The Constant Gardener John Le CarrÃ© Headline Â£16.99, pp456 Buy it at BOL. John Le CarrÃ©'s novels may go on the shelves next to Tom Clancy (and sell as many copies) but if his popularity is due to a belief that he adheres to the Boy Scout code of fiction, then his public are reading him for the wrong reasons.
The term divan is often used interchangeably with couch or sofa, but more specifically refers to a couch with pillows for its back and arms. A standard or traditional couch is designed with three seat cushions, cushioned arms or sides and a cushioned back.
Usually the box-spring is placed on top of a wooden or metal bedframe that sits on the floor and acts as a brace, except in the UK where the divan is more often fitted with small castors. The box-spring is usually the same size as the much softer mattress that is placed on it.