Gweilo: Memories Of A Hong Kong Childhood by Martin Booth, Paperback, 9780553816723 | Buy online at The Nile
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Gweilo: Memories Of A Hong Kong Childhood

Memories of a Hong Kong Childhood

Author: Martin Booth  

Paperback

Evocative, funny and full of life - a beautifully written and observed childhood memoir of growing up in colonial Hong Kong shortly after World War 2.

Shadowed by the unhappiness of his warring parents, a broad-minded mother who, like her son, was keen to embrace all things Chinese, and a bigoted father who was enraged by his family's interest in 'going native', Martin Booth's compelling memoir is a journey into Chinese culture and an extinct colonial way of life.

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Summary

Evocative, funny and full of life - a beautifully written and observed childhood memoir of growing up in colonial Hong Kong shortly after World War 2.

Shadowed by the unhappiness of his warring parents, a broad-minded mother who, like her son, was keen to embrace all things Chinese, and a bigoted father who was enraged by his family's interest in 'going native', Martin Booth's compelling memoir is a journey into Chinese culture and an extinct colonial way of life.

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Description

Evocative, funny and full of life - a beautifully written and observed childhood memoir of growing up in colonial Hong Kong shortly after World War 2.Martin Booth died in February 2004, shortly after finishing the book that would be his epitaph - this wonderfully remembered, beautifully told memoir of a childhood lived to the full in a far-flung outpost of the British Empire...An inquisitive seven-year-old, Martin Booth found himself with the whole of Hong Kong at his feet when his father was posted there in the early 1950s. Unrestricted by parental control and blessed with bright blond hair that signified good luck to the Chinese, he had free access to hidden corners of the colony normally closed to a Gweilo, a 'pale fellow' like him. Befriending rickshaw coolies and local stallholders, he learnt Cantonese, sampled delicacies such as boiled water beetles and one-hundred-year-old eggs, and participated in colourful festivals. He even entered the forbidden Kowloon Walled City, wandered into the secret lair of the Triads and visited an opium den. Along the way he encountered a colourful array of people, from the plink plonk man with his dancing monkey to Nagasaki Jim, a drunken child molester, and the Queen of Kowloon, the crazed tramp who may have been a member of the Romanov family.Shadowed by the unhappiness of his warring parents, a broad-minded mother who, like her son, was keen to embrace all things Chinese, and a bigoted father who was enraged by his family's interest in 'going native', Martin Booth's compelling memoir is a journey into Chinese culture and an extinct colonial way of life that glows with infectious curiosity and humour.

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Critic Reviews

“"[Gweilo] stands as one of the most original and engaging memoirs of recent years, all the more telling because it is so personal, witty and true. Booth has delivered a pre-coming-of-age book that ranks with the best of the breed." The Times”

A classic memoir... the voice of the youthful narrator carries the reader on in a wonderfully honest tone... Booth has delivered a pre-coming-of-age book that ranks with the best of the breed. The writing is superb... it is a more than worth legacy to his prolific literary life, but also stands as one of the most original and engaging memoirs of recent years, all the more telling because it is so personal, witty and true The Times
Admirably evocative... one longs to learn what happened next; but, alas, we never will The Sunday Times
It has such pace and power... his memoir is, above all, a celebration... the portrait of his parents... is particularly fine Sunday Telegraph
Highly evocative... as a sharp-eyed, sensitive child of a vanished Hong Kong, Booth earns his nostalgia... his family are not the only ones who will enjoy the book Daily Telegraph
His finest work. Full of local colour and packed with incident Evening Standard ‘Pick of the Year’

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About the Author

Martin Booth is internationally known as a writer and biographer. An acclaimed novelist, his The Industry of Souls was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1998. When he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002 he was inspired to delve into his Hong Kong childhood and write Gweilo. He died in February 2004, shortly after completing the manuscript

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Back Cover

Martin Booth died in February 2004, shortly after finishing the book that would be his epitaph - this wonderfully remembered, beautifully told memoir of a childhood lived to the full in a far-flung outpost of the British Empire... 'Triumphant...one of the most original and engaging memoirs of recent years, all the more telling because it is so personal, witty and true' The Times 'Wonderful...it has such pace and power. The theme of good fortune may be ironic in the light of his death, but his memoir is, above all, a celebration of an enviable start in life...The portrait of his parents is particularly fine. There are some great comic moments too' Sunday Telegraph 'Highly evocative...as a sharp-eyed, sensitive child of a vanished Hong Kong, Booth earns his nostalgia...his family are not the only ones who will enjoy the book' Daily Telegraph 'The best autobiographies are written by observers rather than participants, evoking memories and emotions familiar to us all... Gweilo is admirably evocative of the noise and bustle of Hong Kong half a century ago ...One longs to learn what happened next; but, alas, we never will' Sunday Times 'Booth must rank as a giant of modern English letters... Gweilo is alive with delight in the new...this sunny, luminous account of a very special time and place will have to serve as an epitaph...ensuring that he will remain forever young' Time magazine 'His finest work. Full of local colour and packed with incident' Evening Standard 'Pick of the Year'

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Product Details

Publisher
Transworld Publishers Ltd | Bantam Books
Published
1st August 2005
Pages
384
ISBN
9780553816723

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