So we may well know that there is a god without knowing what he is. Buy the paperback book the headmasters wager by vincent lam at indigo. A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty, the headmaster s wager conjures up a dizzyingly evocative wartime saigon in the story of percival chen, a chinese schoolmaster in vietnam. A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty, the headmasters wager conjures up a dizzyingly evocative wartime saigon in the story of percival chen, a chinese schoolmaster in vietnam. Headmaster s wager by vincent lam percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english academy in 1960s saigon, and he is well accustomed to bribing a foreverchanging list of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of his school. The narrator was very skilled at reading what could have been a very complicated book. The headmasters wager by vincent lam percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english academy in 1960s saigon, and he is well accustomed to bribing a foreverchanging list of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of his school. Lam is another giller prize winner, albeit for a very different kind of book, a short story collection. Percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon, and a compulsive gambler.
Different vietnam war perspective where does the headmaster s wager rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far. The headmasters wager book vancouver public library. When his only son gets in trouble, percival is forced to send him away. Chen, the protagonist of this novel set during the vietnam war, is a chinese immigrant who heads the most prestigious englishlanguage school in saigon, the eponymous percival chen english academy. Reading guide for the headmasters wager by vincent lam. Inspired by lams own family history, the headmaster s wager tells the story of chen pie sou. At home, workplace, or even in your way can be all ideal place within internet links. Vincent lam is from the expatriate chinese community of vietnam. In your opinion, which is the most significant of the headmaster s wagers. Three of the plays won first positions in national drama competitions the cell, the family question, and the headmaster and the rascals. Therefore it need a free signup process to obtain the book. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one mans loyalty to his country, his family and his heritage.
The headmasters wa ger kindle edition by lam, vincent. The headmasters wager kindle edition by lam, vincent. Subsequently, the family question was performed in detroit and published in chicago by bedford publishers. A colourful, suspenseful depiction of chinese living in vietnam during the war. In the headmasters wager, lam has created a genuine pageturner. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The author takes full advantage of the inherent suspense as the fall of saigon looms and chen finally realizes that he and his family may not survive the violence of the viet cong. Well accustomed to bribing government officials, he is quick to spot the business opportunities rife in a divided country. The headmasters wager by vincent lam penguin random house. The headmasters wager by vincent lam, paperback barnes. Impac longlist goes further than other prizes books. Percival is accustomed to bribing government officials, but he faces the limits of his connections and wealth when his son gets into trouble with the vietnamese authorities and percival is. The headmasters wager audiobook vincent lam audible.
When his son is suddenly placed in mortal danger, percival must risk everything to save him. He enjoys the citys pleasures, gambling and visiting the local brothels. A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty. The headmasters wager, book by vincent lam paperback. Vincent lam percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon. He was able to keep my interest and helped me enjoy the book even more. But as it turned out, i didnt know nearly enough about vietnam to do it initially, so i had to go out and learn all of that. He is also a bon vivant, a compulsive gambler and an. Praise for the headmasters wager a sumptuously plotted first novel. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. From giller prize winner, internationally acclaimed, and bestselling author vincent lam comes a superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting novel set against the turmoil of the vietnam war.
The headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon, percival chen is also a bon vivant, a compulsive gambler and an incorrigible womanizer. The headmasters wager hardcover garden district book shop. What has been your own greatest wager in life so far. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affectin. The book s protagonist, percival chen, is headmaster of a respected english school in saigon. His first novel, the headmasters wager, was published in 2012 by doubleday canada and has been shortlisted for the 2012 governor generals literary award. Hence it comes that, if there are as many risks on one side as on the other. The headmasters wager takes us through all the historical developments that lead up to the vietnam war from the perspective of percival chen, a chinese headmaster of saigons most prestigious english language academy, and the view isnt flattering. It provides characters you care about deeply even as they break your heart and has plot twists you dont see coming but then couldnt imagine any other way. The headmasters wager book hamilton public library. This collection contains nine most important works written and performed between 1973 and 1989.
The book is inspired by the experiences of lams grandfather. He is also a bon vivant, a compulsive gambler and an incorrigible womanizer. The headmasters wager book pima county public library. The headmasters wager is a novel full of surprises and excitement. Lee, author of the new york times bestseller the piano teacher. The present tense of vincent lams the headmaster s wager opens in 1966, the most recent vietnam war already under way and american involvement beginning to increase. Graced with intriguingly flawed but wonderfully human characters moving through a richly drawn historical landscape, the headmasters wager is an unforgettable story of love, betrayal and sacrifice. Percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english academy in 1960s saigon and is well accustomed to bribing a foreverchanging list of government.
The latest example is the headmaster s wager by vincent lam. Percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon. Compulsive gambler and womanizer percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon and fiercely proud of his chinese heritage. I especially admire lams ability to transport a reader. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. By browsing the title, publisher, or writers of the book you desire, you could locate them promptly. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the authors imagination or. The headmasters wager book club kit strathcona county. Giller prizewinner vincent lams novel is a colourful but flawed tale of chinese expatriates in saigon. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one mans loyalty to his country, his family and. Other medical jobs have included international air evacuation and expedition medicine on arctic and antarctic ships.
A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one mans 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 foreverchanging list of government officials in order to maintain. This initiated my research phase, which ive already mentioned. What is the price to be paid for family pride and cultural heritage. Listen to headmasters wager audiobook by vincent lam. The headmasters wager international dublin literary award.
Percival finds solace in jacqueline, and laing jai, a son born on the eve of the tet offensive. 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. In this revealing and fastpaced book, a chinese man, chen pie sou, flees the tyranny of japanese in china to eventually. The headmasters wager, by vincent lam kevinfromcanada. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the headmaster s wager. Enjoying his position as the headmaster of saigons 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. Any page references refer to a usa edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other. It will certainly relieve you to look the book the headmaster s wager, by vincent lam as you like. Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the the headmasters wager, you will able to read or download in pdf or epub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country. Fiercely proud of his chinese heritage, and quick to spot the business opportunities rife in a divided country, percival devotedly ignores all news of the fighting that swirls. Vincent lam the headmasters wager prepared by kathleen sandusky may 4, 2012 fin book should feel like. Despite his flaws, hes a compelling character, and caring about what happens to percival makes the reader keep reading, despite the difficulty of some of the events in the. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of hogarth books.
The headmaster s wager does what only the very best literature can do. The headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon, percival chen is also a bon. He is well accustomed to bribing a foreverchanging list of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of the chen academy. Vincent lam has written a mature and rewarding novel of the highest quality, and percival chen will remain with you.
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