neil mckinnon

Eighty-year-old Alberto Camelo has searched for love in all the wrong places. Nevertheless, he claims that his experiences have made him the world’s greatest lover. This claim is belied by his ancient neighbour and closest friend Adriana who taunts: “Perhaps you are the greatest lover of last Tuesday.” Despite his claims, Alberto has never experienced real love. He is desired merely as a source of sympathy, an antidote to a boring marriage, an instrument of retribution, and a human cash dispenser. He hopes to experience true intimacy before he departs this world for what he terms “a less than inspiring place.” Upon learning that Adriana also has never encountered serious romance — though she has often meandered onto the marriage mattress — a battle of wits and wills ensue. The pair challenges one another with their opposing ideas about love and romance before discovering the secret of real love. Vivid Latin American landscapes and cityscapes provide a rich backdrop as Alberto’s story unfolds among mountains, lakes, cathedrals, and restaurants. Romantic tropes are turned on their heads as parrots shout profanities from the corner of a café and a young woman turns the tables by using all her wit and wiles to woo a circus strong-man. The Greatest Lover of Last Tuesday follows Alberto’s quest to climb to the summit and stand alone as a virtuoso in the realm of love. This uproarious novel will appeal to anyone with an open mind and a well-developed funny bone, as McKinnon skillfully handles serious topics such as intimacy and the nature of love with humour and imagination.