Leonard Wibberley [1915-83] Page at Spirit of America Bookstore

               Leonard Patrick O'Connor Wibberley was born on 9 April 1915 in Dublin, Ireland. After leaving school early and working various jobs, he began a career as a newspaper reporter & editor & foreign correspondent in London and Trinidad, West Indies and New York City. In 1947, he moved permanently to California, and after publication of his first novel "The King's Beard" [1952], he settled in Hermosa Beach, living on 24th Street and working in his book-lined second-story aerie, while his wife taught school there. The 1959 feature film of "The Mouse That Roared" starring Peter Sellers brought him fame, if not fortune.
               He fathered seven children: His marriage in Trinidad to the dance writer Olga Maynard [1913-94] produced son Patrick Maynard, a philosophy professor based in Canada; Wibberley's marriage in California to Hazel Holton produced another son, film writer Cormac Wibberley, who often teams with his wife Marianne Wibberley.
               Leonard Wibberley's lifetime output included over 100 books, a newspaper column, and many poems & short stories & plays.
               He died at age 78 of a heart attack on 22 November 1983 at a Santa Monica, California hospital.

RECENT NEWS: The family/estate of Leonard Wibberley has set up an official website (circa 2015) that is using 'copyright by The Grand Duchy of Fenwick' to publish the Mouse books and the eleven Father Bredder mystery novels on Kindle via Amazon - no doubt more will follow.
Also, there is now a signup for free email delivery of Leonard's 1960s to 1970s newspaper columns for the San Francisco Chronicle and other newspapers at bit.ly/LeonardNews.

"The Mouse On The Moon" [1962]

The Mouse On The Moon novel by Leonard Wibberley

The castle of Grand Fenwick has a hot water problem; Grand Duchess Gloriana requests foreign aid from the U.S. for Space Research; the Russians compete by sending aid as well. While Gloriana is dreaming of hot baths, the Duchy's one scientist is slapping together a rocket; the U.S. and the Soviets get wind of the impending launch and try to beat the others to the moon.
Wm. Morrow mass pb [1/62] out of print/many used
Wm. Morrow hardcover [6/62] out of print/used

feature film [Lopert / United Artists June 1963]
Directed by Richard Lester; script adapted by Michael Pertwee; starring Margaret Rutherford, Ron Moody, Bernard Cribbins, David Kossoff, Terry-Thomas, June Ritchie, John Le Mesurier, John Phillips, Eric Barker & Roddy McMillan
M.G.M. widescreen color DVD [12/2000] for $12.99
M.G.M. color VHS [11/2000] out of prodn/used
full credits from IMDb

"The Mouse On Wall Street" [1969]

Mouse On Wall Street novel by Leonard Wibberley

"Another Mad Irresistible Story About The Little Duchy That Shook Mighty America With Laughter!"
After the success of their invasion of the United States, the Duchy of Grand Fenwick is awash with money. Too much money causes inflation, so the ministers decide to lose money on the New York stock market . . .
Bantam mass pb [1/71] out of print/used
Wm. Morrow hardcover [9/69] out of print/used

"The Mouse That Saved The West: A Novel" [1981]

Mouse That Saved The West novel by Leonard Wibberley

Through international diplomacy – well, actually, through duplicity and dumb luck – the Duchy of Grand Fenwick defeats O.P.E.C. and provides a happy solution to the world's oil crisis.
Wm. Morrow hardcover [4/81] out of print/used

"The Mouse That Roared" TV pilot [1966]
television pilot featuring Sid Caesar in several roles; filmed but not picked up as a series; produced & directed by Jack Arnold; also starring
Richard Deacon, Joyce Jameson & Sigrid Valdis • VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • bare credits at IMDb

stageplay "The Mouse On Mars" [1972]

'The Mouse On Mars' playscript by Christopher Sergel

playscript by Christopher Sergel, credited as 'from the book by Leonard Wibberley' {not found}; young Dutchess Gloriana has been studying Machiavelli and history, which results in the Duchy of Grand Fenwick being forced into an international space race to put a man on Mars . . .
Dramatic Publng Co. pb [1972] out of print/used
license/playscripts available at Dramatic Publng Co.

