Young, decent British diplomat in South Africa: a low-key
serio-comic treatment, somewhere between satire and earnest
coming-of-age fiction - from the British author of A Breed of
Heroes (1981), a soldier's-eye view of the Northern Ireland
troubles. Patrick Stubbs, new at the Foreign Office, is dispatched
to "Lower Africa" - to help out at the British Embassy, also to
monitor the secret search for Embassy veteran Arthur Whelk (who has
disappeared). Once in "Battenburg," however, Patrick finds himself
largely preoccupied with Embassy damage-control, problematic
romance, and growing political awareness. There are run-ins with
officious/foolish colleagues, with seductive Embassy wives, with
Distressed British Subjects ("DBSs"). The Ambassador himself is a
mishap-prone eccentric - though solid and shrewd underneath the
crazy-old-coot manner. Patrick is madly attracted to a permanent
Battenburg resident: gorgeous divorcee Joanna, who eventually
reciprocates - despite her ongoing relationship with local police
chief Jim Rissik, a forceful spokesman for the Lower African status
quo. And soon, though he "had never seriously considered improving
the world any more than he had considered improving himself,"
Patrick winds up in the unsought role of political activist: he
grows attached to his house-servants, is horrified when his
gardener nearly dies because of apartheid health-care; during the
visit of a UK cabinet minister, Patrick rages against the brutal
crowd-control tactics of Lower African police; and politics
ultimately come between him and Joanna. . . though his overall
emotional immaturity is also a factor. ("The love of which people
spoke so familiarly found no corresponding reality within
himself.") Judd works hard to keep this familiar scenario from
becoming too simplistic - with a skeptical view of glib do-gooders
and a final tragedy caused, accidentally, by anti-government
terrorism. (Patrick has been harboring a black activist, the son of
beloved housekeeper Sarah.) There's plenty of comedy to lighten the
consciousness-raising: career-diplomat foibles, a tad of slapstick,
and a final episode that takes Patrick to Las Vegas-like "Sin City"
- where he unintentionally establishes diplomatic ties with the
King of Bapuwana, hitherto unrecognized by Britain. But, in
comparison to William Boyd's A Good Man in Africa (and other sharp
satires), this sturdy variation on the innocent-abroad formula
remains subdued, even somber, and more than a little predictable -
with intriguing political backgrounds overshadowing a bland, only
half-engaging hero. (Kirkus Reviews)
A satirical romp through the corridors of the Foreign Office as
Patrick Stubbs is posted as third secretary in the British Embassy
in Lower Africa. Mayhem awaits him - an absent-minded ambassador, a
bullying first secretary with a dipsomaniac wife, and a crush on
the police chief's wife! The author won the 1981 Royal Society of
Literature Award for "A Breed of Heroes". In 1983 he was chosen as
one of the Best of Young British Novelists.
General
Imprint: |
Flamingo
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
April 1993 |
Authors: |
Alan Judd
|
Dimensions: |
198 x 129 x 22mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback - B-format
|
Pages: |
416 |
Edition: |
Reissue |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-00-654536-1 |
Categories: |
Books >
Fiction >
General & literary fiction >
Modern fiction
|
LSN: |
0-00-654536-X |
Barcode: |
9780006545361 |
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