Harry Munro in the Kingdom of Sheba

The story is located in Yemen and Kenya in 1958, just prior to the end of Britain’s Empire and the folding of her colonies. This was the legendary biblical land of the Queen of Sheba, who visited King Solomon. It is also embraced the fabled strands—spoken about in Arabian tales—that were visited by Sinbad. The main narrative concerns the relationships formed in the midst of traumatic and dangerous events in this part of the world, at this particlar time. The whole range of human emotions is laid bare regarding three very different individuals, whose lives interlock in the Port of Aden—a place speedily decending into a pit of terror. Events are shown principally through the eyes of three people: a foot-loose young man; a very clever, slightly eccentric, Yemeni Chief of Intelligence; and a strong willed vivacious woman. Two vicious individuals, who hate the Intelligence chief and the British in Aden, and a few principal Governmental figures, advance the dialogue. The action moves back and forward between the Aden Protectorate, Nairobi, Mombasa and Malindi. A colourful world is opened up; deep secrets plumbed; urges awakened; and a burning ambition pursued that is prepared to trample to death all opposition. All of this in the midst of a frenzy of political and social agitation among peoples and states.