Readers Write :
Personal reviews: Penang Chronicles
Many thanks to all contributors
Your words mean so much!
Maureen Kulikowska (Facebook)
Thank you Rose Gan for introducing me to Francis Light. Your trilogy ‘Penang Chronicles’ took me out of my normal comfort zone and I became totally immersed. The books are brilliant! As I approached the end of the book I started to feel sad that it was coming to the end. I had so many questions. I need not have feared. All my questions were answered, ‘What was truth?’, ‘ What was embellished truth’, What was fiction?’. All was explained. Hopefully there will be more to come and we can follow the family as they travel through life.
Karin
I have just finished reading your Penang Chronicles and just loved all three books. They are so well written. Your language is extremely rich and fluent and the way you tell your story is just wonderful and such a rich experience to read. Your research is outstanding and you make these old times and the places you describe come so alive. I absolutely loved reading all three books. Thank you
DRAGON
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DRAGON *
Peter Young, UK
As a descendant of Francis Light from his daughter Sarah, I was absolutely thrilled to discover your books - just finishing Dragon, a terrific read, with the other two awaiting!
Marianne P (Goodreads)
If you liked C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian's stories of the British Navy, you will be drawn to this book. If you love exotic cultures, customs and stories in steamy tropical settings this book has it. If you love historical fiction that blends the East and West, you won't be disappointed. A compelling read that is well researched with an index at the end for language and character descriptions. I can't wait to read the second book in the series!
Baljit (Goodreads) Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
An amazing account of the early life of Sir Francis Light, who is known as the founder of Penang. This novel takes us into his early childhood in Suffolk, his struggles in establishing a naval career due to the prejudices of a class society, and his sea faring adventures. It brings to live the history I was thought at school about my hometown, which is so much more interesting than the history textbooks of my schooldays.
This novel is well-written, and well-researched while giving the right balance of detail and a narrative tone. I’m surprised this trilogy has not garnered more attention in local literary circles.
Nell Holland (Burnside Writers’ Group, Adelaide) Australia
I’ve always been fascinated by Colonel William Light, South Australia’s first surveyor-general, who planned Adelaide. But I have questions about the man, who remains a tantalising enigma. Where did his drive, courage and work ethos find its foundation?
Rose Gan has put together a book which goes a long way to explain where much of William’s character originated and has produced a new hero for me to ponder over - Francis Light - William’s father. Beginning in the mid 1700’s the novel, Dragon, is an absorbing narrative taking the reader from England throughout Southeast Asia in a series of breathtaking adventures.
Francis, sired by a marquess and raised believing himself the illegitimate son of a country squire, achieved extraordinary successes due to his intelligence, ability to control both situations and people, and his impressive courage. Despite the intolerance and bigotry of his time, Francis became a powerful force in the 18th century Malay Archipelago, and ultimately the founder of Penang.
His astonishing life is portrayed by Gan in this fast-paced tale of adventure, and it would be easy to believe she has exaggerated his wild successes and unexpectedly terrifying situations. But Gan is a former teacher of history and her research for this book, the first in a series about the Light family, has been extensive. The resulting historical drama progresses at breathtaking speed. She brings real characters to life - Dutch, Chinese, Indian, and English - and returns a man, long forgotten, to the spotlight he deserves. You couldn’t make this story up.
This is such an elegantly seductive read and the blend of derring-do, swashbuckling raids and unsophisticated treatments of tropical diseases, contrasts vividly with languid Malay days, riches beyond belief and an expanding love story. I’m amazed it’s taken so long to bring this adventurer to the world’s attention.
While never forgetting his origins, Francis always sought opportunities to better himself, and fearlessly set out to make his impact on the world. Despite being intolerantly judged by today’s ‘woke’ generation, people like Francis changed the world in the 18th century, producing a blueprint for what we enjoy today.
Gan’s book is a compelling read, which rapidly draws the reader in and can make whole days disappear within its pages. It’s the perfect book to take on holiday. And if you visit Penang, find the cemetery where he’s buried. Walk the streets where Francis once held sway, and marvel at what he achieved, and how far he travelled from modest beginnings in England’s rural Suffolk.
Read Dragon by Rose Gan and you’ll be immersed in both history and adventure - and you won’t regret a moment.
Heather Daigle Xu (Amazon US)
Whisked away to South East Asia by sea…and found it delightful!
Enjoyed this tale of Francis Light immensely. I found myself curious and captivated by the details of 18th century life in a land that is close to my heart. It also opened my eyes to the dynamics of early trade between the East and West, expanding my view of how our global society began to emerge. Wonderful piece of historical fiction set largely in SE Asia.
