Overview

From the author of the internationally acclaimed, Whitbread Award-winning ‘The Harmony Silk Factory’ comes an enthralling new novel that evokes an exotic yet turbulent and often frightening world. Sixteen-year-old Adam is an orphan three times over. He and his older brother, Johan, were abandoned by their mother as children; he watched as Johan was adopted and taken away by a wealthy couple; and he had to hide when Karl, the Dutch man who raised him, was arrested by soldiers during Sukarno’s drive to purge 1960s Indonesia of its colonial past. Adam sets out on a quest to find Karl, but all he has to guide him are some old photos and letters, which send him to the colourful, dangerous capital, Jakarta. Johan, meanwhile, is living a seemingly carefree, privileged life in Malaysia, but is careening out of control, unable to forget the long-ago betrayal of his helpless, trusting brother. ‘Map of the Invisible World’ is a masterful novel, and confirms Tash Aw as one of the most exciting young writers at work today.

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9780007349982

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Reviews

'Aw's first novel was a sublime piece of work that Doris Lessing called unputdownable . She will find this one similarly mesmerising...This is absolutely stunning writing - Aw is emerging as a master storyteller.' The Times'Aw's prose can be powerful and mesmerising in its sense of place...and psychological acuity. Haunting and memorable.' Maya Jaggi, Guardian'Aw is a writer of great power and delicacy, as able to conjure stampeding crowds as the glow of fireflies.' Daily Mail'Aw's sinuous writing vividly brings the turbulent social backdrop to life.' Sunday Times'His prose is vividly lyrical; and one can almost feel the heat and smell the sweat of Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.' Independent'Buoyant, limber, confidently told...a book embodying huge ambition, jostling with love, betrayal and guilt, all set poignantly and subtly against the politics of turmoil in post-colonial Indonesia circa 1964.' Scotsman`An intelligent second novel...Aw's characteristic tone is a fine lyricism that, at best owes something to Michael Ondaatje or Anne Michaels...Aw has an exceptional talent for set pieces.' Sunday Telegraph

'Aw's first novel was a sublime piece of work that Doris Lessing called unputdownable . She will find this one similarly mesmerising...This is absolutely stunning writing - Aw is emerging as a master storyteller.' The Times 'Aw's prose can be powerful and mesmerising in its sense of place...and psychological acuity. Haunting and memorable.' Maya Jaggi, Guardian 'Aw is a writer of great power and delicacy, as able to conjure stampeding crowds as the glow of fireflies.' Daily Mail 'Aw's sinuous writing vividly brings the turbulent social backdrop to life.' Sunday Times 'His prose is vividly lyrical; and one can almost feel the heat and smell the sweat of Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.' Independent 'Buoyant, limber, confidently told...a book embodying huge ambition, jostling with love, betrayal and guilt, all set poignantly and subtly against the politics of turmoil in post-colonial Indonesia circa 1964.' Scotsman 'An intelligent second novel...Aw's characteristic tone is a fine lyricism that, at best owes something to Michael Ondaatje or Anne Michaels...Aw has an exceptional talent for set pieces.' Sunday Telegraph

'Aw's first novel was a sublime piece of work that Doris Lessing called unputdownable . She will find this one similarly mesmerising!This is absolutely stunning writing - Aw is emerging as a master storyteller.' The Times 'Aw's prose can be powerful and mesmerising in its sense of place!and psychological acuity. Haunting and memorable.' Maya Jaggi, Guardian 'Aw is a writer of great power and delicacy, as able to conjure stampeding crowds as the glow of fireflies.' Daily Mail 'Aw's sinuous writing vividly brings the turbulent social backdrop to life.' Sunday Times 'His prose is vividly lyrical; and one can almost feel the heat and smell the sweat of Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.' Independent 'Buoyant, limber, confidently told!a book embodying huge ambition, jostling with love, betrayal and guilt, all set poignantly and subtly against the politics of turmoil in post-colonial Indonesia circa 1964.' Scotsman 'An intelligent second novel!Aw's characteristic tone is a fine lyricism that, at best owes something to Michael Ondaatje or Anne Michaels!Aw has an exceptional talent for set pieces.' Sunday Telegraph 'When contemplating the nagging ache of separation or the futility of searching for 'invisible' worlds, the book works beautifully. Aw's prose is, after all, as sensitive and insightful as ever, especially when sketching the wistful memories and anecdotal scraps of history that flesh out both characters and country alike.' Telegraph 'An intelligent second novel!Aw's characteristic tone is a fine lyricism that, at best owes something to Michael Ondaatje or Anne Michaels!Aw has an exceptional talent' Daily Telegraph 'He is at his best when he acknowledges the exotic and permits himself to be lyrical. He sketches the tropical setting with relish.' FT

Author Information

Tash Aw was born in Taipei, in the Republic of China, andbrought up in Malaysia. He moved to England in his teens andnow lives in London. He is the author of ‘The Harmony Silk Factory’, which was the winner of the Whitbread First Novel Award and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Novel and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and ‘Map of the Invisible World’. His most recent novel, ‘Five Star Billionaire’, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2013.

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