Skin of the Snake - Steven Langdon - Bog

At the heart of "Skin of the Snake" is an epic battle launched by two strong and vibrant women, Patricia Chisepo (a passionate young African) and Jackie Petsky (an assertive Canadian activist, ) to punish a large international corporation for its corruption in a huge water diversion project in Lesotho in southern Africa. All of the project's water flows go to South Africa, and none reach drought-ridden Lesotho itself. As Patricia and Jackie carry forward their fight, they find themselves connecting with other allies - and with a group of former friends who knew each other well through a Gourmet Food Club formed over 20 years earlier. That group has scattered, with some now working like Patricia and Jackie on social justice concerns, and several caught up in the corporate world. The different personal connections that were there in the Gourmet Club play out in the story, and ultimately become critical in shaping how the anti-corruption struggle finishes. Especially crucial is the personal choice that must be made by Rosie Ahmed - a feisty woman now working on conservative Bay Street, whose background lies in outsider prairie culture. Which loyalties will she honour when she testifies to the World Bank in its insulated Washington boardroom? This is a colourful story, full of humour and on-the-ground experience from Africa and North America -- driven by the suspense and uncertainty of high-stakes conflict. The novel also mirrors real world dilemmas. The corporate corruption story is a fictionalized version of an actual set of events that shook southern Africa in the 1995-2008 period. Too often, corruption in Africa is painted as a result of the venality of officials there -- the role of foreign companies in promoting and organizing fraud deserves more attention. But can two brave women overcome the wealth and power of a strong company, with tight links to its home government? Will high spirits and wry determination be enough to win -- with the help of friendships from the past? "Skin of the Snake" is a dramatic story about fighting international corruption. The book also provides sharp insights into the politics of change. But above all, this is a novel about personal commitments and passions and how these connect with the real world of Africa and North America. The author has the experience and grassroots knowledge to write this story with wit and understanding that will capture the imagination of readers and keep them immersed. Steven Langdon's background as a journalist for Canada's largest newspaper means this is a novel with sharp-edged writing and gripping characters.