Our Man in Mbabane

One man’s journey in the fight against apartheid. In 1977, an idealistic young American, Frank George, travels to Swaziland and gets a job at the government’s statistical office. On weekdays, he is a typical expat in Mbabane, enjoying a comfortable lifestyle of hikes in the beautiful countryside and raucous parties with friends. But on weekends, he is a covert agent for the African National Congress, delivering weapons into South Africa for the ANC’s fight against apartheid. His encounters with the apartheid regime and its supporters continually remind him of the importance of his mission.Frank’s exploits bring him face-to-face with armed police, soldiers, and farmers, but he always escapes, aided by his wit, unassuming nature-and white skin. He develops strong friendships and has two turbulent romantic relationships.Over time, Frank feels his commitment to fighting apartheid tested and starts to lose track of the man he once thought he was...'The fact that the novel is based on the author’s own experiences supporting the ANC in the 1970s and 1980s makes the story worth reading; there are also brief but effective scenes of suspense scattered liberally throughout...'-Kirkus Reviews