The World's Fair, Belgium, 1958. Freshly arrived is mild-mannered civil servant Thomas Foley, here to ensure the British contribution - a pub called the Britannia - is no national embarrassment. But it is the height of the Cold War and the Fair is a hotbed of paranoia and deceit. With his superiors fearful of leaked secrets and defections, Thomas is spied on and directed to spy on others. Thrust into a game he barely understands, distracted by a romance which tests his marital and family loyalties to their limit, Thomas gamely tries to do the right thing - if only someone will tell him what that is . . .
'Jonathan Coe hits his comic stride again.'
Independent
'Top notch, rollicking, more than a clever comedy.'
Literary Review
'A comico-serious delight, absorbs from start to finish.'
Evening Standard
'Delightfully funny and utterly absurd. Tremendously good fun.' Spectator
By:
Jonathan Coe Imprint: Penguin Country of Publication: United Kingdom Dimensions:
Height: 198mm,
Width: 129mm,
Spine: 17mm
Weight: 202g ISBN:9780241966907 ISBN 10: 0241966906 Pages: 288 Publication Date:27 August 2014 Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format:Paperback Publisher's Status: Active
