A Good Man in Africa: A Novel

The story is about the travails of a junior British diplomat who is stuck in a nowhere African country and, despite wanting to succeed in his job/life, completely makes an ass out of himself. This is made easier by having a nitwit boss, a local mistress with a social disease, and the knack of always putting his foot in his mouth. The book is often laugh-out-loud funny. And the author has done a marvellous job in structuring the book; it is well-paced and literate.

Bottom line: surely among William Boyd's best works.


Brit High Brow Laid Low   September 11, 2001
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

There are few enjoyments in life better than a direct, unfettered comedic form told in literary style - here is an example. No pretense, no glossing over the low points of life - however base - but never yieldng in style. It is possible to be really funny and intelligent at the same time. A great run-through of the British pretense for class and superiority - there is absolutely nothing superior in the end that has anything to do with these British Foreign Service types pretending to be somebody in third world Africa. Morgan Leafy's pretensions and attempts to satisfy his inner cravings - inevitably ending in disaster and ever plunging disgrace - often foiled by the good Dr. Murrary (who is everything Leafy should be but is not) are hilarious. Boyd's descriptions of Leafy's drunken bumblings and the horrible hangovers that ensue are just plain funny. The social commentary on British attempts at understanding - much less improving - the "colonial" cultures they presume to lead is priceless. Sad that this great and funny read is out of print - but well worth tracking down a copy in the "used" section.


Morgan on the slippery path.   August 2, 1999
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

One of the great comic set pieces of contemporary fiction, A Good Man in Africa tells the story of Morgan Leafy, a minor English diplomat whose posting to a small African country rapidly accelerates into disaster. Leafy, an overweight Londoner in his thirties is quite unsuited to life in the tropics, dividing his time between heavy drinking and romantic dalliances, unwisely including his bosses' daughter, the wife of a prominent local politician and a prostitute called Hazel, with results that not even Morgan, in his worst nightmares, could ever have predicted. Blackmailed and desperate, he is forced by circumstances to try to bribe one Doctor Alex Murray, an upstanding Scottish physician, the novel's unyielding face of moral probity and Morgan's hated nemesis. The slide has begun, and it does not end until events take an unexpected twist in the closing pages. A Good Man In Africa is a marvellous, rare kind of book. Hilarious, with fine characterization and a well paced plot, it combines the intelligence of classic fiction with ground-level punch. Due in part to a weak screenplay and some of the worst miscasting in the history of cinema it did not work well as a film, but the novel remains a classic of twentieth century modern fiction.


Superb dark comedy of the British colonial experience   February 21, 2005
Richard Sawyer (Washington, DC United States)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

It is easy to see why this book won two important literary awards. Boyd has produced a highly readable, literate, darkly comic story of the British colonial experience. The characters are superbly developed and believable, the plot is extremely well paced and engaging, and the strengths and weaknesses of the human character are fully explored. A great piece of literature, very highly recommended. Boyd's many other novels, including An Ice Cream War, The New Confessions, Brazzaville Beach, The Blue Afternoon, and Any Human Heart are equally terrific. Boyd is clearly one of our most talented contemporary writers of fiction.


Boyd is a sure thing   July 5, 2009
C. Hurwitz (Asia)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I've read several of his books and they are all great. His character development is especially strong.