A BOY FROM NOWHERE by David Mitchell

I have pleasure in introducing my forthcoming book A BOY FROM NOWHERE, which will be available for distribution Sept/Oct of this year, 2007. Please permit me to quote, in abbreviated form, some parts of the publisher's reader report:
THIS IS THE STORY OF A MAN'S RISE FROM POVERTY TO AFFLUENCE DURING THE PERIOD FROM 1928 WHEN HE WAS BORN IN THE BACKSTREETS AND SLUMS OF THE EAST LONDON DOCKLANDS. HIS PARENTS WERE POOR AND BROUGHT UP THEIR 4 CHILDREN IN THE TWO UPPER ROOMS OF A VICTORIAN DWELLING. THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES HIS UPBRINGING WITH CHEERFUL GOOD HUMOUR BUT ALSO WITH A CLARITY WHICH AVOIDS GRATUITOUS SENTIMENTALITY.
HIS FATHER WAS AN UNSKILLED DOCKWORKER WHO STRUGGLED TO FIND WORK HAVING TO QUEUE WITH OTHER UNEMPLOYED TO BE CHOSEN BY THE FOREMAN. HE HAD VERY LITTLE AMBITION AND HE BELIEVED WE ALL HAD OUR PLACES IN THE WORLD AS IT EXISTED. HE THOUGHT THAT ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD BE AVOIDED BY THE WORKING CLASSES. THE AUTHOR HIMSELF DID NOT
SHARE HIS FATHER'S VIEW AND FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD HE SHOWED A SHARP EYE
FOR MONEY-MAKING OPPORTUNITIES.
HE WAS EVACUATED TO WINDSOR in SEPTEMBER 1939 AND WAS DEPRIVED OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME AN ETON COLLEGE CHORISTER BY SOME OBSCURE RULE CONCERNING EVACUEES. HIS PARENTS ALLOWED HIM TO RETURN HOME TO POPLAR IN 1941 AND HE LEFT SCHOOL AT THE AGE OF 14 AS MOST WORKING CLASS LADS DID THEN BUT WITHOUT A SINGLE EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION OR SKILL.
HE SOLD NEWSPAPERS OUTSIDE THE DOCKS, SHONE THE SPOTLIGHTS AT THE LOCAL THEATRE, WORKED AS AN OFFICE BOY, AS A LABOURER REPAIRING BOMB DAMAGED HOUSES, A WORKER IN A VENEER FACTORY BEFORE BEING CALLED FOR NATIONAL SERVICE.
IN THE EARLY 1950's HE APPLIED FOR AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING A POSITION AS ASSISTANT TO A SALES MANAGER WITH A FIRM OF IMPORTERS DEALING WITH CONFECTIONERY. THE STORY TELLS HOW HE GRAVITATED TO BECOMING THE UK DIRECTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL SALES AND DISTRIBUTION OF CZECHOSLOVAK CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTS. THIS IS AN INTRIGUING SECTION OF THE STORY WHICH DESCRIBES THE PROBLEMS OF DEALING IN COMMERCIAL MATTERS BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN. HE DEVELOPED HIS LINKS WITH CZECHOSLOVAKIA, MADE MANY FRIENDS, AND INFORMS US OF SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF TRADING WITH COMMUNIST COUNTRIES INCLUDING BEING DRAWN INTO THE MURKY ACTIVITIES OF SPIES WHICH RESULTED IN HIM BEING ABLE TO ASSIST MI6 WITH SOME OF THEIR ENQUIRIES CONCERNING CZECHS WHO WERE ALSO KNOWN TO THE AUTHOR.
DURING THE LATE 1950' AND 1960's THE AUTHOR BREAKS INTO THE RAPIDLY CHANGING AND DEVELOPING SUPERMARKET BUSINESS AND DESCRIBES HOW HE MET JACK COHEN (Later Sir John Cohen and founder of the great TESCO empire) ON A SOCIAL BASIS. FROM THIS PERIOD ON THE AUTHOR'S SUCCESS GREW GREATER.
EVENTUALLY MATTERS CONSPIRED IN SUCH A WAY WHICH PROMPTED THE AUTHOR, VERY REGRETFULLY, TO TENDER HIS RESIGNATION AS UK DIRECTOR.
HE THEN JOINED ANOTHER COMPANY TO EXTEND HIS CONTACTS WITHIN THE BRITISH CONFECTIONERY INDUSTRY, AND EVENTUALLY STARTED HIS OWN COMPANY WITH WHICH HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
HE THEN DESCRIBES HOW FOR VARIOUS REASONS HE TIRES OF THE 'RAT RACE' AND WITH HIS WIFE DECIDES UPON EARLY RETIREMENT. THEY BUILD THEIR DREAM VILLA IN THE SUN ON THE COSTA BLANCA AND TELLS US OF THEIR LIFE THERE OVER A PERIOD OF 9 YEARS DURING WHICH THEY FEEL THEY SAW THE VERY LAST OF OLD SPAIN. THEY RETURNED TO THE UK TO LIVE IN 1994 AND NOW RESIDE IN A MEDIUM SIZE VILLAGE IN THE LOVELY DEVON COUNTRYSIDE.

I BELIEVE THIS REVIEW SAYS IT ALL AND IT NOT NECESSARY FOR ME TO ADD MORE.