Mosan Mouse - Pieter W Grobbelaar and (illustrator) Jeremy Grimsdell

Published by Daan Retief Publishers: Pretoria, 1989 (1988).
Also published in Afrikaans as Moesan Muis.

This is a weird little picture book, which somehow makes more sense when its South African and Afrikaans origin is taken into account!

Mosan Mouse, the head of his family, is hassled by his wife for not providing enough food. She asks him whether he is a man or a mouse, to which he replies: "Wife," said I, "in this house I am the man and the mouse." He then proceeds to go through the house, facing off in turn with the cat, the farmer, the farmer's wife and the farmer's daughter. Each one in turn is knocked unconscious or otherwise side-lined, leaving Mosan Mouse free to help himself to the food they have on offer.

At the end of the story, he returns home and tells his wife that "now it is up to you" to go with the children to collect the food, "And never shout at me again, for it should really be quite plain: in this house I am the man and the mouse." 

It's odd. It's mildly humorous in a violent way (note: Mosan doesn't actually attack any of the characters in the story. They just hurt themselves while reacting to him). It is also very reminiscent of Afrikaans culture, in which men are definitely the head of the house, women look after the cooking at the children, and telling your spouse off is seen as light-hearted banter.

Not my favourite.


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