Book Description
Black Mischief, Waugh's third novel, helped to establish his reputation as a master satirist. Set on the fictional African island of Azania, the novel chronicles the efforts of Emperor Seth, assisted by the Englishman Basil Seal, to modernize his kingdom. Profound hilarity ensues from the issuance of homemade currency, the staging of a "Birth Control Gala," the rightful ruler's demise at his own rather long and tiring coronation ceremonies, and a good deal more mischief.


From the Publisher
7 1-hour cassettes


About the Author
Evelyn Waugh (1903-1966) wrote 16 internationally acclaimed novels. His short fiction was recently collected in The Complete Stories of Evelyn Waugh.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The island of Azania, east of Somaliland and west of the Gulf of Aden, straddles the equator. It is a hot, humid, bug-infested backwater inhabited by degenerate Arabs, cannibal blacks, venal Armenians, paranoid French, factuous English and unctuous Indians. A layer of Europeans floats uneasily on top.

Azania and its people are of course wholly fictitious, which gives the author enormous room for fun. It's a refreshing book to read, because it lampoons all parties equally. (By contrast most satire today sticks to approved and correct subjects.) Waugh is bound by no such rules.