''Tango'' is a novel by English author Alan Judd published in 1989 by Hutchinson. Quentin Letts writing in ''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was fo ...

'' described it as "his funniest novel to date".back cover, Flamingo p/b edition publ. 1993, .

Plot Introduction

The novel tells the story of William Wooding, the overweight 35-year old manager of an English bookshop in the capital of an unnamed South American country. He realizes that Carlos, the newly installed president is an old school friend and soon after is approached by the mysterious Mr Box who recruits him for the now privatized British Intelligence Agency who plan to engineer the overthrow of the government with the assistance of Williams influence with the president. Love interest is provided by Theresa a beautiful prostitute who frequents Maria's Tango club and with whom William falls in love. But Theresa is seeking a better life for herself and has caught the eye of the president.

Reception

The rear jacket of the 1993 Flamingo paperback edition presents the following quotes: *"Very entertaining... it makes you want to turn the pages. No mean achievement", William Henry Holmes, ''

Sunday Telegraph ''The Sunday Telegraph'' is a British broadsheet newspaper, founded in February 1961 and published by the Telegraph Media Group, a division of Press Holdings. It is the sister paper of ''The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', kn ...

'' *"Well-constructed, witty and at times moving", Ian Thompson, ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'' *"An enjoyable book which made me laugh out loud... Alan Judd has a real gift for satire.", Martyn Harris, ''

New Statesman The ''New Statesman'' is a British political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other leading members ...

'' *"The Breezy satirical blend of carnival and cruelty is never less than nicely judged",

Valentine Cunningham Valentine David Cunningham, OBE, MA, DPhil (Oxon), (born October 28, 1944) is a retired professor of English language and literature at the University of Oxford, and emeritus fellow in English literature at Corpus Christi College, Oxford Corpu ...

, ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...

'' *

References

1989 British novels Novels set in South America Hutchinson (publisher) books British satirical novels British spy novels {{1980s-spy-novel-stub