Olivier is an aristocrat, the traumatized child of survivors of the French Revolution. Parrot the son of an itinerant printer who always wanted to be an artist but has ended up a servant. Born on different sides of history, their lives will be brought together by their travels in America. When Olivier sets sail for America, ostensibly to study its prisons but in reality to save his neck from one more revolution - Parrot is sent with him, as spy, protector, foe and foil. As the narrative shifts between the perspectives of Parrot and Olivier, and their picaresque travels together and apart - in love and politics, prisons and the world of art - Peter Carey explores the adventure of American democracy, in theory and in practice, with dazzling wit and inventiveness.
- ISBN10 0571275222
- ISBN13 9780571275229
- Publish Date 4 November 2010 (first published 4 February 2010)
- Publish Status Transferred
- Out of Print 29 July 2016
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Faber & Faber
- Edition Waterstones
- Format Paperback (UK Trade)
- Pages 464
- Language English