There are today pale ghosts of Lord Copper, Lady Metroland and Mrs. The most anachronistic part is the domestic scene of Boot Magna. The geographical position of Ishmaelia, though not its political constitution, is identical with that of Abyssinia and the description of life among the journalists in Jacksonburg is very close to Addis Ababa in 1935. I had no talent for this work but I joyfully studied the eccentricities and excesses of my colleagues. In Abyssinia I had served as the foreign correspondent of an English daily paper.

Of the later I knew nothing at first hand. I tried to arrange a combination of these two wars. Other minor themes, then topical, are out of date, in particular the 'ideological war,' although some parallels to it might still be found in the Far East.Īt the time of writing public interest had just been diverted from Abyssinia to Spain. Foreign correspondents, at the time this story was written, enjoyed an unprecedented and undeserved fame. Its earlier editions bore the subtitle: 'A novel about journalists.' This now seems superfluous. This light-hearted tale was the fruit of a time of general anxiety and distress but, for its author, one of peculiar personal happiness. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at Thank you for your support of the author's rights. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author's intellectual property.

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