Tender and Complex

This is a beautifully written story of historical fiction set in the 1920’s in colonial Malaysia. Lesley is married to a lawyer and they live a privileged life in the ‘Settlement Straits’ on the island of Penang. They are visited by W Somerset Maugham, and have been involved with a Chinese revolutionary and his team of supporters. There is also a thread of the story that refers to an Englishwoman convicted of murder at that time which is based on truth. Lesley’s transformation through her very unusual circumstances is related with breathtaking sensitivity. A joy to read- highly recommended.