Novel by
Frederick Forsyth, first published in 1975. The main character is Cat Shannon, an Irish mercenary who is contracted out to overthrow the tyrannical government of
Zangaro. It just so happens that this poor
busted-arse West
African country was discovered to be awash in
platinum, and Shannon's principal, an
avaricious British
mining magnate called
Sir James Mason, wants the
lion's share :
Knocking off a bank or an armored truck is merely crude. Knocking off an entire republic has, I feel, a certain style
The novel was adapted into a film in 1981 with Christopher Walken playing the role of Shannon.