Waugh's third novel established him as a master of satirical fiction through its absurdist chronicle of modernization gone awry on the fictional African island of Azania. When Emperor Seth and his English confidant Basil Seal attempt to drag their kingdom into the modern age, chaos erupts: homemade currency circulates, a "Birth Control Gala" unfolds, and the rightful ruler meets his end during an interminable coronation ceremony. The resulting parade of disasters showcases Waugh's razor-sharp wit and talent for comic mayhem.
