Richard Woolcott (1927–2023)

While the odd funny anecdote can be amusing, a book that is nothing but can get boring very quickly. And that is what this book is - a collection of anecdotes that often the author doesn't even bother to string together but rather just presents one after the other.

Woolcott has obviously done some interesting and important things (and doesn't mind telling us about it) and yes, he was involved in some important events (which he definitely doesn't mind telling us about) but the whole 'there I was, when a funny native said ...'wears thin. In the final chapter the author has a quick jab at the current political climate, but that is about it for analysis.

There are a few gems in the book, and perhaps for some it would be worth reading the whole book to find them. And I am guessing that Woolcott would be a great dinner party guest. But as an author, he comes across as just a bit too smug.… (más)