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Don Quixote, U.S.A.
Arthur Peabody Goodpasture is the descendant of an old and respected Boston family. He has, however, been a disappointment to his family in several ways: In appearance he is insignificant looking both in face and figure; he went to the University of Florida instead of Harvard where his forbears had been mainstays of the varsity crew for generations, and he studied agriculture instead of pointing himself toward a career in banking, bonds, or law. To say the least he is not apparently the stuff from which heroes are fashioned.
As an agricultural expert specializing in fruit farming, Arthur becomes a Peace Corps volunteer and is assigned to the Republic of San Marco in the Caribbean. This weak-chinned Don Quixote soon acquires his Sancho Panza in the person of a rascally eleven-year-old boy, Pepe, who makes a bargain to be paid 400 pesos each time he saves Arthur's life. (The payments mount alarmingly!)
The island's dictator thinks he can use Arthur to obtain military supplies with which to wipe out the band of guerillas in the hills who oppose his corrupt dictatorship. Failing in this the dictator decides to murder Goodpasture and cause an international incident by blaming it on the guerillas. This, he reasons, will bring the U.S. in to help stamp out the rebels.
This plan also backfires (with Pepe's help, of course) and Goodpasture is taken prisoner and when they see he is a harmless eccentric he is appointed chief cook for the guerillas. From then on Arthur's life becomes a series of misadventures through which he moves serenely and from which he generally emerges unscathed (again with Pepe's assistance) until he surprisingly finds himself the guerillas' leader.
Following one of the funniest bloodless revolutions imaginable Arthur Peabody Goodpasture ends up as Arthur el Gavilan, the new dictator of San Marco. "His strength was as the strength of ten because his heart was pure."
As an agricultural expert specializing in fruit farming, Arthur becomes a Peace Corps volunteer and is assigned to the Republic of San Marco in the Caribbean. This weak-chinned Don Quixote soon acquires his Sancho Panza in the person of a rascally eleven-year-old boy, Pepe, who makes a bargain to be paid 400 pesos each time he saves Arthur's life. (The payments mount alarmingly!)
The island's dictator thinks he can use Arthur to obtain military supplies with which to wipe out the band of guerillas in the hills who oppose his corrupt dictatorship. Failing in this the dictator decides to murder Goodpasture and cause an international incident by blaming it on the guerillas. This, he reasons, will bring the U.S. in to help stamp out the rebels.
This plan also backfires (with Pepe's help, of course) and Goodpasture is taken prisoner and when they see he is a harmless eccentric he is appointed chief cook for the guerillas. From then on Arthur's life becomes a series of misadventures through which he moves serenely and from which he generally emerges unscathed (again with Pepe's assistance) until he surprisingly finds himself the guerillas' leader.
Following one of the funniest bloodless revolutions imaginable Arthur Peabody Goodpasture ends up as Arthur el Gavilan, the new dictator of San Marco. "His strength was as the strength of ten because his heart was pure."
280 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1966
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 21, 2017
El ratón that roared
I struggled to get into this book, but about a quarter of the way in it clicked. The narrator's voice was an acquired taste. The protagonist, a naive Peace corps volunteer with a passion for for bananas, has the luck of Inspector Clouseau and a squadron of guardian angels that help him not just survive the perils of his island assignment, but transform into a Peace Corps Übermench. A good heart, an innocent mind, and the luck of Caesar can take you far.
It's a funny, clever tale, worth the investment.
I struggled to get into this book, but about a quarter of the way in it clicked. The narrator's voice was an acquired taste. The protagonist, a naive Peace corps volunteer with a passion for for bananas, has the luck of Inspector Clouseau and a squadron of guardian angels that help him not just survive the perils of his island assignment, but transform into a Peace Corps Übermench. A good heart, an innocent mind, and the luck of Caesar can take you far.
It's a funny, clever tale, worth the investment.
December 29, 2010
Absolutely splendid book. Highly humorous. This is basically what you would get if Woody Allen was consistent with his wit. Actually, Allen loosely adapted this book for his Bananas film. Skip the film, read the book. Tropical dictators, insurrectionists, bananas, true love, scheming women, clueless men. This book has it all. I think, however, it's out of print, so copies can be rather expensive.
November 21, 2017
Imagine a young Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther films as a naive Peace Corps volunteer with a passion for hybrid bananas, assigned to an island where Peace Corps and CIA are easily confused. Add a squadron of unexpected guardian angels, the law of unintended consequences, and the luck of Julius Caesar, and you have a coming of age tale that reminded me of The Mouse That Roared (another Peter Sellers film). It's a comedy of errors that rewards good intentions - when paired with hard work and the right friends and enemies.
For me, the book took a while to get going. I wasn't a fan of the writing early on, but once I got in sync with the book's voice, it was an addicting read. (The author owes me for the energy drinks I needed to recover from the all-nighter.) When a book gets me to laugh out loud or annoy those around me by reading passages to them, it's got something special.
The narrator/protagonist is a well educated dunce when we meet him. Although he grows a bit more savvy by the end, he's still largely running on luck and a lot of the right kind of help. But none of it would work without Arthur/Arturo's central goodness and insatiable drive to better the lives of those around him. A more cynical protagonist would have been insufferable. This guy, you root for.
If you find the read a bit rough at first, stick with it until about a quarter of the way in. By then you'll either get it, or you won't.
For me, the book took a while to get going. I wasn't a fan of the writing early on, but once I got in sync with the book's voice, it was an addicting read. (The author owes me for the energy drinks I needed to recover from the all-nighter.) When a book gets me to laugh out loud or annoy those around me by reading passages to them, it's got something special.
The narrator/protagonist is a well educated dunce when we meet him. Although he grows a bit more savvy by the end, he's still largely running on luck and a lot of the right kind of help. But none of it would work without Arthur/Arturo's central goodness and insatiable drive to better the lives of those around him. A more cynical protagonist would have been insufferable. This guy, you root for.
If you find the read a bit rough at first, stick with it until about a quarter of the way in. By then you'll either get it, or you won't.
March 8, 2023
Ironico, frizzante, assurdo eppure coerente.
Powell si è rivelato capace di una scrittura fluida e spiritosa, intelligente e mai banale.
Ogni personaggio creato risulta ben caratterizzato e capace di rimanere impresso con forza sulla carta. Traduzione impeccabile che ha reso la lettura scorrevole e accattivante, nella sua semplicità apparente. Un po' come il "povero" Arthur.
Non mi stupisco del fatto che Woody Allen ne abbia tratto un film. Magari vedrò di recuperare anche quello.
Powell si è rivelato capace di una scrittura fluida e spiritosa, intelligente e mai banale.
Ogni personaggio creato risulta ben caratterizzato e capace di rimanere impresso con forza sulla carta. Traduzione impeccabile che ha reso la lettura scorrevole e accattivante, nella sua semplicità apparente. Un po' come il "povero" Arthur.
Non mi stupisco del fatto che Woody Allen ne abbia tratto un film. Magari vedrò di recuperare anche quello.
November 30, 2017
Still good
I read this book many years ago when I was too young to follow all the sly humor in it, but it has stuck with me. I was glad to find it again as an adult and enjoy it again fully. The humor is quite timeless and I enjoyed it again enough that I finished it in two sittings . I will be looking now for other books by the same author.
I read this book many years ago when I was too young to follow all the sly humor in it, but it has stuck with me. I was glad to find it again as an adult and enjoy it again fully. The humor is quite timeless and I enjoyed it again enough that I finished it in two sittings . I will be looking now for other books by the same author.
March 5, 2024
Delusione. Forse mi aspettavo troppo da una storia che in realtà va a costituire un romanzetto un po’ troppo leggero. Quel genere di comicità di cui nemmeno mi accorgo.
May 9, 2016
Another wonderful comic novel, which Woody Allen swiped much from to make "Bananas".
February 7, 2025
I loved this book!!
September 5, 2023
Una storia rocambolesca e intrinsecamente ottimista (e forse, un po' datata per come tratta certi argomenti) da film dei fratelli Marx, o appunto da "Bananas" di Woody Allen che, pare, ne abbia tratto ispirazione.
Arthur Peabody Goodpasture, il protagonista, è un americano tanto esperto di agricoltura quanto inetto in tutto il resto e che si arruola nei Peace Corps per contribuire al risollevamento economico (grazie alla coltivazione delle banane) di uno staterello caraibico, l'isola di San Marco, in cui l'unica vera attività lavorativa sembra l'organizzazione di colpi di stato.
Questo è il turno della rivolta di El Gavilàn contro il generalissimo El Toro, in cui Arthur si trova coinvolto, suo malgrado, con tutte le scarpe. Sfuggendo a ogni complotto, a ogni rappresaglia, a ogni pericolo, l'americano mantiene tutta la sua stupidità, la sua ingenuità e le sue buone intenzioni. In un paese di imbecilli, basterà un po' di sana organizzazione agricola e le regole degli scout per cambiare le cose?
Non si può, secondo me, chiedere molto a questo libro: di profondità o analisi praticamente non ce n'è (già Woody Allen qualche frecciata la tira, qui sembra proprio quasi nulla), ma c'è un'onesta capacità di intrattenere. Non si butta via.
Arthur Peabody Goodpasture, il protagonista, è un americano tanto esperto di agricoltura quanto inetto in tutto il resto e che si arruola nei Peace Corps per contribuire al risollevamento economico (grazie alla coltivazione delle banane) di uno staterello caraibico, l'isola di San Marco, in cui l'unica vera attività lavorativa sembra l'organizzazione di colpi di stato.
Questo è il turno della rivolta di El Gavilàn contro il generalissimo El Toro, in cui Arthur si trova coinvolto, suo malgrado, con tutte le scarpe. Sfuggendo a ogni complotto, a ogni rappresaglia, a ogni pericolo, l'americano mantiene tutta la sua stupidità, la sua ingenuità e le sue buone intenzioni. In un paese di imbecilli, basterà un po' di sana organizzazione agricola e le regole degli scout per cambiare le cose?
Non si può, secondo me, chiedere molto a questo libro: di profondità o analisi praticamente non ce n'è (già Woody Allen qualche frecciata la tira, qui sembra proprio quasi nulla), ma c'è un'onesta capacità di intrattenere. Non si butta via.
September 21, 2019
I first read this as a kid in the Reader's Digest Condensed Book form. The whole book is better. It's the story of Arthur Peabody Goodpasture, wimpy disappointment to his Puritan-derived parents, who joins the Peace Corps out of agricultural idealism and is sent to an island nation in the Caribbean.
If you don't mind stereotypes about Latin America and want to read a funny adventure story this is it. Marked down only for ethnic/regional prejudices and "Great White Savior" elements - granted, the white savior is the most unlikely type imaginable.
What Arthur really wants to do is promote the cultivation of Dwarf Cavendish bananas. The regime has in mind a different destiny for him. Los Descalzos, the guerrilla revolutionaries, have yet different plans for Arthur, as do the Russians. All the while he innocently wanders through these tangled webs promoting the blind eye corm form of banana culture.
If you don't mind stereotypes about Latin America and want to read a funny adventure story this is it. Marked down only for ethnic/regional prejudices and "Great White Savior" elements - granted, the white savior is the most unlikely type imaginable.
What Arthur really wants to do is promote the cultivation of Dwarf Cavendish bananas. The regime has in mind a different destiny for him. Los Descalzos, the guerrilla revolutionaries, have yet different plans for Arthur, as do the Russians. All the while he innocently wanders through these tangled webs promoting the blind eye corm form of banana culture.
June 16, 2023
Anche il miglior complotto non può nulla contro la stupidità umana.
Arthur è un ragazzo semplice, forse fin troppo. Ma ha anche un grande cuore, e una missione: mettere a frutto gli anni di studio e le sue teorie sulla Cavendish nana - una particolare varietà di banane.
L'occasione gli si presenta grazie ai Peace corps, che lo spediscono sull'isola di San Marco, dove sotto uno spesso strato (sociale) di negligenza, astuzia e indolenza, una frangia autoctona cova propositi rivoluzionari e paesi esteri hanno mire politiche per nulla celate.
Don Chisciotte, U.S.A. è un divertente romanzo che combina una rete di complotti e di congiure con l'imprevedibilità del destino dei più puri d'animo (benché nient'affatto brillanti, a livello cognitivo), una miscela ben amalgamata di colpi di scena, risatine sotto i baffi e personaggi con cui è facile familiarizzare.
Arthur è un ragazzo semplice, forse fin troppo. Ma ha anche un grande cuore, e una missione: mettere a frutto gli anni di studio e le sue teorie sulla Cavendish nana - una particolare varietà di banane.
L'occasione gli si presenta grazie ai Peace corps, che lo spediscono sull'isola di San Marco, dove sotto uno spesso strato (sociale) di negligenza, astuzia e indolenza, una frangia autoctona cova propositi rivoluzionari e paesi esteri hanno mire politiche per nulla celate.
Don Chisciotte, U.S.A. è un divertente romanzo che combina una rete di complotti e di congiure con l'imprevedibilità del destino dei più puri d'animo (benché nient'affatto brillanti, a livello cognitivo), una miscela ben amalgamata di colpi di scena, risatine sotto i baffi e personaggi con cui è facile familiarizzare.
June 24, 2023
Read the book a long time ago but rereading it doesn’t reduce the fun! Very witty, funny, and incredibly clever even though some character is incredibly blunt. (If you’ve read it then you’d know who I’m talking about.) Of course, it portrays heavy stereotypes of an underdeveloped country, either looking at it as an extremely barbaric land or heavily romanticizing it, that’s why I felt like I couldn’t give it 5 stars. That being said, the book was written decades ago when the world was a different place so I think we can’t judge it entirely based on today’s worldview but rather learn from it instead. Bare this in mind and give it a try. Even if you don’t love it, I’m still sure you’ll have a pretty good time.
April 29, 2021
First read this many years ago in Reader's Digest Condensed Books and was thoroughly entertained. Found an unabridged copy through Amazon Used Books and read it again. Still as entertaining as it was then. Arthur Peabody Goodpasture, scion of Boston's elite families, wants nothing to do with Harvard or making money. Instead he attends the University of Florida and majors in agronomy and horticulture specializing in bananas, joining the Peace Corps. He is sent to the Republic of San Marcos to grow bananas and gets caught up in the revolution that always seems to be occurring in these "banana republics."
