I really enjoyed reading this intriguing fictional novel set in early 1920’s Penang.

Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert entertain house guest, Somerset Maugham who is a famed writer. He becomes caught in a story Lesley tells him about her marriage and her relationship with Chinese revolutionary, Dr Sun Yat Sen. As she confides to him, Maugham becomes caught up with another tale about the trial of her best friend, Ethel Proudlock who was accused of murdering her lover.

What makes this novel so spellbinding is that it is based on true events. I’d not heard of Dr Sun Yat Sen who was responsible for the fall of the Qing Dynasty and was one of the founders of the Republic of China. I’ve also not read any of Somerset Maugham’s works but I’m now motivated to check them out especially, The Casuarina Tree which is set during his time in Penang. One of the short stories, The Letter recounts the the trial of Proudlock.

Tan Twan Eng has cleverly woven a wonderful tale around three historic events to create a truly memorable work. No wonder it was a Booker Longlist in 2023.

The dual narrative alternating between Lesley in first person and Maugham in third works extremely well.

This is a novel about love and betrayal in a colonial setting painted vividly on each page. The author touches on many issues of the time with plot twists along the way.

If you like historical fiction then I think you will love this one.