The House of Doors

By: Tan Twan Eng

Narrated by: David Oakes, Louise-Mai Newberry

Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

From the bestselling author of The Garden of Evening Mists, a spellbinding novel about love and betrayal, colonialism and revolution, storytelling and redemption.

The year is 1921. Lesley Hamlyn and her husband, Robert, a lawyer and war veteran, are living at Cassowary House on the Straits Settlement of Penang. When “Willie” Somerset Maugham, a famed writer and old friend of Robert’s, arrives for an extended visit with his secretary Gerald, the pair threatens a rift that could alter more lives than one.

Maugham, one of the great novelists of his day, is beleaguered: Having long hidden his homosexuality, his unhappy and expensive marriage of convenience becomes unbearable after he loses his savings—and the freedom to travel with Gerald. His career deflating, his health failing, Maugham arrives at Cassowary House in desperate need of a subject for his next book. Lesley, too, is enduring a marriage more duplicitous than it first appears. Maugham suspects an affair, and, learning of Lesley’s past connection to the Chinese revolutionary, Dr. Sun Yat Sen, decides to probe deeper. But as their friendship grows and Lesley confides in him about life in the Straits, Maugham discovers a far more surprising tale than he imagined, one that involves not only war and scandal but the trial of an Englishwoman charged with murder. It is, to Maugham, a story worthy of fiction.

A mesmerizingly beautiful novel based on real events, The House of Doors traces the fault lines of race, gender, sexuality, and power under empire, and dives deep into the complicated nature of love and friendship in its shadow.

©2023 Tan Twan Eng (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic reviews

"One of this year's finest novels is also one of its most satisfying audiobooks.... David Oakes narrates the chapters in the third person, which depict author W. Somerset Maugham's visit to Penang in 1921 with his secretary and lover, Gerald Haxton. In alternating chapters, Louise-Mai Newberry narrates a first-person account by his hostess Lesley Hamlyn, which describes a 1911 murder trial that will become Maugham's story "The Letter".... Both narrators are outstanding as they convey atmosphere, character, and the author's postcolonial perspective with confidence and sensitivity." (AudioFile; winner of AudioFile Earphones Award)

Beautiful reading of an author who carefully uses language to paint the story

The plot, woven around historical and authorial events fills in gaps plausibly yet imaginatively. Did not want it to end, yet the ending was very satisfying

Descriptive

Enjoyed learning about Somerset Maugham, his books, Ethel Proudlock, and life in that time period .

Great, but no “Garden”

This story by the great Tan Twan Eng is highly entertaining. The characters are vivid and the depth is there. I always love “ex-pat” settings; even though the MC is not one, most or all other important characters are.
I really enjoyed the concept and imagery of the title, meaning its reason for being. I happen to have a particular love of old doors, and was collecting them until downsizing, but none, of course, like are present here.
But, overall, I was disappointed. If I didn’t have his two earlier books to compare this one to, I’m sure I wouldn’t have felt this way. So, to sum it up, I fed this is a good read on its own, but doesn’t stand up to the others, especially The Garden of Evening Mist, which will remain in my top 10-20 all-time favourite books.

Great compelling story

This was a wonderfully performed, interesting and great story. It was a one at once a multiple love story, mystery and historical fiction.

Words Images Narration

Nothing to dislike. Transported to the heat and humidity of Malaysia and the thin dry air of the Karoo. Exquise indeed

Doors and doors

Beautiful writing. Amazing story Loved every page and every substitute. History fact and fiction woven beautifully together.

Follow up to The Casaria Tree

Having just read this collection of W. Somerset Maugham’s short stories, the book was an intriguing way of integrating those stories with his time in Malaysia. The author did a wonderful job of weaving the Maugham’s writing into this fictional account. Lovely narration.

Layers upon layers

This is a book I know I will buy in paper form and read again and again. I love the language, the tropical feel, the mystery and the history. I loved getting to know Somerset Maugham (even though I'm not sure I would have enjoyed his company!). I didn't even mind the back and forth between the different time periods.
It all comes together beautifully. The narrators are excellent.
I also downloaded L'Heure exquise, which I'd never heard before. Wonderful. Thank you.

A Beautiful Story

This book really drew me in, so many good things about it. The setting was exotic, the images of art beautiful and the story amazing. If you are a fan of w.some rest Maugham You will truly enjoy this.

Elegant and provocative

The story exudes another time with lushness of the Asian tropics and characters you will never go.