Shocking insight into an evil world

Man in a Mud Hut by Ian Mathie, who has spent more of his life on the African continent than in England, follows on from his first memoir Bride Price.

Set in the turbulent 1970s of west Africa, the work tells the story of Desmond Parkis, who is sent there to find out why a taxpayer-funded aid project is going wrong.

Pitched head-first into an alien culture, Desmond uncovers much more than expected - a snake pit of corruption, extortion, murder and evil.

Ian, a former rural development officer and water resources expert, said: “Basically what Desmond saw scared him out of his wits.

“Here was a man with a reputation for being tough, but I’m sure the mandarins in London had no idea what they were sending him into.”

The 60-year-old writer was at the time the nearest man on the ground and had to ‘extract’ Desmond and fly him to safety, which in this case took the shape of a mud-brick village on the fringe of the Sahara.

Here his reluctant house guest needed the ministrations of the village witch doctor to see off a curse-laden fever.

As he recovered, Desmond was immersed in the rich culture of African village life with all its characters and customs.

Ian said: “The experience changed Desmond’s perspective - as it would of any desk jockey. It left him with a very different view of Africa and a new respect for its people.”

People can meet Ian and listen to him speak about Man in a Mud Hut as he launches the book at Warwick Library on Thursday at 7.15pm. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance.

Call the library on 412189 or Warwick Books book shop on 499939.

The book will be available to buy at the event or through Mosaique Press.