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!

''A marvellously thoughtful farce, a remarkable portrait of contemporary South Africa, combine argument of this complexity with an ebullient comic gift and you have a superb novel'' Sunday Times

''Alan Judd''s characters are serious. So is Alan Judd. You will laugh like mad'' The Times

''Comedy is a deadly weapon and Mr Judd wields it in a fashion that brings you close to tears'' Sunday Telegraph

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!

''A marvellously thoughtful farce, a remarkable portrait of contemporary South Africa, combine argument of this complexity with an ebullient comic gift and you have a superb novel'' Sunday Times

''Alan Judd''s characters are serious. So is Alan Judd. You will laugh like mad'' The Times

''Comedy is a deadly weapon and Mr Judd wields it in a fashion that brings you close to tears'' Sunday Telegraph