Short Synopsis
For the first time since his much-beloved tale Hemingway's Chair was published in 1998, Michael Palin pens a new novel featuring the warm and witty story of an everyman, a tantalizing offer, a journey to India, and the search for the truth.

Full Synopsis
Keith Mabbut is at a crossroads in his life. A professional writer of some repute, he has reached the age of fifty-six with nothing resembling the success of his two great literary heroes, George Orwell and Albert Camus. When he is offered the opportunity of a lifetime—to write the biography of the elusive Hamish Melville, a widely respected and highly influential activist and humanitarian—he seizes the chance to write something meaningful. His search to find out the real story behind the legend takes Mabbut to the lush landscapes and environmental hotspots of India.

The more he discovers about Melville, the more he admires him—and the more he connects with an idealist who wanted to make a difference. But is his quarry really who he claims to be? As Keith discovers, the truth can be whatever we make it.

In this wonderful, heartwarming novel, Michael Palin turns his considerable skills to fiction in the story of an ordinary man on an extraordinary adventure.

"Jennings manages to, at times, channel Palin, capturing the author’s wry delivery and excellent timing." ---Publishers Weekly Audio Review

"British narrator Jennings infuses the story with a delivery that is both comically dry and energetic." ---Rochelle O'Gorman

"Narrator Alex Jennings spans continents with a variety of European and Indian accents--always subtle, never caricatures. Jennings expertly puts the story first, a clever and enjoyable meditation on the publishing world, big business, liberal values, and the consequences of discovering 'the truth'." ---AudioFile

"[Palin's] story is both compelling and entertaining. Well read, with distinctive character voices, by Alex." ---Library Journal Audio Review

"With passion and flair, Palin details a journalist's quest to discover the truth about a reclusive environmental activist. . . . The wait for this compelling book has been more than worth it." ---Kirkus Starred Review

"An ingeniously plotted, beautifully written and hugely enjoyable book that raises tricky questions about . . . our need for heroes [and] the price of personal compromise." ---The Daily Telegraph

"Well-crafted, warm hearted---and wholly recommended." ---Reader's Digest

"Entertaining…delightfully funny."" ---Sunday Express

Kirkus Review