The Comedians

Ex-library has usual markings, stamps, stickers, writing, card holder. DJ has some bumping, rubbing on the top, spine, edges, corners. Outer page edges with tanning, browning, stains and foxing. The Comedians is a novel set in Haiti during the regime of Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier who was a brutal dictator who ruled the country from 1957 to 1971. The story centers on a small group of people, the Comedians, who come to Haiti to play their parts. They include Mr. Brown, born in Manaco, who owns a hotel in Haiti, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, an American couple who have come to try to create a vegetarian center, Mr. Jones, who is a mysterious man with a military background, and Madame Martha Pineda, wife of the ambassador to Haiti from Venezuela and who is having an extra-marital affair with Brown. The novel begins with Brown, the Smiths and Jones arriving in Haiti. Brown returns to his largely empty hotel and finds Dr. Philipot, a government minister, has killed himself there. The body is moved but found and a funeral is held, but on the way to bury the body government thugs steal it. Jones winds up in jail, but somehow is freed and has a bodyguard. Smith meets with a government minister regarding his idea but senses it will not work. Brown and Martha try to carry on their love affair despite difficulties. The story continues amid the backdrop of a brutal dictatorship to an ending that is inevitable. A26.