CHINA
03 December 2022
The World of Suzie Wong
To take my mind off other matters, I recently read "The World of Suzie Wong".
The World of Suzie Wong is a 1957 novel by British writer Richard Mason. It is set in Hong Kong in the 1950s, just after the end of the Chinese civil war, won by the Chinese Communist Party -- a time when literally millions of refugees are storming across the border into Hong Kong.
The plot revolves around Robert Lomax, a young Briton who, after completing his National Service, goes to work on a plantation in British Malaya. Lomax then decides to pursue a new career as an artist for a year in Hong Kong.
Lomax finds accommodation in a hotel that turns out to be a brothel. It is here that he meets Suzie Wong. Through all the twists and turns in the plot Lomax falls in love with Suzie. Lomax is the quintessential nice guy, who befriends his hotel’s prostitutes, without taking advantage of them. He also befriends some of their customers, who have their psychological and life problems.
While the book is a cute and charming story, it is delightfully evocative of early post-war Hong Kong with teeming poverty, arrogant British colonial rulers, and visiting American sailors.
The film, which is freely available on Internet (see links below), strips away big parts of the plot, and presents Lomax as an American, Cary-Grant like figure. It stars William Holden and Nancy Kwan, and remains a charming and entertaining film. The book also spawned a play and a ballet.
The plot revolves around Robert Lomax, a young Briton who, after completing his National Service, goes to work on a plantation in British Malaya. Lomax then decides to pursue a new career as an artist for a year in Hong Kong.
Lomax finds accommodation in a hotel that turns out to be a brothel. It is here that he meets Suzie Wong. Through all the twists and turns in the plot Lomax falls in love with Suzie. Lomax is the quintessential nice guy, who befriends his hotel’s prostitutes, without taking advantage of them. He also befriends some of their customers, who have their psychological and life problems.
While the book is a cute and charming story, it is delightfully evocative of early post-war Hong Kong with teeming poverty, arrogant British colonial rulers, and visiting American sailors.
The film, which is freely available on Internet (see links below), strips away big parts of the plot, and presents Lomax as an American, Cary-Grant like figure. It stars William Holden and Nancy Kwan, and remains a charming and entertaining film. The book also spawned a play and a ballet.