The House of Doors By Tan Twan Eng

The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng is a captivating historical novel set in 1921 on the Straits Settlement of Penang. Lesley Hamlyn and her husband, Robert, a lawyer and war veteran, live in the colonial splendor of Cassowary House. When famed author W. Somerset Maugham, an old friend of Robert's, arrives with his secretary, Gerald, for an extended stay, the visit sets in motion a series of events that will unravel deep-seated secrets and alter their lives forever.

Maugham is in a precarious situation—his health is declining, his career is faltering, and his hidden homosexuality weighs heavily on him as he endures a strained marriage of convenience. At Cassowary House, he is in search of inspiration for his next book and becomes intrigued by Lesley's troubled marriage and her past connection to the Chinese revolutionary, Dr. Sun Yat Sen. Suspecting an affair, Maugham digs deeper, only to uncover a tale far more complex and scandalous than he anticipated.

As Lesley opens up to Maugham, he learns about her involvement in a wartime scandal and the trial of an Englishwoman accused of murder. The novel deftly explores themes of love, betrayal, colonialism, and the complexities of power and identity under British rule.

Inspired by real events and filled with rich, atmospheric detail, The House of Doors is a spellbinding meditation on the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and the human condition, offering a profound look at storytelling’s power to redeem and transform. 📚❤️