A Good Man in Africa

Zusatztext "This is a wildly funny novel! rich in witty prose and raucous incidents . . . without qualification! a delight." - The Washington Post "Entertaining and successful . . . a champion storyteller. His prose style is intelligent! vigorous and pleasant." - The New York Times Book Review "Comic realism echoing Evelyn Waugh . . . nimbly plotted! gracefully written . . . Boyd had endowed British fiction with a welcome depth and liveliness." - New York Newsday "A gutsy writer . . . William Boyd is good company to keep." - Time Informationen zum Autor William Boyd Klappentext In the small African republic of Kinjanja, British diplomat Morgan Leafy bumbles heavily through his job. His love of women, his fondness for drink, and his loathing for the country prove formidable obstacles on his road to any kind of success. But when he becomes an operative in Operation Kingpin and is charged with monitoring the front runner in Kinjanja's national elections, Morgan senses an opportunity to achieve real professional recognition and, more importantly, reassignment. After he finds himself being blackmailed, diagnosed with a venereal disease, attempting bribery, and confounded with a dead body, Morgan realizes that very little is going according to plan.Chapter 1 "Good man," said Dalmire, gratefully accepting the gin Morgan Leafy offered him, "Oh, good man." He presents his eager male friendship like a gift, thought Morgan; he's like a dog who wants me to throw a stick for him to chase. If he had a tail he'd be wagging it. Morgan smiled and raised his own glass. I hate you, you smug bastard! he screamed inwardly. You shit, you little turd, you've ruined my life! But all he said was, "Congratulations. She's a fabulous girl. Lovely. Lucky chap." Dalmire rose to his feet and went to the window that looked over the Deputy High Commission's front drive. Heat vibrated up from the parked cars, and a dusty even light lay over the view. It was late afternoon, the temperature was in the low nineties, Christmas was less than a week away. Morgan watched in disgust as Dalmire tugged and eased his sweaty trouser seat. Oh Priscilla, Priscilla, he asked himself, why him? Why Dalmire? Why not me? "When's the great day then?" he asked, his face all polite curiosity. "Not for a while," Dalmire replied. "Old Ma Fanshawe seems set on a spring wedding. So's Pris. But I'm easy." He gestured at the sombre bank of clouds which loomed over the rusty sprawling mass that was the town of Nkongsamba, state capital of the Mid-Western region, Kinjanja, West Africa. "Looks like we're in for a shower." Morgan thought about replacing the gin in his filing cabinet, decided against it and poured himself another stiff three-fingers. He waved the green bottle at Dalmire who threw up his hands in mock horror. "Lord no, Morgan, couldn't take another. Better let the sun hit the yard-arm." Morgan shouted for Kojo, his secretary. The man promptly emerged from the outer office. He was small, neat and dapper with a starched white shirt, tie, blue flannels and black shoes loose on his feet. Every time he was in Kojo's presence Morgan felt like a slob. "Ah, Kojo. Tonic, tonic. More tonic," he said, trying to keep himself in check. "Comin', sah." Kojo turned to go. "Hold on. What's that you've got?" Kojo held several looping strands of paper-chain. "Christmas dec'rations, sah. For your office. I thought maybe this year. . . ." Morgan rolled his eyes heavenwards. "No," he shouted. "Never, none of it in here." A merry bloody Christmas I'm having, he thought bitterly. Then, aware of the startled look on Dalmire's face, he said more reasonably, "Nevah bring 'im for here--you sabi dis ting. I nevah like 'im for dis place." Kojo smiled, ignoring the pidgin English. Morgan scrutinised ...

Product details

• Authors: William Boyd
• Publisher: Vintage USA
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 14.01.2003
• EAN: 9781400030026
• ISBN: 978-1-4000-3002-6
• No. of pages: 352
• Dimensions: 135 mm x 205 mm x 20 mm
• Series: Vintage International; Vintage International
• Subject: Fiction > Narrative literature