The headmasters wager is an unforgettable story of love, betrayal and sacrifice. Vincent lams the headmasters wager is a suspenseful character study set mainly in vietnam during the civil war, told from a perspective that is unfamiliar to most americans, that of a chinese expat, perceval chen, who has lived in vietnam for decades. These are books either about the pristine beauty of the rugged. Inspired by his own family background and, in particular, his grandfathers life in vietnam, lam has created a powerful and absorbing story of love, loyalty. Lee, author of the new york times bestseller the piano teacher set in 1960s saigon, this debut. The headmasters wager, book by vincent lam paperback. The headmasters wager paperback april 1, 2012 by vincent lam author. Percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon. The headmasters wager ebook by vincent lam rakuten kobo. The headmasters wager international dublin literary award. Aug 14, 2012 from giller prize winner, internationally acclaimed, and bestselling author vincent lam comes a superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting novel set against the turmoil of the vietnam war. The headmasters wager by lam vincent for sale online ebay. His bestselling novel, the headmaster s wager, was a finalist for the governor general s literary award for fiction in 2012.
The headmasters wager is shortlisted for 20 commonwealth book prize commonwealth writers, april 09, 20. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one mans loyalty to his country, his fam. Sep 12, 2012 the headmaster s wager by vincent lam published august 2012 by crown publishing group source. The headmasters wager has the makings of a masterpiece. From internationally acclaimed and bestselling author vincent lam comes a superbly crafted, highly suspenseful. Blessed with intriguingly flawed characters moving through a landscape ravaged by war, the headmasters wager is an almost unbearably tense story of love, betrayal and sacrifice. Inspired by his own family background and, in particular, his grandfathers life in vietnam, lam has created a powerful and absorbing story of love, loyalty and betrayal, violence and tenderness, selfimportance and naivete and, eventually, hope and redemption. From giller prize winner, internationally acclaimed, and bestselling author vincent lam comes a superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting novel set against the turmoil of the vietnam war. Lam writes tellingly about intrigue, political collusion and the clash of cultures. Feodor chin percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon.
The headmasters wager, by vincent lam national post. From giller prize winner, internationally acclaimed, and bestselling author vincent lam comes a superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting novel. Lam is another giller prize winner, albeit for a very different kind of book, a short story collection. The book is inspired by the experiences of lam s grandfather. The headmasters wager by vincent lam for sale online ebay. The headmasters wager is a wellcrafted, deeply engaging book one that i read in only two sittings because it was that hard to put it downits my favorite book of the. The headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon, percival chen is also a bon vivant, a. Vincent lams the headmasters wager is a top choice among bookbrowse readers.
He is also a bon vivant, a compulsive gambler and an incorrigible womanizer. Although lam did not grow up in vietnam, his parents were born there, and his grandfather lived and worked there. Vincent lam, whose parents and grandparents lived in an expatriate chinese community in vietnam, is especially suited to write the headmasters wager. The headmasters wager february 09, 2020 february 09, 2020 vincent lam the headmaster s wager 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 engli. Author vincent lam poses for a portrait on gerrard st. Jul 24, 2012 so along comes the debut novel from toronto author vincent lam, the headmasters wager, which would seemingly fit quite comfortably into bucket no.
Kirkus a first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty, the headmasters wager conjures up a dizzyingly evocative wartime saigon in the story of percival chen, a chinese schoolmaster in vietnam. The headmasters wager is a wellcrafted, deeply engaging book one that i read in only two sittings because it was that hard to put it downits my favorite book of the summer jen w. The headmasters wager hardcover deckle edge, apr 24 2012 by vincent lam author 4. Never wager more than you can afford to lose, chen is admonished at the table. Vincent lam books list of books by author vincent lam. Apr 24, 2012 vincent lam first started to write the headmasters wager, his debut novel, more than a decade ago.
