Discover one family's fascinating story in this beautiful sweeping multigenerational memoir
spanning 19th century south China to modern day Singapore 'A captivating compelling story of
history family loyalty and personal sacrifice. A fascinating and richly textured
multigenerational tale' Charmaine Wilkerson New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake 'I
would learn that when families tell stories what they leave out re-defines what they keep in.
With my family these were not secrets intentionally withheld. Just truths too painful to
confront . . .' ________ In the last years of her life Teresa Lim's mother Violet Chang had
copies of a cherished family photograph made for those in the portrait who were still alive. On
the back is the place and date: Hong Kong 1935. Teresa would often look at this photograph
enticed by the fierceness and beauty of her great-aunt Fanny looking back at her. But Fanny
never seemed to feature in the told and retold family stories. Why? she wondered. This
photograph set Teresa on a journey to uncover her family's remarkable history. Through
detective work serendipity and the kindness of strangers she was guided to the fascinating
extraordinary life of her great-aunt and her world of sworn spinsters ghost husbands and the
working-class feminists of 19th century south China. But to recover her great-aunt's past we
first must get to know Fanny's family the times and circumstances in which they lived and the
momentous yet forgotten conflicts that would lead to war in Singapore and ultimately a
long-buried family tragedy. ________ The Interpreter's Daughter is a beautifully moving record
of an extraordinary family history. For fans of Wild Swans The Hare With Amber Eyes and
Falling Leaves this is the next classic in the making.
