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New

The Headmaster's Wager

by Vincent Lam
$9.90
The Headmaster's Wager
The Headmaster's Wager

Vietnam War's personal gamble, unexpected consequences.

If the Vietnam War era intrigues you, "The Headmaster's Wager" is a moving choice that delves into the life of Percival Chen, a Chinese headmaster in Saigon. Vincent Lam's narrative will grip you with its intensity, as the bets Percival makes on survival and prosperity lead him through a maze of moral complexity and suspense in a country at war.

  • Canadian Authors Association Award Nominee for Fiction (2013)
  • Andrew Carnegie Medal Nominee for Fiction (2013)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
New

The Headmaster's Wager

by Vincent Lam
$9.90
ISBN: 9780007263837
Authors: Vincent Lam
Publisher: Fourth Estate
Date of Publication: 2013-04-11
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction
Related Topics: Asian Literature, War
Goodreads rating: 3.88
(rated by 5089 readers)

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Description

A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one man’s 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 forever-changing list of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of his school. Fiercely proud of his Chinese heritage, he is quick to spot the business opportunities rife in a divided country, though he also harbors a weakness for gambling haunts and the women who frequent them. He devotedly ignores all news of the fighting that swirls around him, but when his only son gets in trouble with the Vietnamese authorities, Percival faces the limits of his connections and wealth and is forced to send him away. In the loneliness that follows, Percival finds solace in Jacqueline, a beautiful woman of mixed French and Vietnamese heritage whom he is able to confide in. But Percival's newfound happiness is precarious, and as the complexities of war encroach further into his world, he must confront the tragedy of all he has refused to see. 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.
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

Find out more about our process here.

 

Vietnam War's personal gamble, unexpected consequences.

If the Vietnam War era intrigues you, "The Headmaster's Wager" is a moving choice that delves into the life of Percival Chen, a Chinese headmaster in Saigon. Vincent Lam's narrative will grip you with its intensity, as the bets Percival makes on survival and prosperity lead him through a maze of moral complexity and suspense in a country at war.

  • Canadian Authors Association Award Nominee for Fiction (2013)
  • Andrew Carnegie Medal Nominee for Fiction (2013)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.