Under Chad's Spell

by Michael Varga

Charlene, a 23-year-old from chilly Minnesota, volunteers to go to Chad, Africa with the Peace Corps in the turbulent 1970s. Young and full of ideals, she hopes to ease the lives of Chadians, but worries about what prompted her—inexperienced and with few skills—to sign up to teach English for two years in Africa. When she fails to connect with the other volunteers or with Chadians, she feels isolated as she struggles to communicate in French and tricky African languages.
Charlene is assigned to a city, where she immerses herself in her teaching. Certain Chadian customs horrify her—particularly the treatment of women, who are often considered lesser than any man. Her ex-lover Madison has a far different experience. He is posted to a remote village where he comes to know Chadians in a much more intimate way.
Civil war breaks out. The American ambassador orders all Americans to evacuate. Charlene is baffled when Madison fails to show up. All Americans are gathering in Chad’s major cities to flee the country and Madison is a no-show. Where is he? Why isn’t he here for the departure?
As the war worsens and the Americans load up a convoy of trucks to escape, Charlene has to decide if she can do anything to save the missing Madison before it’s too late.

295 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2014

About the author

After serving in the Peace Corps in Chad, Michael Varga became a diplomat serving primarily in hotspots in the Middle East. He served as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department in the United Arab Emirates, Syria, Morocco, and Canada. He served in Washington, D.C. in the Economic bureau and as the desk officer for Lebanon when the last American hostages were released in the 1990s. He was also a Pearson Fellow at the World Trade Center Miami. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Notre Dame, a Bachelor’s degree in English from Rider University, and is a certified teacher.

Michael is a playwright and actor, as well as a writer of fiction. Three of his plays have been produced, and “Collapsing Into Zimbabwe,” a short story, earned him first prize in the annual competition sponsored by the Toronto Star. In 1988, the BBC broadcast “There Are No Kangaroos in Egypt.” His columns have appeared in various newspapers and journals. Michael appeared in the Glenn Ford movie, Casablanca Express, where he played a GI medic. Even now, he can still repeat his lines. For other works by Michael Varga, visit his website at www.michaelvarga.com. He is currently working on a novel about the Foreign Service. He lives in Georgia where he often—even to this day-—has Chad on his mind.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

When you are trying to read novels set in all the countries of the world, sometimes you find a gem.

This was not one of those occasions.

Set in late 1970's Chad it follows two US Peace Corps volunteers as they try to come to terms with living in a totally alien environment. Charlene never at any stage attempts to do so and the less said about her character and plot line the better - about 50 per cent or more of the book sadly - she is truly jaw droppingly vapid, selfish and dull. The other character Madison is better and though he is far too overly fond of quoting James Joyce, he at least tries to fit in and experience the culture first hand which makes for much more interesting reading.

Most chapters begin with a short aside about Chad and it's culture which are generally enjoyable and then it's back to the Americans. There is never any attempt to introduce any even two dimensional African characters and the stuff in the synopsis about Chad's civil war and strife is only mentioned towards the end and is used just as a vehicle for more Charlenic romantic nonsense.

So in summary - short intro's - 3 stars, Madison 2 to 3 stars, Charlene.......as goes the Elvis Costello song......less than zero.

[Calzean · Rating 1 out of 5]

A fictionalised account of Peace Volunteers in Chad mid 1970s. It's the time of free love and the main characters Charlene (especially) and Madison have sex with many partners. And this is the book. They just happen to be in Chad. Charlene represents the worse in Western ex-pats pretending to do good. She is shallow, selfish and dislikes the locals. Madison is at least forced to integrate into the Chad society as his posting is to a small town. But even then the story revolves around his love life. A banal book to be missed if you want to learn about Chad.

[Jane Hale · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a Peace Corps volunteer English teacher in Abéché, Chad from 1970-72. My experience was completely different from Michael Varga's characters', thank goodness.

[Kerry Denney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Varga offers an intriguing and compelling glimpse into a world and culture few of us ever have the opportunity to see, much less experience, as he has with his history of service in the Peace Corps. His vivid descriptions of Chad and its people thoroughly placed me in that world, and although Under Chad's Spell is a fictionalized account of a turbulent time and world of the sixties and seventies, it clearly reveals the gritty experience of that unfamiliar world and its inhabitants, as well as the political climate of the period. I was amazed and surprised by some of that culture's customs, practices, and traditions, as well as their different perceptions of accepted public behavior and their reaction to the Peace Corps volunteers and their missions. A stunning look at an unfamiliar world, people, and period. Kudos and well done, Mr. Varga.

[Jennifer Bosk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Under Chad's Spell" grabs a hold of your emotions from the start and won't release them until the very last word in the book. From the idealism to serve in a foreign country to the harsh realities of life in the country of Chad to finding the true innocence of young love while so far from home, "Under Chad's Spell" weaves its tale around the experiences of two young Peace Corps volunteers, Charlene and Madison. Life explodes when civil war breaks out and emergency evacuation orders are sent to all volunteers - except Charlene can't find Madison . You'll need to remind yourself to breathe while you're reading this heart-stopping novel!

[Raymond Bongard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening story of Chad in the 70's.

Interesting storyline of young adults finding themselves in the backdrop of Peace Corps volunteers in Chad . A must read for anyone contemplating a visit to the heart of Africa.

[Sharon Kricun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story. Honest, riveting and brave! Thank you Michael for writing this excellent account of life in the Peace Corps with Madison and Charlene in Chad.