reviewed by Brian Lowen live on the bookshow 25th July 2013
High above the
North Pole in 1969, two English Literary Professors are approaching each other
in Boeing 707s.
Philip Swallow is
eagerly going to the University of Euphoria in the USA for a six month exchange
with Morris Zapp who is reluctantly flying to England to spend a similar time
at the University of Rummidge. Philip has
spent time in America before when he took a degree there and subsequently
invited his English girlfriend, Hilary over to get married in the States and
spend a glorious three week honeymoon in California.
He has now been
married for several years and has three children. He is looking forward to
escaping from his somewhat drab existence and returning to the sunshine way of
life in California.
Maurice Zapp is
reluctantly going to England for the first time, where he thinks it always
rains, to postpone the inevitable divorce from his second wife, Desiree. He is
a typical Yank – full of himself and his success, while Philip is just the
opposite – quiet and studious.
Both encounter
several adventures and end up having affairs with the other’s wives and when
all four of them get to know what has been going on they hold a joint summit to
decide on their future.
A good story,
especially if you enjoy English literature, as there are a lot of references to
it and many strange words, but with a disappointing ending. Not as good as
Paradise News, which was one of my all time favourite reads
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