With its unique charm, cultural richness and awe-inspiring history – the captivating city of Hong Kong serves as a literary and aesthetic inspiration for many authors and filmmakers. For many of us who haven’t experienced the main character energy of living in a city so enigmatic, novels or cinema set in Hong Kong help us vicariously get a taste of this exotic neighbourhood. In the literary world, this metropolis has taken many personas, each more fascinating than the other. Certainly, there’s no city quite as bewitching as Hong Kong to unfurl your imagination. From spy thrillers and page-turning adventures to historical romances – the tales are many. Let’s introduce you to the ten best books set in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong: An idyllic backdrop for cinematic experiences
Hong Kong is beautiful and lively. It’s the beauty amid the chaos, the city’s pulsating heart that makes it so magnetic to the outside world. The city of towering skyscrapers will make you forget the New York skyline. Its bustling streets and nightlife will transport you straight into a film set. And finally, its pristine beaches will make even the Bahamas fall flat.
The birthplace of martial arts, Hong Kong has served as the backdrop of several Hollywood action movies. Let’s familiarise you with a few. Whether it’s Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, Jackie Chan starrer Rush Hour 2, Rowan Atkinson’s Johnny English Reborn or Dwayne Johnson’s Skyscraper. The towering skyscrapers and skylines have lit up the silver-screen experience of cinemagoers for decades.
Even for bibliophiles, it’s no different. For example, the New York Times bestseller, The Piano Teacher, has its roots in Hong Kong. Author Janice Y.K. Lee’s rare and exquisite tale transports readers back to 1950s Hong Kong, poignantly exploring the city’s high society under colonial rule. Some of the other best-selling novels set in Hong Kong include Diamond Hill by Kit Fan, The Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum, The World of Suzie Wong by Richard Maso and more.
So, let’s take you through our top 10 literary picks. Keep reading.
Synopsis: A gripping narrative set in 1987 Hong Kong, three years since the British signed the declaration to handover the territory to China in 1997. The book transports you to Diamond Hill, once known as the ‘Hollywood of the Orient’ and is now a shanty town, crumbling piece by piece. We’re introduced to our protagonist Buddha, a recovering heroin addict who goes to stay in a Buddhist monastery in the neighbourhood, only to find everything being bulldozed to make room for developed architecture that falls at par with Hong Kong’s booming economy. Here, he encounters a slew of characters from nuns and drug gangs to property developers and government powers – each dying to get a piece of Diamond Hill.
Why you should read it: Diamond Hill shows you the stark reality of colonialism, the plight of displacement, and the snapshot of a city steeped in socio-political tensions, turf struggles and wealth disparities. You’ll be introduced to the Diamond Hill of the colonial era, and how it was living in Hong Kong before the handover of the city.
Synopsis: This New York Times bestseller explores the exotic high society of Hong Kong in the 1940s and 1950s under British rule. The historical novel is centred around Claire Pendleton, a piano teacher of a daughter of a rich family, who falls in love with the family’s driver, Englishman Will Truesdale. She and Will fall deeply in love, however, things completely turn around when she discovers his tragic past with a former lover. The story weaves seamlessly between the two decades, exploring themes of love, loss and betrayal.
Why you should read it: The novel takes you through the glitz and glam of the city in its glorious years, and how everything turns upside down after World War II and the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. It’s a riveting account of wartime secrets and betrayals.
Synopsis: If you love action, this one’s going to soothe your literary tastes. While the novel is completely different from the 2004 Matt Damon starrer blockbuster movie The Bourne Supremacy it gave its name to, it’s no less thrilling than its cinematic counterpart. Taking us back to the end of British rule, this novel centres around Jason Bourne, an expert assassin who’s plagued by the nightmares of his past life. However, he must return to his old hunting ground in Hong Kong to rescue his kidnapped wife. Little does he know what lies ahead is a web of CIA plots, ever-shifting alliances and more.
Why you should read it: This edge-of-the-seat thriller takes you on a head-on conflict between Mainland China and the CIA. A ruthless killer is on the loose, who must be spotted or else the world will pay a hefty price. Packed with action, and suspense and shrouded in mystery, The Bourne Supremacy will have you hooked.
Synopsis: A classic east-meets-west love tale, The World of Suzie Wong introduces you to the bawdy scene of Hong Kong. The novel narrates a love story between British artist Robert Lomax and Hong Kong sex worker Suzie Wong. Robert’s the only resident in Nam Kok Hotel (which he doesn’t realise is actually a brothel) where he meets Suzie at the bar. The two fall in love following a whirlwind romance, however, the duo must realise that this romance can jeopardise everything they hold dear in their lives. Will their relationship stand the test of time in the 1950s Hong Kong?
Why you should read it: This novel unravels the more salacious side of Hong Kong, chronicling a timeless love tale that will tug at your heartstrings. It resonated with readers worldwide when it was first published in 1957, spawning two unofficial sequels, a film, and a ballet.
Synopsis: A series of short stories from one of the best Chinese writers of the 20th century, Love In a Fallen City is set in pre-second world war and wartime Hong Kong. Out of the six stories, the titular tale transports you to 1940s Hong Kong and Shanghai. Readers are introduced to Bai Liusu, a divorcee and her new suitor Fan Liuyuan as they navigate family drama and other trials and tribulations while falling in love with each other. The novel has been adapted into a movie led by Chow Yun-fat, a TV series as well as multiple stage performances.
Why you should read it: Set in Changing China as the traditions wane and Western influences increase, Love In a Fallen City showcases characters caught up in the contradictions of love. The author exposes the dual nature of love, her stories revealing what happens to people dealing with these contradicting forces. After all, love isn’t just a simple, romantic feeling.
Synopsis: The spy novel comes second in author John le Carré’s celebrated Karla Trilogy, featuring British intelligence officer George Smiley. In the sequel to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Smiley sends agent Jerry Westerby to 70s Hong Kong on an important mission to save their intelligence service from being destroyed by the government. Hong Kong, seen as the burial ground of French, British, and American cultures, is set to become a place of new showdown.
Why you should read it: If you love intrigue, mystery, page-turning twists and chilling plots, this book is for you. You’ll be transported into the shadowy world of international espionage, as the British secret intelligence service MI6 goes on attack. The Honourable Schoolboy has been credited as the best crime novel of its time, winning the Gold Dagger Award and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.
Synopsis: Set in the aftermath of the first Opium War, Tai-Pan explores a Hong Kong full of backstabbing, manipulation and slander. Back in the 1840s, right after the British occupation of the island, existed Dirk Struan, the owner of the most powerful trading company. Struan sees Hong Kong as the ideal place to flourish his trade and will stop at nothing to become the Tai-Pan. The book explores his fight to create his dynasty as the mighty master of the Orient.
Why you should read it: If you want a better insight into the historical narratives that have shaped Hong Kong, this book will introduce you to the power dynamics and politics that transpired decades ago. Only the mightiest will survive!
Synopsis: The crime drama delves into six nerve-wracking cases in the 50-year-long career of the legendary Hong Kong detective Kwan Chun-dok. The Borrowed exposes Hong Kong’s dark underbelly from the 1960s to the present day. It taps into six crime stories dealing with the Leftist Riot in 1967, the 1977 conflict between the HK Police and ICAC, the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989; the Handover in 1997 and more. Kwan is finally called to work on the final case, the murder of a local billionaire. His journey of unravelling the truth is one of political upheaval and societal unrest. The book paints a dynamic portrait of Hong Kong like never before.
Why you should read it: For all crime drama lovers, this book is a holy grail. It operates on so many psychological and social levels, painting a mosaic of Hong Kong from being a British jewel to its political reintegration with China.
Synopsis: A haunting tale of teenage rebellion, White Ghost Girls is set in 1960s Hong Kong. Alice Greenway’s debut novel chronicles the tale of Frankie and Kate, two American sisters living in the troubled city as the Maoist revolution sets in. The chaotic, war-ridden backdrop has life-changing consequences – resulting in a tale of loss, sacrifice, tragedy and an unbreakable bond between the family.
Why you should read it: The book is brave and artful, narrating a heartwarming story of sacrifice and solidarity in the face of the deadly Maoist revolution. The intense, complicated love between the sisters is worth witnessing.
Synopsis: Fragrant Harbour isn’t set in a particular time in history, it spans several decades all the way from Hong Kong’s Japanese takeover to integration with China. The book takes off in the 1930s, introducing readers to a young Englishman Tom Stewart, who sets foot in the complex and corrupt world of Hong Kong. You’ll see Hong Kong in a never-seen-before light from the standpoints of local Chinese and expat residents.
Why you should read it: The book is a wholesome account of Hong Kong’s complex history: from the savagery of the 1930s to the contemporary city under the dominion of Mainland China. A robust saga in Hong Kong, Fragrant Harbour is a literary feast.
(Image credit: Amazon)
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are there any classic novels set in Hong Kong?
Some of the best novels set in Hong Kong include 'Diamond Hill' by Kit Fan, 'The Piano Teacher' by Janice Y.K. Lee, 'The Bourne Supremacy' by Robert Ludlum
and 'The World of Suzie Wong' by Richard Mason.
What genres are represented in the best books set in Hong Kong?
Some of the best-selling novels set in Hong Kong revolve around the genres of action, drama as well as crime fiction.
Kriti is a stay-at-home dog mama whose knack for telling interesting stories keeps her erstwhile monotonous life sane. A literature and journalism degree holder, you'll find her binging on Agatha Christie novels while critiquing the everyday state of affairs. On Kriti's seldom social outings, she's seen devouring coffee sangria with appetizing bread on the side.
Kriti is a stay-at-home dog mama whose knack for telling interesting stories keeps her erstwhile monotonous life sane. A literature and journalism degree holder, you'll find her binging on Agatha Christie novels while critiquing the everyday state of affairs. On Kriti's seldom social outings, she's seen devouring coffee sangria with appetizing bread on the side.
Kriti is a stay-at-home dog mama whose knack for telling interesting stories keeps her erstwhile monotonous life sane. A literature and journalism degree holder, you'll find her binging on Agatha Christie novels while critiquing the everyday state of affairs. On Kriti's seldom social outings, she's seen devouring coffee sangria with appetizing bread on the side.
