About the Book

One morning in Singapore, more than fifty years ago, The Venerable One, a wealthy, respected Chinese patriarch, head of a large household of wives, children and grandchildren, takes a walk by a cemetery. There, a young village girl, Silver Frond, is amusing herself with a comic song-and-dance act based on popular gossip—about him. The meeting changes their lives.

With characteristic verve and wit, Catherine Lim traces the path of this unusual couple as their struggle with the often conflicting forces of tradition and love.

About the Author

Frequently referred to as the doyenne of Singapore’s literary circles, Catherine Lim is internationally recognised as one of the leading figures in the world of Asian fiction. The prolific Lim has penned more than 19 books across various genres — short stories, novels, reflective prose, poems and satirical pieces.

Lim has won several national and regional book prizes for her literary contributions and was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Literature by Murdoch University, Australia and a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture and Information. Many of Lim’s works are studied in local and foreign schools and universities and have been published in various languages in several countries. One of her novels, A Leap of Love has also been made into a movie. Besides writing, Lim guest lectures at local and international seminars, conferences, arts/writing festivals and cruise ships worldwide. She has also appeared on radio and television programmes in Singapore, Europe and Australia.

Other titles by Catherine Lim: