He is just a man, an ordinary man, one who keeps to himself. He sells vacuum cleaners during the day and spends teatime at the Wonder Bar with his friend Dr. Hasselbacher. Raising a teenage daughter, he seems never to be alone, but he is. He carries with him a slight ache for the ex-wife who left him for another.
As a salesman for the Phastkleaners Vacuum Company, his money is tight. His salary lacks the elasticity to indulge his beautiful, young daughter’s requests. This month she wishes for a horse. Next month it will be new outfits for her seventeenth birthday. Mr. Wormold is in need of a raise.
Who knew London had their eyes on him and during his most vulnerable time?
It is a normal, everyday day when the stranger enters his shop. The stranger asks some odd questions such as, “You are British, aren’t you?” with a “British passport and all that?” Yes, Mr. Wormold is from England and currently working in Havana, Cuba. The stranger explains that he likes to do business with British firms.
At this announcement, Wormold feels comfortable and begins to show his new friend the showroom models. They proceed to the Turbo, run along the wall to the Turbo Jet, suggest a Midget-Make Easy for the office, and then round the room, ending at the top-of-the-line Atomic Pile. Here Wormold stops to display the snap-action coupling.
Later that day, Wormold, by happenstance, meets the stranger again at the Wonder Bar. The
stranger offers him a job as London’s newest secret agent 59200/5. His new side job comes with perks, too. Agent 59200/5 can hire his own secret agents which will be paid through London.
Ah, here is an answer to his financial woes. With a few drinks, pen, and paper, five new sub-agents are born. They may live and reside in Cuba, but it is by Wormold’s own imagination they participate in espionage. Unbeknownst to these phantom operates, a horse, stable, and new membership to the Havana Country Club has been made in their names.
This is not your typical 007 spy, and I love it! Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana is extremely entertaining even though it was written in 1958; uncannily, prior to Fidel Castro’s rebel forces overtook Batista’s dictatorial government.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Our Man in Havana (copy)
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6 comments:
OK, this one's going on the Blockbuster queue (and the TBR list, of course). Sounds cool!
It is way funny, Tiffany. A couple of nights of laugher! :D
I'll have to watch it--I've read a number of Greene's novels and have enjoyed them all--The Power and the Glory is my favorite
I'll make that my next Greene, Sage! Thank you! :)
This sounds really good! I'll look for it. I sometimes wish someone would walk up to me and ask me to be a secret agent. Of course I'd have to bring my kid...
You can be Diane (code name 008) and the kid mini-Diane (008.5)!
Sorry, I missed your IM this afternoon. I was away from my desk but still in the building. I'm more than willing to do another Southern Reading Challenge if anyone wants to join. Are you thinking of hosting a challenge?
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