Edward Holdsworth only ever wanted a peaceful existence as a language teacher.
Yet when a crisis forces him to become manager of a quirky language school in the little Gulf state of Khajal, his comfortable life is turned upside down. Suddenly faced with half-baked teachers, arrogant landlords, baffling local laws, and a dubious boss in London, Edward realises he's landed in a whirlwind of chaos he never expected-or wanted.
Set mostly in the 1970s, this witty and warmly told tale follows Edward's reluctant step into authority, where every solution seems to spark a fresh dilemma. From brushes with the police to last-minute escapes from financial ruin, Edward's misadventures paint a colourful portrait of a rapidly changing Khajal, both then and now.
In a world caught between tradition and modernisation, can a mild-mannered teacher navigate the perils of management-or are all of his worst nightmares about to come true?