| The Gift of Rain | |
|---|---|
1st edition |
|
| Author(s) | Tan Twan Eng |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Myrmidon (UK) Weinstein (US) |
| Publication date | 2007 |
| Media type | Print & eBook |
| Pages | 448 |
| ISBN | 1-905802-04-8 |
The Gift of Rain is the first novel by Tan Twan Eng published in 2007 by Myrmidon Books in the UK and by Weinstein Books in the US. It was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize that year.[1]
It is set in around Penang in the years leading up to and during the Japanese occupation of Malaya in World War II.[2] It concerns Philip Hutton, of mixed Chinese-English heritage, and his relationship with Endo-San, a Japanese diplomat who teaches him Aikido. As war looms and the Japanese invade, both Endo-San and Philip find themselves torn between their loyalty to each other and to their country and family respectively. Philip decides to assist the Japanese and Endo-San in administering the country in an attempt to keep his family safe, but wherever possible passes intelligence to the guerilla fighters of Force 136 which include his best friend Kon.