MR. THREE

by William Butler ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 15, 1965

Butler's interesting The Ring in Meiji (p. 448) revealed a talent for the weird with a whiff of the surreal. His present satire on international spies and African nationalism is totally far gone and was apparently written earlier. It has some humor, but the lack of a sincerely attacked subject breaks the novel's legs. A black Candide, Premier Perrin Adumbaba flees the British territory of Badosh to appeal to the Secretary-General of the U.N. to help his country achieve independence. However Adumbaba is mistaken for the notorious master spy, Mr. Three, and is pursued by American secret agents. After some hilarious moments (Adumbaba encountering his first Automat, scaling the U.N. at midnight, etc.) the body of the novel takes up his interrogation and brainwashing, first in New York, then Moscow. Much of it is vitiated by ludicrous types and techniques.

Pub Date: Feb. 15, 1965

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1965

Categories: FICTION