Spit and polish
Spit and Polish by Carl Muller, published by Penguin Books in 1999, is a 435-page work presented in English. This book continues the von Bloss family saga, following Carloboy von Bloss as he navigates four eventful years in the Royal Ceylon Navy. The narrative is filled with humorous episodes, including boot polishing antics, playful interactions with authority figures, and youthful escapades, all set against the backdrop of military life.
Readers will find a blend of comedy and historical reflection, as the story intersperses light-hearted moments with retellings of significant World War II events, particularly focusing on the Pacific maneuvers and the defeat of Japan. Through its engaging storytelling, Spit and Polish offers insights into Burgher life in Sri Lanka, showcasing the author’s wit and dramatic flair. This edition serves both long-time fans of Carl Muller and newcomers to his work, providing a unique perspective on a vibrant cultural heritage.
Official synopsis Publisher
‘See here, first take a little polish on the finger and rub into the leather. Then spit…and rub…’—boasts one recruit of his boot polishing skills… sadly, the only reward this gets him is thirty pairs of shoes to shine…
This is only one of the hilarious episodes in Carl Muller’s continuation of the von Bloss family saga. Carloboy von Bloss is back, now a robust young man of eighteen, spending four eventful years in the one-ship Royal Ceylon Navy. Carloboy and his fellow recruits get up to the weirdest painting their boots black; posing as Italian ghosts; planning to wink at Queen Elizabeth II who is to take the salute at the Royal Parade at Colombo; going on surreptitious trysts with the police inspector’s neice… of course with plenty of beer to keep them company.
Interspersed with these comic episodes are chapters which retell the forgotten events of World War II—the Pacific manoeuvres which at times seemed godsent, and Japan’s humiliating defeat at the hands of the Allied powers.
Spit and Polish is a fascinating and light-hearted account of Burgher life in Sri Lanka, poignantly written by an acclaimed author who is a Burgher himself. Sparkling with wit and written with an unerring sense of drama, this book is a veritable treat for Carl Muller fans as well as for those reading him for the first time.
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