'The Compass of Naivety'
Author Book signing. Fast page turner of a true round-the-world misadventure in the 1950/60's. Clive Chabrier was born in 1939 on the Isle of Wight. Aged 15, not happy with home life and eager to experience the world, he got away as quickly as possible. The Compass of Naivety is a vivid account of an unlikely yet ultimately successful experience of fulfilling a naive schoolboy pact to visit his best friend in Australia. After a long run of early misadventures Clive found himself roughing it and penniless in 1959 France on his way to Australia. Desperate for a wake up coffee he was led to the Citadelle where, with no warning, he was locked up and progressively intimidated into joining the French Foreign Legion. Fourteen months later, his escapes from both the Foreign Legion Paratroopers and the Algerian French war, led to even more precarious adventures around the globe. On reaching Western Australia, still a fugitive, he hitched, slept and found work along its vast, raw North West track, crewed barges out on the Buccaneer Archipelago and loaded ships in the bohemian pearling town of Broome. Having fulfilled his pact, his five-year adventure concluded in the UK, with a wife, child and Australian Citizenship. Clive is currently working on another story that colourfully describes the adventures and surreal experiences of his seven-year healing journey in the heady 1960/70s. The Compass of Naivety has a Facebook page and a link to Clive's radio interview with ABC Kimberley (Oz). Any 'Likes' on the page will be greatly appreciated! Clive will be talking, answering questions and book signing at the Isle of Wight Literary Festival in October. Check out the site www.isleofwightliteraryfestival.org (see heading 'Local Authors')
