The Fat Bulldog Roams Again Book

How to describe George Courtauld's sequel to The Travels of a Fat Bulldog? Readers of his first volume will need no explanations. The latest is more of the same--yet nothing like it, if you catch my drift. For those who have not yet experienced the pleasures and surprises of life with a Queen's Messenger, make yourself comfortable, you are guaranteed to enjoy the ride. This eclectic portfolio of essays describes some of Courtauld's many and varied travels delivering diplomatic bags as a trusted member of the 16-strong Queen's Messenger Corps (which celebrates its 800th birthday in 1999). Yet to think of this entertaining and enlightening volume as a travel book is missing the mark--wildly. Courtauld's eternally inquisitive mind looks beyond the veneer of everyday life, whether on an African train ride from hell, spending a night in a dungeon on the Great Wall of China, or observing street life from the window of a New York diner. Farmer, ex-businessman, and Queen's Messenger for the past 13 years, Courtauld is one of life's collectors--everything, that is, from rare plants and eccentric characters to impossible journeys and unusual exhibits. And in- between his lyrical accounts of life "on the road" he lets slip precious snippets of another life--one of odd relatives, useful lists, outrageous political views, and life on his Essex farm, unencumbered by luggage. --Carey GreenRead More