Mr. Jelly's Business

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Mr. Jelly's Business
Mr. Jelly's Business.png
Title page for Mr. Jelly's Business (1937)
Author Arthur Upfield
Language English
Series Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte
GenreFiction
Publisher Angus & Robertson
Publication date
1937
Publication placeAustralia
Media typePrint
Pages286 pp
Preceded by Wings Above the Diamantina  
Followed by Winds of Evil  

Mr. Jelly's Business (1937) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It was the fourth to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in Australia by Angus & Robertson in 1937, after being serialised in the Daily News (Perth, Western Australia) between December 1932 and January 1933. [1]

Contents

Abstract

"At 1.10 a.m. on November 2, Leonard Wallace, licensee of Burracoppin Hotel, and George Loftus drive away in the rain from the hotel in Loftus's car. Wallace returns to his bedroom at 2.15 a.m., saying he left Loftus while they were drunk some miles down the track. The car is found smashed. Hats belonging to Loftus and Wallace are found near the car and two empty beer bottles. Of Loftus these is no sign. Detective Sergeant Muir, of Perth, who bungled a Gascoyne case and allowed the 'wanted' man, Andrews to get away to Queensland, agrees to let the brilliant half-caste Detective-Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte of the Queensland C.I.B. handle the Burracoppin case while he himself goes after Andrews." [2]

Location

Takes place at Burracoppin and Merredin east of Perth in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia along the rabbit-proof fence.

Publishing history

Following the book's initial publication by Angus & Robertson in 1937 it was subsequently published as follows: [1]

and subsequent paperback, ebook and audio book editions.

Critical reception

A reviewer in The Newcastle Sun was impressed with the main character of the novels: "Bonaparte is really a most interesting character. He confounds popular tradition by combining many of the virtues instead of all the vices of the races in his divided ancestry. Added to which he is a most efficient officer of police whose success is due not to fortuitous gifts of coincidence or ridiculously brilliant (and lucky) deduction, but to a calm and practical reasoning along that trail of common sense which has led to more real-life murderers than a library full of those fantastic (if diverting) methods of trailing the villain to which we have become accustomed in popular fiction." [9]

The Sydney Morning Herald reviewer was less impressed with the book, calling it "neither thriller nor particularly mysterious". They then conclude: "Mr. Upfield creates his Australian atmosphere mainly by putting colloquialisms into the dialogue allotted to his 'local' characters. This and the mixed blood and consequent sensitiveness of Detective-Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte give the book a faintly individual flavour." [10]

See also

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Boney is an Australian television series produced by Fauna Productions during 1971 and 1972, featuring James Laurenson in the title role of Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte. Two series, each of thirteen episodes, were filmed.

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This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1937.

<i>The Barrakee Mystery</i> Novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield

The Barrakee Mystery (1929) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It was the second of the author's novels, his first crime novel and the first to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in the UK by Hutchinson in 1929, and subsequently serialised in The Herald in Melbourne in 42 daily instalments between 23 July and 9 September 1932.

The Sands of Windee (1931) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It was the fourth of the author's novels and the second to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in the UK by Hutchinson in 1931, and subsequently serialised in The Herald in Melbourne in 42 daily instalments between 23 January and 11 March 1932.

Wings Above the Diamantina (1936) is a detective novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It was the third to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in Australia by Angus & Robertson in 1936, and subsequently serialised in The Australian Journal between January and September 1936.

Winds of Evil (1937) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It was the fifth of the author's novels to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in the Australia by Angus & Robertson in 1937, and subsequently serialised in The Australian Journal in Melbourne between March and October 1937.

<i>The Bone is Pointed</i> Novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield

The Bone is Pointed (1938) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It was the sixth of the author's novels to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in the Australia by Angus & Robertson in 1938, and subsequently serialised in The Herald newspaper in Melbourne between September and November 1938, under the title Murder on the Station.

The Mystery of Swordfish Reef (1939) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It was the seventh of the author's novels to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in the Australia by Angus & Robertson in 1939.

Bushranger of the Skies (1940) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It is the eighth of the author's novels to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in the Australia by Angus & Robertson in 1940.

Man of Two Tribes is a 1953 Australia radio serial based on the stories of Arthur Upfield about Detective Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte. Morris West adapted several of Upfield's stories.

<i>Death of a Swagman</i> 1945 novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield

Death of a Swagman (1945) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It is the ninth of the author's novels to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in USA by Doubleday Books in 1945.

<i>The Devils Steps</i> 1946 novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield

The Devil's Steps (1946) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It is the tenth of the author's novels to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in USA by Doubleday Books in 1946.

An Author Bites the Dust (1948) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It is the eleventh of the author's novels to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in Australia by Angus and Robertson in 1948.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mr. Jelly's Business". Austlit. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  2. "The Start of the Story". Daily News, 5 December 1932, p. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  3. "Mr Jelly's Business (A&R 1964)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  4. "Mr Jelly's Business (A&R 1965)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  5. "Mr Jelly's Business (A&R 1981)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  6. "Mr Jelly's Business (Doubleday)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  7. "Mr Jelly's Business (German)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  8. "Mr Jelly's Business (French)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  9. ""Boney" on the Trail". The Newcastle Sun, 3 July 1937, p3. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  10. "Novels of the Day". SMH, 16 July 1937, p8. Retrieved 10 June 2023.