Hans excellens av Madagaskar

The novel begins with a newspaper editor nursing a chronic sciatica that erupts just as he rushes down the stairs to catch the tram. Ignoring his doctor’s orders, he forces himself into the bustling newsroom, only to be struck again by a sharp back spasm that mirrors his growing frustration. The cramped office, the gruff caretaker Pabst, and the murmurs of a missing colleague set a tense, humor‑laden atmosphere.

A draft article on Sweden’s South African colonies lands on his desk, a jumble of reversed borders, faulty statistics and absurd claims that threatens to inflame right‑wing critics. He feels a private, almost gleeful, urge to dismantle the nonsense, aware that his decision will shape the paper’s reputation. A sudden knock from Pabst hints at further office intrigue, promising more rivalries and the dry satire that drives the story forward.