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Title: A Good Man in Africa : A Novel by William Boyd ISBN: 1-4000-3002-1 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 14 January, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.62 (8 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: a well-written, funny/satiric blast on the colonial British
Comment: William Boyd, a terrific writer who knows Africa quite well (..he was brought up there), really cuts loose with 'A Good Man in Africa'. He completely deconstructs the psyche of the pompous, self-righteous and arrogant British colonial rulers (diplomats) of Africa during the 1960s. However I think even the most right wing British will not be offended with this book since his leading characters are so over-the-top buffoons and prigs it is obvious the author is writing a purely fictious comic novel, in the Tom Sharpe-esque tradition (but better written), rather than intentionally being cruel.
The story is about the travails of a junior British diplomat who is stuck in a nowhere African country and, despite wanting to succeed in his job/life, completely makes an ass out of himself. This is made easier by having a nitwit boss, a local mistress with a social disease, and the knack of always putting his foot in his mouth. The book is often laugh-out-loud funny. And the author has done a marvellous job in structuring the book; it is well-paced and literate.
Bottom line: surely among William Boyd's best works.
Rating: 5
Summary: Laugh Riot
Comment: I laughed so hard I cried. One of the funniest books written.
Rating: 4
Summary: THE DIMWITS RULE
Comment: I began disliking the main character in this plot - Morgan - largely beause he was rude about the Welsh - too much of that in the world today. But as the book progressed I liked him more and more.
So many wonderful funny almost farcical situations which made me laugh outloud (a lol experience). Morgan gets into scrapes and digs himself deeper into the mire. The excellent thing is, and this why I began to like him, he eventually resigns himself to the outcomes, throws in the towel and takes it all on the chin. Pure freedom comes for him even though he's still in the poo.
Another great book from William Boyd, which strips away the myth of the British having any dynamic role abroad, meddling in the affairs of other countries. It all ends in tears for the establishment , and they bloody well deserve it too.
Boyd knocks the tired old hierarchies of British society: public school, accents - the usual bull. The irony is that the only person who even tries to gets things done is the working class boy made good (well almost). The humour comes when Morgan fails at everything.
I recommend this book.
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Title: Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd ISBN: 0380780496 Publisher: William Morrow Pub. Date: 01 August, 1995 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: The New Confessions by William Boyd, William Boyd ISBN: 0375705031 Publisher: Vintage Books Pub. Date: 10 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Any Human Heart by William Boyd ISBN: 0375414932 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 04 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: An Ice-Cream War : A Novel by William Boyd, William Boyd ISBN: 0375705023 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 05 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: The Blue Afternoon : Volume 1 by William Boyd ISBN: 067977260X Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 14 January, 1997 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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