Customer Reviews

Jungle Lovers

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The story involves an insurance salesman and a mercenary in 1970's Africa. Theroux uses a great deal of humor in telling us the story, but there still is apparantly a lot of truth as to the mixed up situation on that continent. There is of course violence here and there's a lot of social commentary. I strongly recommend this to all interested in African affairs, but I do not recommend it to any insurance salespeople out there. LOL

In Dark Star Safari, we learn that the Malawi government censors still ban this novel, Jungle Lovers.

Malawi is where Theroux started his African experience in the Peace Corp, where he was involved in the politics, and where he was expelled and kicked out of the Peace Corp. The Malawi of the novel is torn in a near civil war condition, and the main characters, an insurance salesman and a messianic revolutionary, tread through the fallout.

Calvin Mullet is a young man from Hudson, Massachusetts. Divorced, he is paying alimony. It is Christmas in Malawi. It doesn't feel like Christmas. Calvin's former wife was small souled. In marriage he felt lonely. Calvin's insurance office is near the British Council Library. He is traveling north and Major Beaglehole is a companion. Beaglehole is not ashamed of having killed his CO. For killing his commanding officer he got life. He was released after serving six years. He was awarded his full pension because the matter had been a crime of passion. Calvin collects his pay at Barclay's Bank.

Major Beaglehole wears his regimental puttees while riding his motorbike. The puttees keep the mud off of him. In Malawi to say someone is a colorful character is the highest of praise. People say that about Major Beaglehole. He speaks Urdu. Calvin is writing a book, THE UNINSURED. He is pleased to ride the beautiful old Matchless motorbike of the major. Calvin's insurance firm, Homemakers' Mutual, shows more profit than Malawi does, even with a bumper crop of peanuts. Calvin Mullet and Mira Nirenda marry.

Marais is reported, (falsely as it turns out), dead, since he has been found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Bailey, another European, and Beaglehole give Calvin and Mira wedding presents. Calvin stops comparing Malawi to Massachusetts. In some ways Malawi wins since there is no Mafia in Malawi. Calvin doesn't want to fill out the form for Mira to enter the Miss Malawi contest, he feels there is no culture in it. The couple is close. They are the jungle lovers of the title. At the contest Calvin thinks he is watching a minstrel show in reverse.