An introduction to the writings of J.G. Mullen, an African clerk, in the 'Gold Coast Leader', 1916-19

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Periodical article

Title:	An introduction to the writings of J.G. Mullen, an African clerk, in the 'Gold Coast Leader', 1916-19
Author:	Newell, Stephanie
Year:	2008
Periodical:	Africa: Journal of the International African Institute
Volume:	78
Issue:	3
Pages:	384-400
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Ghana Cameroon
Subjects:	journalism World War I biographies (form)
About person:	John G. Mullen
External links:	https://doi.org/10.3366/E0001972008000235 http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/africa_the_journal_of_the_international_african_institute/v078/78.3.newell.pdf
Abstract:	John G. Mullen was a Gold Coast (colonial Ghana) clerk who published his memoirs, in instalments, in the newspaper the 'Gold Coast Leader' from 1916 to 1919. In this unusual narrative, he describes his adventures in Cameroon before and during the First World War. His account combines real-life geographical and social details with flamboyant tropes probably derived from imperial popular literature. Mullen's biography and even identity have so far been otherwise untraceable. His text offers glimpses, always enigmatic, of the experience and outlook of a member of the new clerkly class of colonial West Africa. This contribution presents an edited extract from Mullen's text (p. 401-409) together with a contextualizing and interpretative essay. The full Mullen text is available in the online version of this issue of 'Africa'. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]