The Three Mulla-Mulgars by Walter De La Mare: book review

The Three Mulla-Mulgars (1910, this edition 2015) is about three royal monkeys, princes of Tishnar.

Monkeys Seelem (the father, a Mulla-Mulgar of royal blood) and Mutta-matutta (the mother, a fruit-monkey) had three sons: Thumma (Thumb) the eldest, Thimbulla (Thimble), and the youngest Ummanodda (Nod). They learned their own secret language of the Mullla-Mulgars, the royal monkeys but also the ways and languages of the Munza-Mulgars (the forest monkeys), the dreaded  Gunga-Mulgars, and the Babbaboomas.

However their father could not teach them the language of the man-monkeys – the Oomgars and the Minimal-Mulgars – because he did not know them. But Seelem did teach his three sons four important ways of the man-monkeys: to never walk flambo (on all fours) but to walk upright; to never taste blood; to never climb trees; and to never grow a tail – unless in danger and despair.

Seelem, the father, had vanished one day, and as Mutta-matutta was dying, she gave Nod a milk-white Wonderstone – which he was to keep with him always.

To escape winter, the three monkeys travel towards the Valleys of Assasimmon. On the long journey, the Mulla-Mulgars outwit Gunga-Mulgars, but Nod is captured by a man-monkey.  The man-monkey is a sailor. The sailor, Andrew Battle, attempts to communicate with Nod and to teach him words in English. He tells Nod to escape into the forest if other sailors come. Nod befriends Mischa, an old hare, and asks her to find Thumb and Thimble.

These are the adventures of the three monkeys, with challenges and hardships – and the use of the magical Wonderstone – as they search for their father Seelem. Moreso it is about brotherly bonds and arguments. Nod is young and naive, making many mistakes, which results in constant criticism of his actions. In spite of this, his habitual kindness and compassion make him a lovable character.

It is long since I have read the poems and scarey tales of Walter De La Mare, and while this may be a forgotten classic, it is a legendary fairytale with familiar themes and lifelong lessons.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).