Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday, is, surprisingly, about just what it says in the title. The improbable story is revealed in a lively mixture of letters, diary entries, emails and interviews.
A fabulously rich Yemeni sheikh, who is a passionate fisherman, believes he can promote international understanding by introducing his countrymen to the sport of angling. A British government research scientist is persuaded to take the idea forward, in unlikely alliance with spin-doctors and property agents. Torday uses enough credible information about the workings of diplomacy, the civil service, and fisheries research to plot what follows, but he does it with a light touch, all in the interests of the unfolding drama.
The book mixes farce and bitter satire in a refreshing way, and as all the main characters’ lives are affected by the project, it also includes satisfying elements of thriller, romance and travelogue with a poignant spiritual dimension.
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