1932 #* US: ''American'', October 1931 # "

Strychnine in the Soup "Strychnine in the Soup" is a short story by the British comic writer P. G. Wodehouse. A part of the Mr. Mulliner series, the story was first published in the US in ''The American Magazine'' in December 1931 (as "A Missing Mystery"), and in the ...

" #* UK: ''Strand'', March 1932 #* US: ''American'', December 1931 (as "The Missing Mystery") # " The Story of Webster" #* UK: ''Strand'', May 1932 (as "The Bishop's Cat") #* US: ''American'', February 1932 # " Cats will be Cats" #* UK: ''Strand'', June 1932 (as "The Bishop's Folly") #* US: ''American'', March 1932 (as "The Bishop's Folly") # " Open House" #* UK: ''Strand'', April 1932 #* US: ''American'', April 1932 # " Monkey Business" #* UK: ''Strand'', December 1932 #* US: '' American Magazine'', December 1932 (as "A Cagey Gorilla") # " The Nodder" #* UK: ''Strand'', January 1933 #* US: ''American Magazine'', January 1933 (as "Love Birds") # " The Juice of an Orange" #* UK: ''Strand'', February 1933 #* US: ''American Magazine'', February 1933 (as "Love on a Diet") # "

" #* UK: ''Strand'', April 1933 #* US: ''American Magazine'', March 1933 (as "A Star is Born") # " The Castaways" #* UK: ''Strand'', June 1933 # " The Fiery Wooing of Mordred" #* US: ''Cosmopolitan'', December 1934 #* UK: ''Strand'', February 1935 # " Archibald and the Masses" #* US: ''Cosmopolitan'', August 1935 #* UK: ''Strand'', February 1936 # " The Code of the Mulliners" #* US: ''Cosmopolitan'', February 1935 #* UK: ''Strand'', April 1935 # " Buried Treasure" #* UK: ''Strand'', September 1936 #* US: '' This Week'', 27 September 1936 (as "Hidden Treasure") # " Anselm Gets His Chance" #* US: ''Saturday Evening Post'', 3 July 1937 #* UK: ''Strand'', July 1937 # " The Right Approach" #*Early version published without Mr. Mulliner framework as "Joy Bells For Barmy" #** US: ''Cosmopolitan'', October 1947 #*Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story: #** UK: '' Lilliput'', September 1958 #** US: ''

Playboy ''Playboy'' is an American men's Lifestyle magazine, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from H ...

'', January 1959 # "

Big Business Big business involves large-scale corporate-controlled financial or business activities. As a term, it describes activities that run from "huge transactions" to the more general "doing big things". In corporate jargon, the concept is commonly ...

" #*Early version published without Mr. Mulliner framework #** US: ''

Collier's ''Collier's'' was an American general interest magazine founded in 1888 by Peter Fenelon Collier. It was launched as ''Collier's Once a Week'', then renamed in 1895 as ''Collier's Weekly: An Illustrated Journal'', shortened in 1905 to ''Coll ...

'', 13 December 1952 #** UK: '' Lilliput'', March/April 1953 #*Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story in the 1959 book ''

'' # "

George and Alfred "George and Alfred" is a short story by P. G. Wodehouse and a Mr. Mulliner story. It was published in ''Playboy'' magazine in the US in January 1967. The story was also included in the 1966 collection ''Plum Pie''. An earlier version of the sto ...

" #*Early version published without Mr. Mulliner framework as "Rallying Round Old George" #**UK:

Strand Magazine ''The Strand Magazine'' was a monthly British magazine founded by George Newnes, composed of short fiction and general interest articles. It was published in the United Kingdom from January 1891 to March 1950, running to 711 issues, though th ...

, December 1912 #**US:

Collier's Weekly ''Collier's'' was an American general interest magazine founded in 1888 by Peter Fenelon Collier. It was launched as ''Collier's Once a Week'', then renamed in 1895 as ''Collier's Weekly: An Illustrated Journal'', shortened in 1905 to ''Colli ...

, 27 September 1913 (as "Brother Alfred") #*Subsequently, rewritten. First appearance as a Mr. Mulliner story: #** US: ''

'', January 1967 # "Another Christmas Carol" #*Early version published without Mr. Mulliner framework #** US: ''

'', December 1970 #*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 William Mervyn Pickwoad (3 January 1912 – 6 August 1976) was an English actor best known for his portrayal of the bishop in the clerical comedy ''All Gas and Gaiters'', the old gentleman in '' The Railway Children'' and Inspector Charles Rose ...

Richard Griffiths Richard Thomas Griffiths (31 July 1947 – 28 March 2013) was an English actor of film, television, and stage. For his performance in the stage play '' The History Boys'', Griffiths won a Tony Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, the Drama Desk ...

starred as Mr Mulliner in a series of radio adaptations of the stories, including six episodes in 2002 under the title ''Meet Mr Mulliner'' and four episodes in 2004 under the title ''More Mr Mulliner''. The series aired on BBC Radio 4.

Notes

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mulliner, Mr P. G. Wodehouse characters Literary characters introduced in 1926 Series of books Fictional storytellers Fictional fishers Male characters in literature