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| Our Hart, Elegy for a Concubine (Concubine Saga) |  | Author: Lloyd Lofthouse
Publisher: Three Clover Press
Category: eBooks
In Stock
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 30,931
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Edition: First Edition
ASIN: B003EV5QGU
Publication Date: March 29, 2010
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Product Description
Robert Hart arrived in China in 1854. By the time he left in 1908, he was the most powerful Westerner in China's history and the only foreigner the Emperor of China trusted. His love and dedication to China was born from the love for one woman—a love story Robert wanted to hide from the world. I spent a decade exploring China and Hart's life to discover this story.
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| Customer Reviews:
A SPLENDID SEQUEL! March 11, 2010
Thomas Carter (Beijing, China)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Sir Robert Hart, as reimagined by author Lloyd Lofthouse, was never meant to be a hero. He is an admittedly flawed man with vices and sins: he likes his women, and he even steals concubines from his friends.
But Hart's coming-of-age during his prurient first years in China, as described in My Splendid Concubine has matured him. In Our Hart, Elegy for a Concubine, passion has been replaced by piety while the lust of the first novel has been lost to love.
Just as our protagonist has matured, `Our Hart' the novel is also a more mature read than its predecessor My Splendid Concubine. From bedroom complexities to political complexities; from the weight of a young concubine in Robert Hart's arms to the weight of an ancient empire on his shoulders, `Our Hart' is divided by romantic drama and political intrigue.
Lofthouse writes: "The world turned black and white with occasional violent flashes...there was no color in his life." Indeed, `Our Hart' is a dark novel intent on capturing the despondent spirit of an outsider immersed in a brutal period of Chinese history.
Historical fiction potboiler, yes. But where the `Concubine' saga truly shines is its thought-provoking passages on relationships, attitudes and cultural differences. The heated dialogue between Hart and Ayaou brilliantly described in Chapter 13 of `Our Hart' will especially touch a nerve for any westerner who has ever lived and loved in China: "Understanding her behavior didn't stop him from resenting it."
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Tom Carter is the author of CHINA: Portrait of a People
Allie's Review - Hist-Fic Chick May 24, 2010
A. Greenwald (New York, NY)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Robert Hart began as a humble British interpreter who, throughout his time in China in the 19th century, came to love and embrace this culture so different from his own Irish roots. Over the years he grew to really understand the Confucian and Taoist principles of honor and piety, and the Chinese took notice of his devotion to their values and culture. Hart's love of and genuine respect for the Chinese customs and way of life set him apart from the other "foreign devils" whose only goals were to manipulate and hoodwink the Chinese in order to make a profit.
Hart rose in rank as an interpreter and soon found himself promoted to work for the Chinese as a local inspector of customs, eventually to become the Inspector General of China's Imperial Maritime Custom Service. Hart recognized that in order to succeed in his role as a virtual go-between for the two nations, he must always handle any issue with the utmost poise and finesse. He often found himself surrounded by peers and superiors who did not demonstrate the same level of respect towards the Chinese as he did. Many of the British saw the Chinese as barbarian heathens who needed to be converted to Christianity, and it took a lot of restraint on his part to hold his tongue where his ignorant superiors were concerned.
Hart's ability to smooth over tricky political situations and his growing reputation as a man who was true to his word eventually caught the attention of the Dynasty, and in particular, the brother of the emperor, Prince Kung. The significance of the title "Our Hart" is not to be taken lightly-Hart was the only foreigner the Dynasty trusted, and over time he cultivated a friendship and business relationship with Kung, which enabled him the influence necessary to make even greater improvements in the Chinese political system. He began by rooting out corruption from wherever it existed, and although Kung and the rest of the ministers were at first skeptical of his foreign methods, any doubts were soon quashed, as Hart's approaches quickly proved vital to the stability of the Dynasty. Hart became so endeared to the Chinese that they referred to him as "Our Hart."
Throughout the many changes of location and tricky situations Robert encounters, his concubine Ayaou remains his rock and constant. At the heart of this fascinating book is their love story. Robert learns that Ayaou has merits that exceed beyond the bedroom; in fact he utilizes her knowledge of Chinese culture and social protocol to his advantage and takes note from her inherent Chinese wisdom. The book begins after the brutal murder of Ayaou's sister (and Robert's second concubine) Shao-mei by one of Robert's rivals, and Robert reflects on happier times spent with Shao-mei and Ayaou throughout the course of the novel. Shao-mei's murder is a turning point in his life that causes him to constantly question the safety of his surroundings. Realizing that he is not only responsible for himself, but also for the lives of his "Chinese family," Robert learns to find happiness again but vows to avenge Shao-mei's death and seek vengeance from her murderers.
Our Hart: Elegy for a Concubine is the sequel to the multi award winning My Splendid Concubine: A Novel by Lloyd Lofthouse. Although I did not read My Splendid Concubine, I did feel that this truly was a standalone novel that did not require its predecessor to be read in order for one to enjoy the story. The book was a really quick read for me, and one by which I was completely captivated the whole way through. My favorite aspect of this novel was reading about all the political issues facing China during the 19th century. Between the Taiping Rebellions, the Opium Wars, the tension among China and Western Europe, and the political mistrust between the Manchu and Han Chinese, Robert Hart certainly had his work cut out for him. One can certainly see why he was so very deserving of the title "The Godfather of China's Modernism".
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from a publicist for review.
A unique and entertaining read, recommende April 10, 2010
Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
There are fathers of modernization for every country, and China's may well be an Irishman. "Our Hart" is a follow up to Lloyd Lofthouse's previous novel, 'My Splendid Concubine'. Historical fiction, Lofthouse tells the story of Robert Hart, the man responsible for China reinventing itself in the nineteenth century and how modern China purged him from the history books when the Communists took over. "Our Hart" is a unique and entertaining read, recommended.
Another great read! July 31, 2010
hcgolf4fun
If you enjoy reading about China and its culture, this is a book for you. I couldn't put this book down. This book is a must read. You will not be disappointed.
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