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Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey

Parrot and Olivier in America is Peter Carey's improvisation of Alexis de Tocqueville and Democracy in America. Olivier (Tocqueville) is the pampered son of French aristocrats who is sent to America for his safety as more political unrest sweeps France. Parrot is an older Englishman sent as a servant to Olivier and also as a spy to report on his actions. The unlikely pair, who initially detest each other, are forced into cramped quarters during the ocean crossing. Their own relationship reflects the class struggles of Europe. Olivier falls in love with America and its democracy and travels the land interviewing Americans. Both Olivier and Parrot are unsettled by the change in their relationship as they're considered equals in the States. Peter Carey's novel has received mostly positive reviews with salon.com saying, "Can Olivier (absurd yet endearing) survive in America, and can Parrot (embittered yet softening) thrive anywhere else? The trick of a great novel like this one lies in convincing you that you can't bear to part with either one."