Beware of the Mouse

The Mouse That Roared #0

by Leonard Wibberley, Cathy Hill (Illustrator)

A tale of Grand Fenwick set 500 years before The Mouse that Roared. Even more entertaining for its plausibility, this prequel has the same dry wit and humor that makes The Mouse that Roaredso endearing.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Alternate History

189 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Also wrote under his full name Leonard Patrick O'Connor Wibberley and under
Patrick O'Connor as well as pseudonyms Christopher Webb and Leonard Holton

Reviews

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cosy, before 'cosy read' was a thing. Despite the rumblings of existential crisis, the reader never doubts that things turn out well, and it is only a matter of what gentle satire is applied to the human condition and what uplifting message it will conclude with.

And I dare you to find a more cosy name than "Leonard Wibberley". Go on, prove me wrong.

[Norman Howe]

Leonard Wibberley has poked fun at chivalry, knighthood, and human behavior in general, while still remaining true to the ideals of the Duchy of Grand Fenwick.

[Robin Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a mobi.file copy of this book through a giveaway on LibraryThing and this is my honest opinion.

When you hear the name Ian Fleming you immediately think of James Bond, but practically everyone doesn’t realized that he’s the author behind the movie Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang which is based on the children’s book he wrote by the name.

Although Leonard Wibberley had written over 100 books he’s best remembered for the first book in the series which this book is the prequel for, The Mouse That Roared; which is probably due to the movie starring Peter Sellers.

In this book the tiny, backward thinking Duchy of Grand Fenwick is, according to a rascally Irish knight, about to be invaded by the French with a new weapon of mass destruction, the cannon.

As expected, a simple plan to have the Duchy drop their differences with the Irish in order to join forces to defeat the French enemy goes awry when Sir Roger's daughter, the Lady Matilda becomes unduly enamored in the Irish knight who brought the news concerning the French invasion. In the end, somehow, despite their shortcomings, they persevered and defeated the French who promised never to attack the Duchy again; which became the precedent of what would happen to them 500 years later when they decided to invade the US, a time at which they still insisted on using the longbow as their choice of combat weapons.

Once you get by the British dry wit and humor which prevalent in this book and its sequel The Mouse That Roared, you’re left with a wonderful satirical work of literature about the time period these stories takes place.

For the wonderful satirical story the author has written here, I’m giving it 5 STARS.

[Jeff Mayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second of the Mouse books that was published. Chronologically, it is set 500 years before the first book. As comedy, it is lightweight fluff, but it is fun, and it is a quick read. An Irish knight convinces Duchy of Grand Fenwick that they are about to be invaded by the French, who have a new weapon of mass destruction- the cannon. Not the worst of the series, not the best, but as satire written in the late 50's goes, it is decent.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is very different from the other Grand Fenwick books, which are all set in the 1960s and 1970s. This one takes place in the Middle Ages. It’s not my favorite but I love the others (especially the Mouse that Roared) and I wanted to read them all. It had a bit of a slow start, but the finale was satisfying.

[Krystie Herndon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was fun! Generally, I don't like to read prequels first, but my husband, who has read the series, assured me that this prequel would not take away from the first celebrated book in the series. Rollicking story with decent characters.

[Peter K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book. Probably my least favorite in the series, but a rousing tale nonetheless.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was outstanding! Wibberley at his best! I think the only book in this series that was as good as or better than this one was The Mouse That Roared.

[Mattaniah Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leonard Wibberly has yet to disappoint me. This is easily the second best of his Grand Fenwick Series, possibly contending for first place. The characters are fun, their simplicity reflecting the simplicity that makes the concept of Grand Fenwick itself so charming.

I like that this story is different from the other four in that rather than Grand Fenwick accidently becoming the center of world politics, it is focused squarely on the heritage Grand Fenwick. It has a timeless message about courage in the face of terrible odds and is a champion of the truth that courage can make ten men feel like a hundred. It is also a beautiful statement (as is the entire series) about the right of a people to be free and independent.

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

The weakest of the five novels in the Mouse series, and the last one. Wibberley takes the reader back to the founding of the Duchy of Grand Fenwick, taking a Luddite view towards technology and emphasizing the wonder that is the simple life (similar to Tolkien's adulation of the Hobbits in Fellowship of the Ring). This book lacks any character from the previous four novels in the series (for obvious reasons) and a discernable point to the story. If you want to read the book to say you have read the series, then do so. Otherwise, give this a miss.

[Cormac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently discovered this book, which is part of The Mouse That Roared series only because it involves the little duchy of Grand Fenwick. None of the main characters from the other books are in it. This one is set in medieval times. Normally when a book in a series doesn't use any of the main characters, I get frustrated. But not with this one. I was hooked the minute the rascally Irish knight Sir Dermot rode into Grand Fenwick with the dire news that the French have a new weapon of mass destruction and they are marching toward Grand Fenwick.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, light weight prequel to the 'Mouse' books, about the early days of the Grand Duchy of Fenwick and how the greatest archers in Europe deal with the invention of the cannon.

There is also the usual humor and mild romance.

[Nicole]

Prequel to 'The Mouse That Roared'

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the 'Mouse' books.

[Michael Sommers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the early days of Grand Fenwick. Led by the Duke (grandson of the founder) and a passing Irish knight, Grand Fenwick fights off an invading French army.

[SciFiOne · Rating 4 out of 5]

1976 grade B+

not SciFi

[Mary O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although completely different than the other books in the series, Beware of the Mouse might be the best of the lot! It's incredibly funny and charming.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lays a good foundation for the subsequent series... and that Abbot is a gem of a character...