The Headmaster's Wager
A Novel
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Random House, Inc.
A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one man’s loyalty to his country, his family and his heritage
Percival Chen is the headmaster of the most respected English academy in 1960s Saigon, and he is well accustomed … More »
A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one man’s loyalty to his country, his family and his heritage
Percival Chen is the headmaster of the most respected English academy in 1960s Saigon, and he is well accustomed … More »
Random House, Inc.
A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one man’s loyalty to his country, his family and his heritage
Percival Chen is the headmaster of the most respected English academy in 1960s Saigon, and he is well accustomed to bribing a forever-changing list of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of his school. Fiercely proud of his Chinese heritage, he is quick to spot the business opportunities rife in a divided country, though he also harbors a weakness for gambling haunts and the women who frequent them. He devotedly ignores all news of the fighting that swirls around him, but when his only son gets in trouble with the Vietnamese authorities, Percival faces the limits of his connections and wealth and is forced to send him away.
In the loneliness that follows, Percival finds solace in Jacqueline, a beautiful woman of mixed French and Vietnamese heritage whom he is able to confide in. But Percival's new-found happiness is precarious, and as the complexities of war encroach further into his world, he must confront the tragedy of all he has refused to see.
Graced with intriguingly flawed but wonderfully human characters moving through a richly drawn historical landscape, The Headmaster's Wager is an unforgettable story of love, betrayal and sacrifice.
Baker & Taylor
Enjoying his position as the headmaster of Saigon's best English school while indulging in a gambling and womanizing lifestyle, Percival Chen becomes aware of the local violence when his son lands in trouble with the authorities.
Baker
& Taylor
Enjoying his position as the headmaster of Saigon's most respected English school while indulging in a gambling and womanizing lifestyle, Percival Chen comes into sudden awareness of regional violence when his son lands in trouble with the Vietnamese authorities. 40,000 first printing.
« Less
A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one man’s loyalty to his country, his family and his heritage
Percival Chen is the headmaster of the most respected English academy in 1960s Saigon, and he is well accustomed to bribing a forever-changing list of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of his school. Fiercely proud of his Chinese heritage, he is quick to spot the business opportunities rife in a divided country, though he also harbors a weakness for gambling haunts and the women who frequent them. He devotedly ignores all news of the fighting that swirls around him, but when his only son gets in trouble with the Vietnamese authorities, Percival faces the limits of his connections and wealth and is forced to send him away.
In the loneliness that follows, Percival finds solace in Jacqueline, a beautiful woman of mixed French and Vietnamese heritage whom he is able to confide in. But Percival's new-found happiness is precarious, and as the complexities of war encroach further into his world, he must confront the tragedy of all he has refused to see.
Graced with intriguingly flawed but wonderfully human characters moving through a richly drawn historical landscape, The Headmaster's Wager is an unforgettable story of love, betrayal and sacrifice.
Baker & Taylor
Enjoying his position as the headmaster of Saigon's best English school while indulging in a gambling and womanizing lifestyle, Percival Chen becomes aware of the local violence when his son lands in trouble with the authorities.
Baker
& Taylor
Enjoying his position as the headmaster of Saigon's most respected English school while indulging in a gambling and womanizing lifestyle, Percival Chen comes into sudden awareness of regional violence when his son lands in trouble with the Vietnamese authorities. 40,000 first printing.
« Less
Authors:
Lam, Vincent
Statement of Responsibility:
Vincent Lam
Title:
The headmaster's wager
a novel
a novel
Publisher:
London ;, New York :, Hogarth,, c2012
Edition:
1st US ed
Characteristics:
423 p. ;,24 cm.
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Add a CommentThis is a difficult book to read, especially for those of us who lived through that generation of Vietnam involvement by the West. In some ways it exculpates the West for the damage done to that country, it was already subject to graft and exploitation by whichever faction could get a piece of "the gold mountain" congratulations to Lam for addressing this sensitive subject and framing it on the life of a complex Chinese family. The Headmaster's final Wager is East vs. West and where his progeny would finally make their own futures.
Home -Geographical or imaginary construct ?
A wonderful story, couldn't put it down.
Ordinary prose, except for the dialogue which is ghastly. A history lesson diguised as a melodrama.
great book! Set in Vietnam in the 1960's and 1970's. The backdrop of the war enhances the storyline, in that I remember the times well. However, it does not in any way distract from the story itself. This is a story of familoy, love, heritage, and choices. Well written.
This novel has great reviews, so I worked very hard on reading it, but it's just not my style of a book.
A well written story that keeps you hooked once you get into it. I found myself getting frustrated with the main character and his choices but at the same time I really had sympathy for him. I also enjoyed the historical aspect of the book.
The more I got into this book, the more I couldn't put it down. It held me to the end. What a great read!
This book started off so slowly that I almost gave up on it. I'm so glad that I stuck with it. I enjoyed the complicated and flawed characters, the historical setting, and the compelling storyline.
An absolutely fantastic read! Well written and the storyline is great. I learned a lot about life in Vietnam during the 60s and 70s.