I’m almost finished Burma Drop, which I plucked from my mother-in-law’s bookshelf. It’s the autobiography of John Beamish, who was trained as a secret agent for the British in World War II. He parachuted three times into Burma behind Japanese lines. He portrays himself as quite a swashbuckler, and there are some good bridge explosions and snake encounters.

What’s more interesting, however, is the time frame. Britain has pulled out of Burma, is still fighting to defend the country against the Japanese, but isn’t planning any involvement after the war. It’s no wonder the locals John meets seem a little confused by the whole situation — especially the ones being ferried across the border to India by elephant.