Saturday, November 28, 2020

Pomp and Circumstance by Noël Coward

 This book was reviewed on the wonderful blog Stuck in a Book. Pomp and Circumstance is the sole novel by playwright Noel Coward. [Spoilers follow.]


The setting is a fictional south seas British colony (Samola) and an upcoming visit of the Queen and her consort. The British residents of the island first try and keep the visit a secret, unsuccessfully. Then they try and plan an extravaganza worthy of the visit. 

In the midst of the planning, a duchess arrives who intends on having a bit of fun with local playboy Bunny. Of course, things don't end up as planned, and we the readers get to enjoy comedy.

I'd never read any of Coward's plays, but my wife has had a biography of his on the shelves for a few years and the cover has intrigued me. I might try one of his plays, if they're anything approaching as funny as this novel.

For lovers of Greene, Sharpe, Amis, this story is a fun read. And for anyone out there who has had to plan for Distinguished Visitors, you'll certainly find much that is familiar in this book. 

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