"The Time of The Lamb: A Christmas Story" [1951]
first novel "The King's Beard" [1952]
"The Coronation Book: The Dramatic Story In History & Legend" [1953]
"The Secret of The Hawk" [1953]
"Mrs. Searwood's Secret Weapon" [Little, Brown, 1954]
"Deadmen's Cave" [1954]
"McGillicuddy McGotham" [Little, Brown, 1956]

"The Trouble With The Irish (or The English, Depending On Your Point of View)" [1956]
"Take Me To Your President" [Putnam, 1957]
"The Coming of The Green" [1958]
"Wes Powell: Conqueror of The Grand Canyon" [1958]
"No Garlic In The Soup: A Portugese Adventure" [1959]
"The Land That Isn't There: An Irish Adventure" [1960]
"Stranger At Killknock" [Putnam, 1961]

Ballad of The Pilgrim Cat children's book by Leonard Wibberley

"The Ballad of The Pilgrim Cat: A Thanksgiving Poem For Children" [1961]
by Leonard Wibberley, Illustrated by Erik Blegvad
whimsically humorous poem about Prudence Godwithus Simplicity Smith and a stowaway cat on the Mayflower who land in cold December in far Massachusetts; originally appeared in The Saturday Evening Post Magazine in November 1961
listen to 22-minute MP-3 audio file of Leonard Wibberley reading 'Pilgrim Cat'
Kindle Edition from Duchy of Grand Fenwick [10/2015] for 99¢
Ives Washburn hardcover [1962] out of print/used
Curtis Publng hardcover [1962] out of print/used

"The Wound of Peter Wayne" [1961]
"Yesterday's Land: A Baja California Adventure" [1961]
"Zebulon Pike: Soldier and Explorer" [1961]
"Ventures Into The Deep: The Thrill of Scuba Diving" [1962]
"Ah, Julian!: A Memoir of Julian Brodetsky" [1963] Millefleurs 1987 ISBN 0893703419 HB
"The Shepherd's Reward: A Christmas Legend" [1963]
"Fiji: Islands of The Dawn" [1964]
"A Feast of Freedom" [Wm. Morrow, 1964]
"The Island of The Angels" [Wm. Morrow, 1964]
"The Centurion: A Novel of The Ministry & Passion of Christ" [Wm. Morrow, 1966] HB 0688025897
"Toward A Distant Island: A Sailor's Odyssey" [1966]
"The Epics of Everest" [Laurel-Leaf Mayflower 1966] B0007DMKPS
"The Road From Toomi" [Wm. Morrow, 1967]
"Kevin O'Connor and The Light Brigade" [1967]
"Encounter Near Venus" [1967]
"Something To Read" collection [1967]
"The Hands of Cormac Joyce" [Wm. Morrow, 1967]
+ movie 1972 http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0130755/
"Adventures of An Elephant Boy" [Wm. Morrow, 1968]
"South Swell" [1968]
"Attar of The Ice Valley" [1968]
"Hound of The Sea: The Story of A Racing Yacht" [June 1969]
"Journey To Untor" [1970]
"Beyond Hawaii" [1970]
"Meeting With A Great Beast" [Wm. Morrow, 1971]
"Voyage By Bus: Seeing America By Land Yacht" [1971]

"The Testament of Theophilus: A Novel of Christ and Caesar" [Wm. Morrow, 1973?]
"The Shannon Sailors: A Voyage To The Heart of Ireland" [1972]
"The Last Stand of Father Felix" [Wm. Morrow, 1973]
"The Seven Hills" mass pb [1973]
"Guarneri: Violin Maker of Genius" [1974]
"1776 – and All That: A Full-length Play" [Wm. Morrow, 1975]
"Once, In A Garden: A Full-length Play" [1975]
"One In Four" [Wm. Morrow, 1976]
"Homeward To Ithaca" [Wm. Morrow, 1978]
"Perilous Gold" [1978] dad & son seek treasure using submarine
"The Quest of Excalibur" [1979]
"The Good-Natured Man: A Portrait of Oliver Goldsmith" [1979]
"The Crime of Martin Coverly" [1980] time travel for 6 yr-olds?
"To Writers With Love" [1985]

Leonard's favorite novels were the African trilogy
"The Road From Toomi" [Wm. Morrow, 1967]
"Meeting With A Great Beast" [Wm. Morrow, 1971]
"The Last Stand of Father Felix" [Wm. Morrow, 1973]

"Treegate Chronicles" historical fiction series
These seven novels take place during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
"John Treegate's Musket" [1959]
"Peter Treegate's War" [1960]
"Sea Captain From Salem" [1961]
"Treegate's Raiders" [1962]
"Leopard's Prey" [1971]
"Red Pawns" [1973] 1992 Peter Smith Publr 0844665584
"The Last Battle" [1976]

