Wild About Harry (novel)
Wild About Harry marks the first novel by British writer Paul Pickering. It was initially released in 1985 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, followed by a 1986 edition from Collins, and also published in the United States in 1985 through Atheneum Books. Pickering's research for the story took place in Paraguay during his investigation of Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele on behalf of Sir James Goldsmith's NOW! magazine.
Plot summary
Set in Paraguay, the narrative follows English Major Harry Copeland-Smith, who is assigned to oversee a war criminal. As he fulfills this duty, he gradually begins to mirror the very individual he is charged with protecting.
Reception
The Times honored the book as the top black comedy of its year. Oxford academic Valentine Cunningham described it as an impressive debut from a noteworthy comic novelist. Additionally, The Listener asserted that it outshone works by Graham Greene. The novel earned a place on the longlist for the Man Booker Prize and was shortlisted for the David Higham Prize for Fiction, garnering widespread critical praise.
External links
- Debrett's People of Today
- Collected reviews
- Paul Pickering at Simon & Schuster USA
- Paul Pickering at Simon & Schuster UK
- Paul Pickering's website