John Updike is one of America's most versatile men of letters. His characterization of Rabbit Angstrom in RABBIT RUN, RABBIT REDUX and RABBIT IS RICH has made the author richer than Rabbit.But in THE COUP, Updike dissects a modern African state called Kush. Narrated tongue-in-cheek by Kush's exiled president, Colonel Felix Ellellou, Updike proves he is an equal opportunity employer when it comes to slicing up bunkum, whether black or white, first world or third.