419 when looked at is rather ironic and an engaged politico-philisophical thriller. We question how much sympathy we should have for fellow North Americans who are naive? Do we care for the woes of tax-dodgers in comparison to those trying to live honourably in rapidly changing places. The book has a long period of drag in the storyline but then picks up once there is confrontation in Lagos, Nigeria. Interestingly enough, a study in 2010 reported that 9.3 billion was lost to 419 scams. But the four characters in this book were shaped by the 419, the great global confidence trick that is neoliberal capitalism, and is only partly embraced in the novel. But there is an inclusion of hope, love, and laughter… the human aspects of the tale rather than the broader systemic issues.
Interestingly enough, a study in 2010 reported that 9.3 billion was lost to 419 scams. But the four characters in this book were shaped by the 419, the great global confidence trick that is neoliberal capitalism, and is only partly embraced in the novel. But there is an inclusion of hope, love, and laughter… the human aspects of the tale rather than the broader systemic issues.