Lam published a biography of canadian politician tommy douglas, as part of penguin canadas extraordinary canadians series of historical biographies. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Lewis and roald dahl, and developed aspirations to become a writer. Stories, and the headmasters wager, and more on thriftbooks. Apr 27, 2012 the latest example is the headmasters wager by vincent lam. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. The headmasters wager by vincent lam bookworm hanoi. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about. Buy the paperback book the headmaster s wager by vincent lam at indigo. The globe and mail a novel of many twists and turns, full of people who arent what they appear to belam has created a hypnotically tragic tale, epic in scope. From internationally acclaimed and bestselling author vincent lam comes a superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting novel set against the turmoil of the vietnam war. Other medical jobs have included international air evacuation and expedition medicine on arctic and antarctic ships. Hot off the presses the headmasters wager, my latest book and my debut novel, is about percival chen, a chinese compulsive gambler and headmaster of an english school in saigon during the vietnam war.
The headmasters wager by vincent lam overdrive rakuten. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one mans 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. You wrote this novel about the experience of the chinese community in saigon. Read the headmasters wager by vincent lam available from rakuten kobo. The headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon, percival chen is also a bon vivant, a compulsive gambler and an incorrigible womanizer. Vincent lam the headmasters wager prepared by kathleen sandusky may 4, 2012 fin author interview. Jan 01, 2012 vincent lam s the headmaster s wager is a suspenseful character study set mainly in vietnam during the civil war, told from a perspective that is unfamiliar to most americans, that of a chinese expat, perceval chen, who has lived in vietnam for decades. Apr 27, 2012 the headmaster s wager, by vincent lam open this photo in gallery. The headmasters wager by vincent lam, paperback barnes. Percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in.
The headmasters wager, by vincent lam the globe and mail. Also reading each time you really want, this activity will not disturb your various other activities. The headmasters wager by vincent lam and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Lam is an emergency physician in toronto, as well as a lecturer with the department of family and community medicine at the university of toronto. Buy the headmasters wager by lam, vincent from amazons fiction books store. Buy the headmasters wager by vincent lam from waterstones today. Vincent lam is a page turner project bookmark canada, april 10, 20.
Vincent lam goes all in with the headmasters wager. A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty. An unforgettable story of love, betrayal and sacrifice set in 1960s saigon. The headmasters wager kindle edition by lam, vincent. This was before he finished medical school, before he became a father, before he shocked the. A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty, the headmasters wager conjures up a dizzyingly evocative wartime saigon in the story of percival chen, a chinese schoolmaster in vietnam. Buy the paperback book the headmasters wager by vincent lam at indigo. In bloodletting and miraculous cures, vincent lam holds in delicate and skillful tension black humour, investigations of both common and extraordinary moral. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english academy in 1960s saigon and is well accustomed to bribing a foreverchanging list of government. You grew up in canada, but your parents are of chinese descent and emigrated from vietnam. His bestselling novel, the headmasters wager, was a finalist for the governor generals literary award for fiction in 2012. Canadian authors get naked for bare it for books calendar national post, february 19, 20. Percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english academy in 1960s saigon, and he is well.
I love this books vivid realization and its deft weave of conspiracies. Hot off the presses the headmaster s wager, my latest book and my debut novel, is about percival chen, a chinese compulsive gambler and headmaster of an english school in saigon during the vietnam war. Inspired by his own family background and, in particular, his grandfather s life in vietnam, lam has created a powerful and absorbing story of love, loyalty. Four years later, they moved to ottawa where he was raised on stories told by his father and the works of c. Lam published a biography of canadian politician tommy douglas, as part of penguin canada s extraordinary canadians series of historical biographies. Lam goes for the jugular, combining an operatic love story. Percival is inspired by my grandfather, though the book is a work of fiction. Buy a cheap copy of the headmaster s wager book by vincent lam. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affectin. Praise for the headmasters wager a sumptuously plotted first novel. Checking out a publication the headmasters wager, by vincent lam is kind of easy task to do each time you desire.
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