May 22, 2021
Very funny, clever entertaining book. I first read it as a teenager, then again in my early sixties when I found an e-copy on Kindle. Loved it both times. If you are a fan of dry humor you will especially enjoy this book. The bumbling hero constantly gets in trouble as he misinterprets everything around him in entertaining fashion, yet things always somehow work out. Several interesting side characters really help develop the story and keep it moving. Recommend it highly.
April 1, 2019
This was a story of a comedy of errors. Very different, but I enjoyed it. It was fun and funny. Arthur Goodpasture goes to a foreign country to help as a peace corp worker and through hook and crook and luck ends up as president and saves the country and becomes its hero. It was a good story. Cute, different, and solidly interesting!
February 1, 2024
Depois de ter ficado encantado e inspirado pelo Dom Quixote original, cuja história li pela primeira vez aos 16 anos, comecei a buscar qualquer coisa que pudesse me remeter a esse personagem. Assim encontrei esse livro, do qual, honestamente, não me lembro de nada. Lendo a sinopse, porém, achei interessante e fiquei com vontade de lê-lo novamente.
June 26, 2024
Some light comedy suitable for an easy summer read..
First read the Readers Digest condensed version more than half a century ago. Reread it because it is memorable. It's a little dated (as am I), but still a very amusing story about a time when America still held onto its innocence.
First read the Readers Digest condensed version more than half a century ago. Reread it because it is memorable. It's a little dated (as am I), but still a very amusing story about a time when America still held onto its innocence.
May 24, 2023
Un libro che riesce a far ridere con intelligenza, il che forse è il risultato più difficile da ottenere in letteratura.
Da questo libro Woody Allen ha tratto Il dittatore dello stato libero di Bananas. Consigliato
Da questo libro Woody Allen ha tratto Il dittatore dello stato libero di Bananas. Consigliato
May 7, 2024
amusing and clever
Well-written and very funny. The story of a naive peace corps volunteer who inadvertently becomes a revolutionary, all in the cause of the dwarf cavendish banana.
Well-written and very funny. The story of a naive peace corps volunteer who inadvertently becomes a revolutionary, all in the cause of the dwarf cavendish banana.
July 17, 2021
Entertaining piece of 60's comic fiction. Woody Allen's Bananas is based on it.
April 3, 2023
Very different, very funny, and obviously very good. I’ve already picked out another book by this author that I’ll probably read next year.
April 18, 2023
Libro intriso di ironia, nella sua assurdità è geniale. Azzeccato il richiamo a Don Chisciotte ma per fortuna non lo vuole scimmiottare e ne viene fuori un gran bel libro
June 18, 2023
Che esilità. Che inconsistenza
June 10, 2025
Probably the best satiric novel I’ve ever read. Beats out Catch-22! Twisted, predictably unpredictable, and a sheer joy to read.
September 12, 2025
A book I picked up more or less on accident after it was briefly mentioned in a podcast.
Now my favorite satire book I’ve ever read. I can’t recommend this enough.
Now my favorite satire book I’ve ever read. I can’t recommend this enough.
November 4, 2019
Highly entertaining and well written. Wide audience appeal.
April 14, 2009
Ha ha! I've never read the full version (it's out of print), but my family collects all the Reader's Digest condensed volumes with this in it that they can find. It's just a hilarious little book that is great fun to read and leaves you laughing. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants something fun to read.
October 17, 2011
หนังสือของริชาร์ด พาวล์เรื่องแรกเลยที่อ่าน จากนั้นก็ตามหางานเขียนของเค้ามาอ่านเกือบจะครบทุกเล่ม เนื้อเรื่องของฟ้าใหม่ที่ซานมาโก้ (ในชื่อไทย) เกี่ยวกับอาสาสมัครพีซคอร์ฺปที่จับพลัดจับผลูได้ผจญภัยในแบบที่คนอื่นไม่เคยเจอ อ่่านแล้วสนุกและตลกในแบบยุคสงครามเย็น เดี็๋ยวนี้จะหาอารมณ์ขันแบบนี้ในหนังสือได้ยากมากแล้ว
November 19, 2013
First book of Richard Powell i read. The story made my day. So far i have read this book for 4 times least. The place in the fiction seems dangerous to stay that i think about what if i am there? My life would end up different. Many times the main character is incredibly safe by luck which is terrifying but hilarious.
April 8, 2016
I read this book years ago and loved it then. That hasn't changed. Arthur Peabody Goodpasture enters the country of San Marcos as a member of the Peace Corps. He is an expert on the Dwarf Canvadish banana. He runs into the revolutionary El Gavalian. By sheer luck, he becomes someone he never dreamed he would.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews