Black Mischief

Published in 1932, this satire is set on the fictional East African island empire of Azania. The Oxford-educated Emperor Seth returns home determined to modernise the state overnight: new ministries, a birth-control campaign, and Western manners imposed on a court and countryside that do not share his programme. He imports Basil Seal, an amoral English adventurer, to help run the reforms. Around them stand colonial officials, missionaries, traders, and rival claimants. The comedy is political and cruel. Plans for progress collide with famine, coup, and ritual, and the modernisers discover that they do not control the results of their schemes.

Full black cloth binding with a double medallion design in gold by Blake on cover. Yellow endleaves printed in black with a map. Page tops stained yellow. Pale brown textured slipcase.