P.G. Graham (Amazon UK)
A Great Tale
Quite a find, suggested for my wife’s book group and then recommended by her. A great page turner and the first of a trilogy. Give it a go!
Angeline, Kuala Lumpur
I am a huge fan of your novel Dragon from the Penang Chronicles series. Thank you so much for writing this novel because it helps me to understand Francis Light better than what I had read in the History textbook and seriously, the history textbook does not talk that much about Francis Light's past and about the contributions he had made to Malaya (what Malaysia is called in the olden times) and your book made me really interested in the Malayan history and also about Francis Light so thank you so much for writing this novel.
MikeO (Amazon US)
Well-researched, well-written and fascinating!
I found Rose Gan's historical novel "Dragon" to be an engrossing read. So much cultural nuance packed into a swift story line, and the characters popped out of the history books and came to vibrant life. So glad I stumbled upon this treasure of a book! After finishing it, I immediately purchased her sequel, "Pearl." Highly recommend for you history buffs, and especially for those interested in Southeast Asia cultures and the colonial era. A great read by a deft author!
PEARL
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PEARL *
Andrew Nathan (Goodreads)
Extremely well-written and researched. I look forward to the third book. Patrick O'Brian would be proud. If you love this kind of story I recommend Axel Alwyn's Falcon trilogy about Constantine Phaulcon whose story may be even more amazing than Light's. That, and anything by Maurice Collis, most particularly Siamese White and Foreign Mud. Gan writes as well as any of them.
EMPORIUM
U. Wolf, Malaysia
Currently, I am thoroughly enjoying ‘Emporium’ of your Penang Chronicles. What a rich tapestry of history and culture! Congratulations on this successful series! I think your series is a reminder to readers of Malaysia’s long rich cultural diversity. I am looking forward to reading your fourth book, ‘Legacy’!
Marie Tseng ( Cultural Impact Sdn Bhd)
Just finished the last volume of the trilogy. Rose Gan is such a skilled writer. Weaving history and fiction seamlessly, she honestly knows which is which! I have thoroughly enjoyed these books that bring 18th century Penang to life. Rose’s deep understanding of many cultures brings new perspectives into this fascinating and complex period.
Baljit(Goodreads)Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Such a rich and multi-layered story of the founding of Penang by Francis Light, and the various characters in his family, in the Penang communities and the East India Company based in Bengal. Light faced many barriers in establishing Penang as a trading post but it was his life’s work. Amidst the negotiations and trade deals and security measures, he was also a man of the common people, and this made some question his loyalties to the Crown.
This and the preceding books have given me a glimpse into the early days of my hometown, and taken me back in time into some familiar areas on the island. I do feel it’s a very well researched novel.
AndrewRankin(Goodreads) Kuala Lumpur
I managed to get this on Kindle America as I have been waiting for this since reading the first 2 fantastic books in the series. It is an exceptional read that once again captivated me from start to finish. Rose Gan's writing in this third book just gets better and better and it is clear that she is at the top of her game in this book.
The writing is incredibly rich with highly researched and accurate information that blends with wonderfully engaging characters to create a fascinating narrative and detailed world. With a small knowledge of the history of Malaysia and the founding of Penang, I was blown away by how the factual events were crafted, described and brought to life throughout the book.
What makes this book so special is the way the characters are portrayed to give a vibrant and authentic flavour of the mixed heritage and rich culture of 18th century Penang. A fantastic and engaging read! Just wonderful.
Jean Templeton, New Mexico (Goodreads)
I am loving Rose Gan’s third book “Emporium”. While the first two of her chronicles of Penang were focused more on the historical events of the life of Francis Light, “ Emporium” is a much more intimate look into his personal thoughts and relationships. Gan is a master of dialogue and brings the reader right in to the actual moments of history through individual characters she has obviously studied and brought to life so skilfully. I just spent an entire winter day reading this delightful book and I plan to continue to indulge myself tomorrow as well, immersing myself in this wonderful historical fiction that Gan has completed, revealing incredible mastery of her knowledge of 18th century southeast Asian history.
Suzanne Hashim, Kuala Lumpur (Goodreads)
A wonderful read! Emporium, the last in Rose Gan's trilogy, Penang Chronicles, transports you to a unique time and place—colonial Penang in its earliest days—bringing it to life in the most poignant way. Every character relatable, Penang so evocatively illustrated, and the masterful weaving together of details into a sweeping true story…I didn't want it end!
AnneMarie Green, Manchester UK
I just wanted to say I have just finished Emporium and I loved it. The narrative and characterisation were excellent but most of all I loved the themes that were explored. I thought this book showed a personal journey for you and a maturity of writing. The other two books were brilliant but this one was the best (for me).