I
saved this book from being put in a rubbish bin. I’m so pleased I did. It is 1886 and Edgar Drake has been summoned
by her Majesty’s Government to go to Burma to tune a rare Erard grand
piano. The piano is owned by the
infamous surgeon-major Anthony Carroll.
As Drake embarks on his voyage, leaving behind his beloved wife Katherine,
he learns much about himself. His eyes
are opened by the journey, by the Burmese and by an exotic elusive woman called
Khin Myo. Drake is very much out of his comfort zone and It is not long before he feels
a changed man. Daniel Mason’s writing is
evocative of Burma at a time of British colonial power. His writing is gentle,
yet compelling. I particularly liked the penultimate paragraph where Drake’s
memories of both the women he loved merge under the image of a parasol. The book stayed with me long after I had
finished it. I’ve just found out he has
written a second book, A Far Country, which I will add to my reading list!
I read this and enjoyed it as well. Glad to know he's written another...is it about Burma as well?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it too. The blurb says the story is set in an unnamed country. It has mixed reviews, but I still think I'll give it a read.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't come across this author and so I must add him to my list. It sounds an intriguing story. Actually, we almost bought a second-hand Erard baby grand piano but it was just too big for our lounge.
ReplyDeleteI'll lend you the book when I get back. What a coincidence about the piano. I love the piano, but sadly I don't have a musical bone in my body. We went to hear Stephen Hough playing Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Bornemouth Symphony Orchestra the other evening and it was great!
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