Billy Bunter's Postal Order

Billy Bunter #8

by Frank Richards

In Billy Bunter's Postal Order, everyone's favourite rolly-polly hero, 'The Fat Owl of the Remove', is awaiting a postal order from his uncle. So naturally when Bunter receives a letter from his uncle he assumes it contains the long-awaited postal order. Only the letter goes astray and Mr Quelch gets involved, triggering a sequence of hilarious and potentially catastrophic events. Thoroughly enjoyable listening for all children aged six to ninety plus! Martin Jarvis is one of Britain's most popular actors and narrators. He brilliantly depicts Bunter and his famous five: Harry Wharton, Bob Cherry, Hurree Jamset Ram Singh, Frank Nugent and Johnny Bull.

150 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1951

About the author

Pseudonym of author Charles Hamilton, who created Billy Bunter and who also used plenty of other pseudonyms.

Those other pseudonyms were, in alphabetical order:
Winston Cardew; Martin Clifford; Harry Clifton; Clifford Clive; Sir Alan Cobham; Owen Conquest; Gordon Conway; Freeman Fox; Hamilton Greening; Cecil Herbert; Prosper Howard; Robert Jennings; Gillingham Jones; T Harcourt Llewelyn; Clifford Owen; Ralph Redway; Hilda Richards; Raleigh Robbins; Robert Rogers; Eric Stanhope; Robert Stanley; Nigel Wallace; Talbot Wynyard.

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful. But I knew it would be before I started it. My interest is in how it ever became popular, how it helped (and perhaps still helps) to sustain the indefensible system of private education in this country. I’m not against private education per se but the way it operates in the UK. And the insight it gives us to our disgraced former pm. Boris Johnson is Bunter in so many ways. Greed, self-interest and an ability to lie (always out of perceived self interest) in any circumstance. A complete refusal to accept any responsibility.

[Tamsin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Billy Bunter or ‘grunter’,the ‘fat tick’, ‘fat ass’ or ‘fat scoundrel’ is an unappealing character for the 21st century. The ‘fat owl of the Remove’ cares only for food and self. He lies, he blusters. He is a complete stranger to the truth. There are seldom consequences to his appalling behaviour. He expects his friends to go the extra mile for him without ever returning the favour. This is my second and final Bunter.

[Judio · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think this is the original version (with Kay King). It read differently - with bumps and grinds along the way. Which wouldn't be noticeable if one hadn't read other Bunter books. The essence was the same - and yet, it wasn't. I'm a tad disappointed. This didn't ring true, somehow.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoyed this as a kid and it’s still fun to read even if partly due to nostalgia. Once you get over the language and different money it’s a highly entertaining mindless romp.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

3

[Jonathan Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pointless but wonderful entertainment as ever

[Someone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually couldn't get myself to finish the book. The author seemed to really like emphasising the fact that Billy was fat. I mean, you would say the book is racist if it kept going on about how his black fingers and how he thought with his black brain or he waved his black arm etc, so why be sizist? If it's just once or twice to explain how it looks in context would be acceptable, but I've actually counted and in about 1 chapter, the author repeated the word, 'fat' more than 10 times. It makes it sound as if though being fat is something to fuss about.
Anyways, ignoring that fact, the story itself was alright. I didn't really find any humour in the book though it seemed some of the stuffs were put there to make the readers laugh or at least chuckle, but that may have just been me. I did wish there was more of an introduction to the characters in the book like, 'the famous five'. Since I haven't read any of the authors other books I found it confusing at first on who's who. In a way, I thought the writer was a bit mean as he made Bunter into a seemingly unlikeable person(fat dumb and greedy) and then put him into a humorous situation so we all laugh at him.

[Rani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hilarious back in the 80s when I read it, it used to belong to my dad and is set in the days when you didn't have to be politically correct so keep that in mind and don't be appalled by the language....just saying...

[Erick Njenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yarooooh! Awesome book. Again!

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly fun. I think it was a source for both Harry Potter and South Park.

[Mhairi Gowans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typically fun Bunter caper.

[Roshni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bunter rolls up again in the fantastic series of mishaps. Keeps you laughing throughout

[foundfoundfound · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful thing salvaged from the shipwreck that is england.