"The Mirror of Hell" [#9=1972]
Police Lt. Minardi's sixteen-year-old daughter attends a summer course where murder and drugs turn out to be on the agenda.
Dodd, Mead hardcover [1972] out of print/scarce

"The Devil To Play" [#10=1974]
Father Bredder sees a baseball player get shot in the leg during a game, then a colleague is murdered and accused of selling drugs.
Dodd, Mead hardcover [1974] out of print/scarce

"The Black Tiger" auto racing series
written under the pseudonym Patrick O'Connor for publisher E.M. Hale of Wisconsin

"The Black Tiger" [1956]
"Mexican Road Race" [1957]
"Black Tiger At Le Mans" [1958]
"Black Tiger At Bonneville" [1960]
"Black Tiger At Indianapolis" [1962]
"A Car Called Camellia" [1970]

"Common Law" TV series [USA Network May-Aug 2012]
12-episode series about two male detectives in the L.A.P.D. who, despite their ability to close cases, cannot stand each other; to help keep the two together, their
commanding officer orders them to see a couples therapist; created by Cormac & Marianne Wibberley, cancelled after just one season • series credits at IMDb

	"The Saint Maker" [#1=1959] Father Bredder gives Mother Superior a bag containing a melon, but when she opens it, it contains a severed human head. Dell mass pb [1961] out of print/used Dell mass pb [1961] out of print/used Dodd, Mead hardcover [1959] out of print/used
	"A Pact With Satan" [#2=1960] Father Bredder agrees to help the police solve a double murder by acting as bait. Dell/Chapel mass pb [1962] out of print/used Dodd, Mead hardcover [1960] out of print/used
	"Secret of The Doubting Saint" [#3=Dodd, Mead 1961] Father Bredder gets involved in the death of a millionaire TV producer and the disappearance of a fabulous diamond. Dell mass pb [1965] out of print/used Dell mass pb [1965] out of print/used
	"Deliver Us From Wolves" [#4=1963] Father Bredder visits Portugal on holiday, and a local bishop ask Bredder to help out in a remote and still-medieval village. Dell mass pb [1966] out of print/used Dell mass pb [1966] out of print/used Dodd, Mead hardcover [1963] out of print/used
	"Flowers By Request" [#5=1964] Father Bredder's attempt to expand the bass section of the choir leads to two shootings and Father as participant in a boxing match to raise funds to rebuild the organ. Dodd, Mead hardcover [1964] out of print/used
	"Out of The Depths" [#6=1966] Father Bredder takes up scuba diving; after an attempt on his own life, a scuba diver is murdered and Bredder is the main suspect. Dell mass pb [1967] out of print/used Dodd, Mead 8x5½ hardcover [1966] out of print/used Dodd, Mead Book Club hardcover [1966] out of print/used
	"A Touch of Jonah" [#7=1968] Father Bredder is invited as crew on a sailing yacht in the annual TransPac race from California to Hawai'i; the captain, one Sir Harry Stockton, is known to bring Jonah-like bad luck on others, but this time it is Sir Harry's luck that runs out. Dodd, Mead 8x5¼ hardcover [1968] out of print/many used

	The tiny Duchy of Grand Fenwick decides to invade the United States, so that they can lose the war and then receive foreign aid. But the ragtag invasion force, armed only with medieval long-bows, lands in New York City during a nuclear drill, wander about hoping to find someone to surrender to, and instead discover a scientist and his beautiful daughter. The tiny army kidnaps the two along with an 'ultimate weapon', resulting in capitulation by the U.S. and making Grand Fenwick a world power. Four Walls Eight Windows 8¼x5¼ pb [1/2003] out of print/used Bantam mass pb [8/84] out of print/used Amereon 9x6 hardcover [12/85] out of print/used
	feature film [Columbia Pictures Oct 1959] Directed by Jack Arnold; starring Peter Sellers {in 3 roles}, Jean Seberg, Leo McKern & David Kossoff Columbia/TriStar widescreen DVD [7/2003] for $11.99 Sony color VHS [6/94] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb
	"The Mouse That Roared: A Comedy in 2 Acts" [1985] stage play adapted by Christopher Sergel Dramatic Publng Co. 7x5 pb [6/85] out of print/used license/playscripts available at Dramatic Publng Co.

Spirit of America BookstoreLeonard Wibberley [1915-1983]

Spirit of America Bookstore
Leonard Wibberley
[1915-1983]