Otto Witte. Acrobat of Hamburg. King of Albania.
Sitting in his caravan, drinking what is left of his coffee (dust), Otto has narrowly escaped death at the hands of allied bombs. Convinced his luck has run out and he will not see morning, he decides to record the story of his life for the poor soul who finds his body.
And what a story it is. Years earlier, when he was in either Buda or Pest, working at the circus, a newspaper article was brought to his attention. Why? Because in it was a picture of a particular Turkish prince, called to Albania to be their new king. And this prince just so happened to bear a striking resemblance to Otto . . .
A plan is formed, adventure is born and with the help of Otto’s friends, enemies (and a camel), Otto is about to give the performance of his life.
Sitting in his caravan, drinking what is left of his coffee (dust), Otto has narrowly escaped death at the hands of allied bombs. Convinced his luck has run out and he will not see morning, he decides to record the story of his life for the poor soul who finds his body.
And what a story it is. Years earlier, when he was in either Buda or Pest, working at the circus, a newspaper article was brought to his attention. Why? Because in it was a picture of a particular Turkish prince, called to Albania to be their new king. And this prince just so happened to bear a striking resemblance to Otto . . .
A plan is formed, adventure is born and with the help of Otto’s friends, enemies (and a camel), Otto is about to give the performance of his life.
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Reviews
'Like Renton in Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting or John Self in Martin Amis's Money stayed in the head after I closed the book, Otto is in there too now, laughing his head off and sitting on a camel' Big Issue.
'Nicoll offers his readers a jeu d'esprit of character and plot, which celebrates the art of storytelling' Book Oxygen.
'A joyously farcical romp of a story, charmingly narrated' Bookbag.
'As wacky and entertaining as a night in the company of the Barnum and Bailey circus' Daily Record.
'Nicoll uses dark humour to great effect' Edinburgh Journal.
'Nicoll has created a marvellous novel, breathless in its pace, assured in its structure, and by turns witty and intelligent. Sometimes both' Herald.
'One of the many pleasures of this novel is to be found in Andrew Nicoll's assured mastery of tone' Scotsman.
'A life-enhancing storyteller, of stellar wit and intriguing depth' Sebastian Barry.
'It's not often that a book actually merits the breathless 'I couldn't put it down' of back-cover blurbs, but this one does' The Scots Magazine.