Customer Reviews

The World of Suzie Wong

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The review by BJanis has it right. Richard Mason, like most English bred and educated men of his time, writes far better than most modern authors of mass fiction. Moreover, unlike academic writers, he actually lived in the milieu that he wrote about. He was not a prolific writer, but what he produced was well crafted. His style is readable and engaging. Admittedly, 'The World of Suzie Wong' has a melodramatic plot -- although I would characterize it as a 'male rescue' novel rather than a 'prostitute with a heart of gold' cliche -- but Mason's writing is never trite or sentimental and elevates the story. He does not wrestle with great philosophic themes in the manner of Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky, or even Conrad and Faulkner. He lacks the ironic world view of Evelyn Waugh or Joyce Cary. He studiously avoids the intellectual depths suggested by his tale. However, he is a masterful storyteller. His purpose is to entertain, to evoke a distinctive sense of a specific time, and to share his experience of an exotic era that will not return. At that, he is superb, far better than his more celebrated countryman, James Hilton, of 'Lost Horizons' fame. Mason deserves a wider contemporary audience, and young writers would do well to study his literary techniques.

'The World of Suzie Wong' is about a Hong Kong prostitute and an English artist who fall in love. Nothing too original, and certainly over-romanticized and sugar coated. But the 1950s Hong Kong setting and the well-observed east vs west culture clashes make this an interesting read. I also found the characterizations of the quirky minor characters, mostly young Chinese prostitutes, to be memorable.

Bottom line: a surprisingly enjoyable read. Recommended.