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A Good Man in Africa | 
 enlarge | Author: William Boyd
Publisher: Avon Books (P)
Category: Book
Buy New: £40.95
New (2) Used (4) from £8.23
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 2306249
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.2 x 1
ISBN: 038071566X
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780380715664
ASIN: 038071566X
Publication Date: December 1992
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: NEW. Hard to Find Title! Sent By Airmail from New York. Please allow 7-15 Business days. No VAT or extra charges. Order Confirmation.#
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Boyd's work does not fail to impress January 6, 2009
Mr. Alexander W. Judd (Hampshire, England)
The book tells the story of Morgan Leafy, a middle aged, overweight man working at the British High Commission, in the African country of Kinjanjan. The novel begins halfway through Morgan's story, which causes confusion as well as the rapid introduction of so many characters. It all becomes clear in part two, told in flashback. However, despite this it is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
The characters are extreme, but believable, which is one of the books strongest features. All had traits that one could identify with, making it easy to picture such individuals. Mr Fanshawe, Morgan`s boss, is a good example of this as an old fashioned jingoist, this is highlighted in his incomprehension of Kinjanjan's rituals, following the death of one of his servants. Boyd portrays the emotions of Morgan very credibly as a frustrated but fairly weak man, something that most can relate to at some point; which makes it an enjoyable read with its humorous slant on his dire circumstances. His weak character is instrumental in losing the girl he loves to Dalmire, an over privileged and vacant colleague. Morgan grew on me the more I read, simply because of the way he contrasts with nearly every other character in the book. At first, he is slightly irritating in his emotions and awkwardness but as the story unfolds an understanding develops of him and his ways. After following Morgan through all his trials and tribulations a more definitive ending is desired, the only part of the book that is vaguely disappointing.
But overall, I thoroughly recommend this book. If the reader enjoys works by authors such as Tom Sharpe, where the novel has larger than life characters and plotlines, this book is perfect.
the more you read the better it gets May 3, 2008
H. Lacroix (France)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
At first I thought I wouldn't enjoy this book, most of the characters being really hard to like, from the main protagonist Morgan, inefficient, jealous, often mean-minded, to his arrogant, overbearing and pompous boss Fanshawe. And then , Boyd weaves his magic. He makes us understand how Morgan became the way he is, we share all the disappointments that made him bitter and sarcastic...And, I have to admit, the people he portrays are a lot more like real life than selfless heroes and put upon heroins who suffer with great calm and endurance.Each of us can see some of their flaws mirrored in some character and though that might not make comfortable reading it is quite salutary to remind ourselves how mean-spirited,selfish and conniving we can be.
And the comedy is really entertaining so, a complete change of heart from the moment I started on the first pages. By the time I reached the end, I was sorry to let it go...
 Funniest book i've ever read April 18, 2008
Secret Squirrel (U.K)
Cannot add any more than has been written in the other reviews. I've nearly read all the author's books, and wish he would write more funny stories.
Grimly comic, desperately ironic August 29, 2007
Brian Levine
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Morgan Leafy is the overweight and morally questionable first secretary of the British High Commission who suffers from an interminable lack of self-esteem which manifests in himself allowing others to manipulate him until the point when he cracks...
The comedy is wince-making because it is more at Morgan's expense, generally, than any other's, and it is a cynical satirical look at the mess of Africa from the perspective of someone who is paid to understand it but really doesn't have a clue. Bribery, corruption, cuckolding, gonhorrea and pidgeon English meld the story into a tour-de-force of little-mindedness and cowardice, stiff-upper-lipped sacrifice and closed-minded stupidity.
It's just wonderful!
An Imperfect but Hilarious Man June 3, 2007
Leyla Sanai (glasgow)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Morgan Leafy works for the Deputy High Commissioner Fanshawe in Nkongsamba, capital of the mid-west region of the Western African country of Kinjama. When we meet Leafy, he is festering with rage - hatred for the hot, humid, dead-end place he has been posted to for the last few years, simmering resentment for his junior colleague Dickie Dalmire, a thoroughly pleasant plummy Ox/bridge graduate who has swanned in and impressed both Fanshawe and his daughter Priscilla on whom Leafy had designs, and impotent teeth-grinding fury at the dour Scottish university doctor Murray whose dry professionalism thwarts Leafy's sense of entitlement and attempts to slide under various official gates. Leafy is a hilarious character, as funny in his boiling, exploding fury as Basil Fawlty. He is selfish, jealous and covetous yet he is a fascinating character. The book is far more light-hearted and unamibitious than Boyd's later novels but the familiar Boyd wit and eloquence and strong, vivid characterisation are evident, making this a riotously funny comedy of errors pitched halfway between the sharp, innocent drolery of PG Wodehouse and the more lecherous romping laughs of Kingsley Amis. Unlike Kingsley's protagonists, though, the reader gets the impression that Boyd recognises the faults of his hero and doesn't condone them. Intriguingly, Boyd has said that the crisp man of few words characterisation of Murray was based on Boyd's father, who was also a doctor in Africa.
A great light read.
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