I know virtually nothing about this book. From wiki: I've read a few stories about historical government officials in the third world during the colonial period, and they were very good. This is late colonial period, but it's an interesting premise.
Yessssss. This is a book about drinking. About a man- a The British Consul-- who drinks simply because he has nothing else but that. The character is semi-autobiographical to Lowreybhimself (like any great 20th century author booze got the better of him) and his personal experiences in Mexico while trying to win his wife back, his one loss in life. Lowry uses this album also as a clothesline to hang all the dirty laundry that was sweeping through Mexico at that time when basically Britain no longer had any play there and the main character's job exists for basically no reason. The entire book takes place over one single day. This might be my favourite book. It's certainly one of the best ever written, and yes there is an excellent movie starring the ultimate drunk actor, Albert Finney, as the Consul.
Is there any interest in doing a monthly non-fiction book club? I read a lot more non-fiction than fiction.