They say that narrative poetry is boring stuff but there's nothing boring about my rollicking tale, The Adventures of George, a witty, humorous and satirical look at national leaders, politicians and celebrities. It's easy to read, fast moving and you'll be amazed at the fascinating characters you meet - The Maximum Leader, Mustafa bin Maden, Didi Damin, Borrock Sobama, David Chipperfield and many more. Here are a few lines -

                

“All right,” said Dr. Lee, “it’s up to you,

making a few changes will be worth the price

if it can bring you a quieter life.”

He glanced around - "That man over there,

That his intellect is powerful is very clear,

And in his features are wit and sagacity."

Said George, "that's the author Sir Solomon Pushdee."

When characters have names like Mustafa bin Maden and Boorock Sobama, it's easy to see who they resemble. But for some characters that have no name, it's necessary for the reader to rely on his knowledge of recent history.

A Chinese lunch

This restaurant was a noisy place,

with tables crowded and not much space

for waiters to carry their trays well laden

with assorted dim-sums and bowls of ramen,

and the clatter of people busily eating

with friends with whom they had a meeting

and chopsticks clicking and glasses clinking,

and background music and singers singing.

George meets the foxhounds' trainer -

"George then asked him where he came from,

and he replied the town of Northampton,

the centre where these dogs were bred,

and, to be honest, it could be said

that his life had been linked to the dog-breeding trade

since he had been of a very young age.

And his mother was happy with his vocation,

which was to give the dogs an education.

“My mother’s English and my father’s a man,”

he said, “who was born in Pakistan.”

And to show his power he shouted “Freeze,”

and George was amazed, he could hardly believe

that the dogs would stand quite motionless,

gazing up at their master’s face,

waiting for the next order which came right then

when he tossed a ball into the midst of them,

shouting “Kill,” at which the dogs all leapt,

and tore the leather ball to shreds!

“Impressive,” was all that George could say,

“I certainly wouldn’t want to be their prey.”

George is a Chef and this is one of his cooks -

"And among these fellows there was one

who in preparing fancy dishes some

might say this man a genius is,

as skills as precious and pure as his

in creating flavours of such power

are hard to find in this world of ours.

Tall he was with a face so narrow

his nose projected like an arrow,

and of his country he was so proud

that never a person was allowed

to make the slightest disparagement

without receiving an icy glance.

Disliked he was by all his fellows,

his manner haughty, hard, not mellow,

which caused all kinds of minor friction

with his colleagues in the kitchen."

Yes, The Maximum Leader gets attacked for eating pork and beans! But after the fight, he invites George to visit his country - it's not named - but the reader should be able to guess what country it is!