My Number Two Wife: A Young Doctor's African Adventure

Rice, Justus B.

Published by Meredith Press, 1968

About this Item

213 pages. Ex-library with typical marks, light shelf wear, pages yellowed; a good book otherwise. The jacket has some discoloring and wear; wrapped; glued inside the covers; price intact. "Some years ago a young American doctor and his new bride arrived on the coast of West Africa. Employed to administer to the white workers of an American oil company, he was accepted almost immediately by the natives for the medical 'miracles' he worked among them. In a dispute between a mountain tribal chieftain and the American firm, young Justus Rice captured the confidence of Chief Matubatonga and after several seemingly dramatic cures, he was suitably testimonialized, African style. Though distressed at having to consume large portions of giant African snail, buffalo heart and roasted queen ant, Dr. Rice discovered no such difficulty with the fermented palm juice. Lulled into near sleep by its potent effects and Matubatonga's generous praise of his accomplishments, the author confesses to remembering vaguely a ceremony of 'head bumping' with various young women, one of whom was conspicuously present. During one of the book's many memorable scenes the Doctor is bewildered to discover that in the strange head bumping ceremony, which he understood to be a friendship rite, he was married to Somba, a 14 year old native girl. Somba, incurably happy, sticks like a burr, absolutely refusing to leave because she can't understand that Dr. Rice, neither wants nor needs a Number Two Wife." Illustrator: . Quantity Available: 1. Category: Biography & Autobiography; Inventory No: 187714. Seller Inventory # 187714

Bibliographic Details

Title: My Number Two Wife: A Young Doctor's African...

Publisher: Meredith Press

Publication Date: 1968

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Fair

Edition: First Edition.