Undoubtedly, this is the most hilarious collection of short stories I've ever read. Except for one ("The Romance of a Bulb-Squeezer") which I found only so-so, all the others had me in stitches. I have returned to this collection again and again, whenever I was feeling down in the dumps, and left with an uplifted heart.Mr. Mulliner is a regular at "Angler's Rest" (a country pub), a "man who has never told a lie in his life", according to his own confession. And the narrator tells us that it is very easy to believe it:"He was a short, stout, comfortable man of middle age, and the thing that struck me first about him was the extraordinarily childlike candour of his eyes. They were large and round and honest. I would have bought oil stock from him without a tremor."Mulliner does not tell lies, what he tells are stories about his numerous nephews (in which aspect he has been "singularly blessed"), brothers, cousins and uncles. And if these stories stretch our credibility sometimes, we have to murmur the adage "truth is stranger than fiction" and go ahead.There is George, the stammerer, whose affliction is cured in a most extraordinary way in a single afternoon; Wilfred, with his marvellous chemical concoctions for all ills; Mulliner's Buck-u-Uppo, which can induce such high spirits that men of the cloth turn into mischievous schoolboys; and the malignant spirit of a pulp novelist haunting a country cottage. As Mulliner narrates the stories in an even voice to his spellbound listeners in Angler's Rest, we too forget the thin dividing line between truth and fiction: after all, does truth matter in front of a good story? And what are stories (from the old myths and legends up to the latest fiction lining the bestseller shelves), other than colourful lies we willingly hear?Come, suspend your disbelief and get lost in the magic world of Mr. Muliner...
An earlier Wodehouse collection that doesn't have the energy or punch of his later work. While it's unfair to criticize Wodehouse for being predictable (his books tend to read as sit-coms, they have a certain formulaic progression--ie. Jeeves will disapprove of Bertie's fashion choice and will have forced Bertie out of it by the end of the story--but it is what he achieves within the boundaries of that formula that make him so excellent), these tales seemed obvious and the framing device that supposedly linked them added nothing either to the book as a whole or the stories themselves.There's fun to be had here and nice ideas--Wodehouse is never lacking those--but the wit, the core element that makes reading and rereading Wodehouse so marvelous, that quick, precise, unrelenting wit, is not on display in this collection, maybe was not fully matured when he wrote this.Overall, entertaining enough, a quick read, but it just made me want to be reading his better works.As for the Overlook Press edition, an excellent edition. I'm trying to get all the copies of Wodehouse they release. Just a marvelously made book.
What do You think about Meet Mr. Mulliner (2002)?
In the words of Christopher Hitchens, "there is not, and never will be, anything to touch him (Wodehouse)." No matter how much you read of him, you'll find something new in each story, something to appreciate in each narrative. Each of his tales are brimming with wit and humor starting with 'The truth about George', the stammering crossword specialist who can't get over his love to 'Honeysuckle cottage', the forgotten Wodehouse masterpiece, each story proves to be better than the other, never failing in its witticism. If you're a Wodehouse fan, this book is a must read. If you're not it is still a must read.(and even more so) Its vintage Wodehouse and is certainly not to be missed.
—Supreeth
I will use this "review" for all the P. G. Wodehouse I have read. I read them all so long ago and enjoyed them so much that I have given them all 5 stars. As I re-read them I will adjust the stars accordingly, if necessary, and add a proper review.When I first discovered P. G. Wodehouse I devoured every book I could find in the local library, throughout the eighties and early nineties. Alas, this means that I have read most of them and stumbling across one I have not read is a rare thing. I'm sure that through this great site I will joyfully find at least a few I have not read, and be able to track them down.My records only began in 1982, so I do not have a note of any I read before then. I’m sure I will enjoy re-reading them.
—Libbeth
So much fun! My daughter bought this book for me for Christmas, and reading it was like eating a delicious bowl of popcorn. Light, airy, plenty of salt and butter, not necessarily going to build strong bones or anything, but something I looked forward to. I've decided that P.G. Wodehouse is a perfect in-between-er for if you've read too many depressing books, too many classics, too many dystopian--you get the idea. This book is really a bunch of unrelated tales told by Mr. Mulliner--sort of "fish stories" he tells his friends at the pub. I smiled a lot while reading--laughed out loud a few times too. Always a good sign!
—Jessica
