In 1921, the writer W. Somerset Maugham and his secretary and lover Gerald Haxton visit Penang, where they stay with Robert and Lesley Hamlyn at their villa, Cassowary House. Lesley, hiding a secret about her past, tells Maugham a story, while Maugham himself is in decline. Tan Twan Eng weaves real events, including Sun Yat-sen's presence in Penang and a notorious murder trial, into a story about love, betrayal, and colonial Malaya.
Readers who like historical fiction with literary ambition, quiet menace, and rich settings will appreciate it. It also suits those curious about Maugham's life and the Southeast Asia of that period.
Deep, inward-looking, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2023
- Language
- EN
