Mr Mee

Andrew Crumey's 'Mr Mee' is a labyrinthine intellectual farce that intricately weaves together three seemingly disparate narratives. At its heart is the elderly Scottish bibliophile, Mr. Mee, who embarks on an online quest for the fabled Rosier's Encyclopaedia – a legendary text rumored to contain an 18th-century quantum theory. His search, however, plunges him into the bizarre underbelly of the internet, populated by cyber-hoaxers and unexpected encounters. Concurrently, we follow Dr. Petrie, a university lecturer specializing in Jean-Jacques Rousseau, whose academic detachment is undone by an intense infatuation with one of his students. The third, and perhaps most enigmatic, thread introduces Rousseau's Laurel-and-Hardy-esque neighbours, Ferrand and Minard, who hold surprising keys to the mysteries of Rosier's Encyclopaedia, Rousseau's own eccentricities, and even Mr. Mee's existence. Blending history, philosophy, and outright fantasy with a keen sense of humour, Crumey crafts a unique and compelling comedy of ideas that challenges perceptions and rewards intellectual curiosity.