The Poisonwood Bible
by Barbara Kingsolver. Published by Harper Collins

This is a very entertaing and thought provoking novel set in the Belgium Congo of the 1960's. Through the eyes of his wife and four daughters it tells the story of the bigoted, narrow minded, evangelical Baptist Minister, Nathan Price. His fudamentalist and intractable beliefs allow no rapport with native life and culture, and his attempts at conversion in the rural Congo leads to tragedy and remarkable changes for all the family. The book also gives insight into the political background to the area, struggling for indipendence and with it's hopes, wealth and politics hijacked by the new insidious imperialism of western powers - still, unfortunately so relevant in today's world.

It was a thoroughly good read - I couldn't put it down.