Billy Bunter Comes for Christmas by Frank Richards.

Published in 1959 by Cassell & Co (reprinted 1966)

Illustrated by C. H. Chapman.

            Christmas series, especially those set at Wharton Lodge, were always popular with Magnet readers. And, there is little doubt that Frank Richards loved Christmas, and loved to write about it. Yet, of the 38 post-war Bunter books, only 2 had a Christmas theme. The “Bunter’s Christmas Party story,” set in Tankerton Hall, and this one.

            This is, arguably, the most boring and uninspiring of all the post-war stories.

            Basically, this is a re-hash of the Mystery of Wharton Lodge story from 1933. Wharton refuses to invite Bunter home for the hols, after a typical piece of Bunter trickery, so the Fat Owl invites himself.

            In 1959, Wharton Lodge is exactly as it was in Magnet number 1 in 1908. The big oak timbered hall, the massive roaring fires, Wharton’s “den” complete with balcony and steps, and adjoining bedroom. Colonel Wharton, unbending in the presence of his youthful guests, Wells, the stately butler; all are present.

            The first half of the story is set at snowy Greyfriars. Bunter manages to borrow five shillings, which he spends on a telegram purporting to come from Colonel Wharton. An unlikely scenario, as we know all Bunter’s shillings ended up in Mrs. Mimble’s till. However, in this story he manages to resist the lure of tuck long enough to blow the lot on the telegram.

            Meanwhile, a stock villain, a “little rat-faced man,” has stolen Colonel Wharton’s Tinteretto. Apparently the Colonel had the valuable oil painting in his library, and this had been cut out of its frame in the night. The burglar, managing to raise the household, is chased to an attic, where he escapes from a window and shins down a drainpipe. On no evidence whatsoever, Colonel Wharton deduces that the painting cannot have been carried down, neither can it have been thrown down first, as the thief would have had no time to recover it before being apprehended. Why the Colonel should assume this is unclear.

            So, believing the painting to be hidden somewhere in the house a search is made, unsuccessfully. As the burglar was chased to the attic, and had only minutes to hide his booty, it is surprising it was never discovered. Frank Richards was really stretching the reader’s credulity with this one!

            The story does have a couple of moments portraying the Master’s brilliance. We are treated to a little scenario of the Fat Owl in the bosom of his family at Bunter Villa. Annoyed at a complaint from the cook that a cake is missing from the pantry, Mr. Bunter gives his elder son the choice of sweeping the garden path clear of snow, or having his ears boxed. It is this that drives Bunter to venture forth to Wharton Lodge.

            Here, he camps in the attic, after entering by the famous balcony steps, and annexing Wharton’s bedding. When the pageboy, John is accused of pilfering biscuits, and a cake, Bunter’s rather elastic conscience is pricked. Accustomed as he is to thinking only of himself, he cannot stand by and see the poor pageboy sacked, for something he did not do. He actually replaces the missing cake, causing the majestic Wells not a little discomfort.

            Although this story is the usual length for a Cassells Bunter story (218 pages) there are very few illustrations, and these, (by Chapman) are not particularly memorable.

            Both the preceding story, Bunter Out of Bounds, and the next one, Bunter the Bad Lad are very rewarding reads. However, this one is really nothing more than a potboiler.