Resumo de Riotous Assembly

Set in Colonial South Africa, Riotous Assembly takes place in the small town of Piemburg, the capital of Zululand. The book is written in 3rd person, following the thoughts and feelings of the protagonist, Kommandant Van Heerden, head of the police force in Piemburg. Lieutenant Verkamp and the foolhardy Konstabel Els, who are all of mixed Zulu and English descent, assist the Kommandant in his duties.
The town of Piemburg is described in the book as being ?half the size of New York Cemetery and twice as dead.? So indeed, the police force of Piemburg sees very little action. However, when an old English woman (Miss Hazelstone) calls to tell the Kommandant that she has murdered her Zulu cook (which is not a crime in Zululand) and insists that she be arrested, things take a turn for the worse.
Things get only stranger when the Kommandant and Konstabel Els arrive at the Hazelstone?s residence at Jacaranda Park, only to find out that Miss Hazelstone had been having an affair with the cook. In colonial times, this was a serious offence because Africans were segregated from the Europeans.
Realizing that if word of such a scandalous incident got in the open, that the Kommandant?s job and reputation would be tarnished forever (because it is the duty of the police to keep such incidents from happening), the Kommandant orders Konstabel Els to guard the house to ensure the news doesn?t leak out. He also requests Lieutenant Verkamp and the rest of the police force report to Jacaranda Park.
What ensues is a dramatic yet hilarious gunfight between the police force and a mistaken Konstabel Els, who is unaware that the ?enemies? he are firing at are actually members of the police force. When he finally does realize is error (which is after shooting 21 policemen) and its consequences, the Konstabel flees the scene and tries to frame Miss Hazelstone?s brother, Jonathan, for the massacre. Eventually, the Jonathan receives his due justice, while Miss Hazelstone is placed in a sanitarium. Overall, the book is a comic masterpiece which is sophisticated yet easy to understand. The only drawback is that the conclusion is rather abrupt, leaving readers unsatisfied. In spite of this however, Riotous Assembly will manage to leave and reader wanting more of Tom Sharpe?s work.

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