Mrs Bradshaw’s Handbook
Terry Pratchett
Mrs Bradshaw is boring
Mrs Bradshaw’s Handbook is a novella (#40.5 in the Goodreads numbering) in Terry Pratchett‘s Discworld series. In genesis it is similar to The World of Poo. Each book plays a small role in a Discworld novel: The World of Poo in Snuff and Mrs Bradshaw’s Handbook in Raising Steam. In each case the purported author of the book is a character in the corresponding novel. And Pratchett has gone to the length of writing us the book.
The purported author of Mrs Bradshaw’s Handbook is widow Georgina Bradshaw. When he meets her, Moist von Lipwig (who, along with one or two others, is in charge of the new railroad) thinks he can make use of her to promote the railroad. He writes his money man, Harry King, the following note,
Please allow Mrs Georgina Bradshaw to travel anywhere she wants, even those little branch lines we haven’t fully opened yet. She went to one of the best girls’ schools I know of and understands language, and she is writing notes on all our destinations which may come in very useful. My instincts say that she will do us proud. I have an inkling that she will be either meticulous or humorous or, hopefully, both. And a widow who wears the kind of gold and diamond ring that she is wearing to travel through Ankh-Morpork and is still wearing it when she leaves is not going to be a fool. She speaks as well as Lady Sybil; that’s Quirm College for you. Up School! Isn’t this what we’re after? We want people to widen their horizons on the train, of course, but why not day trips? You know what, there are people in Ankh-Morpork who haven’t even got as far as Sto Lat yet. Travel broadens the mind, and also railway revenue.
I am sorry to say that, in my opinion, Moist’s hopes are not fully realized. Mrs Bradshaw is not humorous. She tries, but she is fundamentally a stiff. (I get that her stiffness is part of the gag. It’s still not very funny.) I found her boring.