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Title	:	Old Man and Mr. Smith: A Fable
Author	:	Peter Ustinov
Book Format	:	Paperback
Book Edition	:	Special Edition
Pages	:	Pages: 261 pages
Published	:	July 31st 1992 by Arcade Publishing (first published 1990)
Categories	:	Fiction. Fantasy. Humor. Adult. European Literature. German Literature. Novels. Comedy

Old Man and Mr. Smith: A Fable

Peter Ustinov

Paperback | Pages: 261 pages

Rating: 3.97 | 644 Users | 43 Reviews

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I was looking for something light when I picked this satire. The theme of it seemed like fun – God decides that he wants to get back in touch with the Devil (who after all, was once an angel) and the two of them decide to visit Earth on a sort of tour of inspection. Judging from the events described it seems to have been written at the end of the 1980s. Initially they are supposed to travel incognito, hence the Devil gives his name as “Mr Smith”, but God has great difficulty with telling lies and so keeps announcing his identity to anyone who asks. God has also become rather forgetful over the ages, whilst the Devil is more dissolute than evil. There’s only one section where he behaves in demonic fashion, when he attacks some Chinese policemen who are arresting pro-democracy protestors. The relationship between God and the Devil is like that between a kindly old gentleman and his wayward teenage grandson. “You really are a wild, unprincipled little fellow” says God indulgently after the aforementioned incident in Beijing.

The first chapter of the book, where the unlikely pair try to book into a hotel in Washington, had me chortling throughout. I would say that the humour lessened somewhat as the book progressed, though there were always moments. Materialising in Moscow in the office of the First Secretary of the CPSU, the pair are given passes to the Party’s Annual Congress as delegates of the Chirvino-Paparak Autonomous Region. The First Secretary (obviously based on Gorbachev) tells them there is no such autonomous region, but that the Soviet Union is so vast there may as well be.

On the downside, the author seems to use the story as a way of expounding his own personal philosophy/view of life, which he does via conversations between God and the Devil. There’s nothing I found particularly offensive, but also nothing I found particularly interesting. Three stars for the laughs it gave me.

Details Books To Old Man and Mr. Smith: A Fable

Original Title:	The Old Man and Mr. Smith: A Fable
ISBN:	1559701919 (ISBN13: 9781559701914)
Edition Language:	English

Rating Out Of Books Old Man and Mr. Smith: A Fable

Ratings: 3.97 From 644 Users | 43 Reviews

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I started reading the book, but found that I had a hard time maintaining an interest in the story. It felt like the author was trying to hard to make it funny. I lost interest and put the book down.

Great!

In this book God and Satan come down to earth, in disguise, to check how things are going. I find most of Peter Ustinov's books perceptive and gently humorous.

With Peter Ustinov being extremely accomplished at everything he touched, actor, dramatist, screen designer, author etc, etc (the list of his talents is endless), I was expecting a good read, and I definitely wasn't disappointed. The story is about God (the Old Man) and the Devil (Mr. Smith) deciding to become mortal on earth for a while, whilst becoming re-acquainted with each other and 'burying the hatchet'. The story was funny, thought-provoking, and interesting, bringing into the equation

I read this on the recommendation of a friend after another friend unknowingly wrote a short story with a similar theme.The first half of the book is really enjoyable but it then slows down as the two characters just repeat what they have already been doing. Interesting though.

A story about an elderly rather doddery God traveling the world with the Devil who is not as bad as you might think. Nice idea. They visit many of the major countries of the world where they have stereotypical/satirical observations that are somewhat funny, but there is no real plot or movement through the book. You could completely reorder the chapters and it would not make a huge difference.