Zaire

Fiction. ZAIRE is a bizarre, emotionally intense and often horrific novel which has the atmosphere of a poltical thriller. The main character, Philippe, is sent to London to do a job with an awkward name : Lumumba. It is a name which takes us back to the Congo of 1960, a name which stands for all of Africa and the tragedy of an entire continent. In a world where idealism has no place Philippe must negociate some sort of peace for himself and throw the gears of the death machine into reverse. In Philippe, Harry Smart has created an engaging hero, whose predicament and that of his country, will stay with the reader long after the book is finished. Harry Smart has published three collections of poetry. He was born in the North of England and lives in Montrose Scotland. This is his first novel.