In the tradition of celebrated wartime storytellers Somerset Maugham
and Graham Greene, Tan Twan Eng's debut novel casts a powerful
spell.
The recipient of extraordinary acclaim from critics and the bookselling
community, Tan Twan Eng's debut novel casts a powerful spell and has
garnered comparisons to celebrated wartime storytellers Somerset Maugham
and Graham Greene. Set during the tumult of World War II, on the lush
Malayan island of Penang, The Gift of Rain tells a riveting and poignant
tale about a young man caught in the tangle of wartime loyalties and
deceits.
In 1939, sixteen-year-old Philip Hutton-the half-Chinese, half-English
youngest
child of the head of one of Penang's great trading families-feels
alienated from both the Chinese and British communities. He at last
discovers a sense of belonging in his unexpected friendship with Hayato
Endo, a Japanese diplomat. Philip proudly shows his new friend around
his adored island, and in return Endo teaches him about Japanese
language and culture and trains him in the art and discipline of aikido.
But such knowledge comes at a terrible price. When the Japanese savagely
invade Malaya, Philip realizes that his mentor and sensei-to whom he
owes absolute loyalty-is a Japanese spy. Young Philip has been an
unwitting traitor, and must now work in secret to save as many lives as
possible, even as his own family is brought to its knees.
