The Reluctant Manager

By James Budd

Edward Holdsworth only ever wanted a peaceful existence as a language teacher. Yet when a crisis forces him to become manager of a quirky language school in the little Gulf state of Khajal, his comfortable life is turned upside down. Suddenly faced with half-baked teachers, arrogant landlords, baffling local laws, and a dubious boss in London, Edward realises he's landed in a whirlwind of chaos he never expected-or wanted.

Set mostly in the 1970s, this witty and warmly told tale follows Edward's reluctant step into authority, where every solution seems to spark a fresh dilemma. From brushes with the police to last-minute escapes from financial ruin, Edward's misadventures paint a colourful portrait of a rapidly changing Khajal, both then and now.

In a world caught between tradition and modernisation, can a mild-mannered teacher navigate the perils of management-or are all of his worst nightmares about to come true?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1068230606
• ISBN13: 9781068230608
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Acacia Books
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"