The China Lover

Description

'An extraordinary story . . . told wonderfully well'Victoria James, IndependentWhen Sidney Vanoven is sent to occupied Japan, in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, it is his dream posting. By day, he works in the censor's office watching Japanese films; at night he immerses himself in the sensual pleasures of Tokyo.His job leads him into the circle of the beautiful film star Shirley Yamaguchi, a passionate and indomitable woman, whose wartime secrets hint at deception and betrayal. As he learns more of her story it seems to echo Japan's own dark secrets . . . In The China Lover, Ian Buruma has created an exhilarating saga of war-torn Japan that is epic in scale, richly imagined and vividly populated. It is quite simply unforgettable.'Richly textured and full of fascinating detail'Mariella Frostrup, Observer Christmas Books'Packed with colour and incident . . . An extraordinary feat'Robert Hanks, New Statesman 'Passionate and intimate' James Urquhart, Independent on Sunday 'An exciting and revealing noveL Strange and beguiling' Susanna Jones, Literary Review 'Buruma skillfully weaves his tale around the real events of Yoshiko's extraordinary life, with well-known names such as Frank Capra, Truman Capote and Sam Fuller appearing among the supporting cast. Insightful and intriguing' John Walshe, Sunday Business Post 'With a sharp yet generous eye, Buruma explores the moods and sensibilities of the movie business in wartime Shanghai and postwar Tokyo. The China Lover overflows with intriguing characters. fmely drawn and true to the spirit of the history it covers.' Seth Faison, Los Angeles Times

Ian Buruma is the Henry R. Luce Professor of Human Rights and Journalism at Bard College in New York state. His previous books include God's Dust, Bad Elements, The Wages of Guilt, Anglomania and Murder in Amsterdam, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Current Interest Book and was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize. He was the recipient of the 2008 Shorenstein Journalism Award, which honoured him for his distinguished body of work, and the 2008 Erasmus Prize.

"* 'Extraordinary... A pure pleasure. After finishing the last page, one cannot but ponder over the depth and complexity of the author's vision.' Ha.Jin, author of Waiting and Ocean of Words * 'An amazing achievement... The China Lover is an extraordinary novel, brilliantly imagined and utterly convincing... This is a novel that demands to be read.' Lesley Downer, author of The Last Concubine"