The Persimmon Tree

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 27 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

It is 1942 in the Dutch East Indies, and Nick Duncan is a young Australian butterfly collector in search of a single exotic butterfly. With invading Japanese forces coming closer by the day, Nick falls in love with the beguiling Anna van Heerden.

Their time together is brief, as both are forced into separate, dangerous escapes. They plan to reunite and marry in Australia but it is several years before their paths cross again, scarred forever by the dark events of a long, cruel war.

In The Persimmon Tree, Bryce Courtenay gives us a story of love and friendship set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pacific during the Second World War.

©2007 Bryce Courtenay. By arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia).; 2013 Bryce Courtenay. By arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia). (P)2007 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"The ultimate international bestseller." (The New York Times)

"When the Japanese invade Indonesia in 1942, 17-year-old Australian Nick Duncan escapes by sailing a yacht across the ocean. It's a harrowing journey made manageable, in part, by Nick's hope that his new love, Anna, is safely on her way to Australia. Unfortunately, Anna is stuck in Indonesia, a prisoner of the Japanese. Humphrey Bower's narration makes it a pleasure. His skills should be a model. He reads with anticipation, so that a line written as a laugh or a sob is read as a laugh or a sob without being overdramatized. His characterizations reveal personality and motive, and hold steady throughout the book. And his pacing keeps us interested even when the plot is predictable." (AudioFile Magazine)

Love Bryce Courtenay - Need New Narrator or Plot

I read EVERYTHING by my beloved modern-day Dickens, Bryce Courtenay. I love this story. But, I hate to say, his characters are getting kind of predictable, and maybe, though I LOVE Humphrey Bower's narration, it's time to get a new narrator. The voice of all black people was quaint at first, but now I'm starting to find it offensive. And Bryce - dig into your cupboard and find a few new characters. Dig deeper - they are beginning to all be so typical - anybody who reads lots of Courtenay knows what I mean. Let's find a new one - totally different. K? That all being said - I will keep reading everything of his and this book really IS excellent for its own purposes! I do love an old-fashioned, well-wrapped-up ending, and appreciate that Courtenay always provides, as Dickens always did.

struggled to finish

I love Bryce Courtenay and more so Humphrey Bower but some psrts drug on and on with disappointing conclusions. Were it not for Mr Bower I would have given up.

Great story extremely well read.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Persimmon Tree to be better than the print version?

The Australian accent and the reader's ability to speak the pidgeon language added to my enjoyment of the book. Mr Bower gave the characters personality that the the written word cannot give. I rate this high and wish I could give Humphrey Bower 6 stars!!

What did you like best about this story?

It was two stories in one. The couple meet as youth, then come of age separately, in completely different and extermely difficult circumstances, then meeting again. Then there was the need to work through Anna's serious consequences when they did meet. This added to the beauty of the story. I was sooo glad they met again, and, the ending was very well done.

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

His accent and ability to read emotion into the characters. I didn't understand much of the pidgeon language, glad there was an interpretation! I've never heard the language before but it had an authentic sound to my ear.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

If the love is real and the heart is strong and clever, nothing can quench or overrule.

Any additional comments?

I will listen again.

Wonderful Story

Listening to this story made me feel, I was right there. I was totally engrossed.

Enchanting

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Nick found his father.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful Courtenay! Enchanting story, the detail of Japanese tradition is superb. I can't wait to find out what happens to Nick and Anna.

Loved it!

What made the experience of listening to The Persimmon Tree the most enjoyable?

The narration was incredible, the story compelling, combining to make a memorable experience.

What does Humphrey Bower bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Bower brings the characters to life.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The relationship between the Japanese commander and the heroine was emotional.

Total Engagement

From the moment this book began, I was drawn into the story and looked forward to my long commute each day just so I could "read" more. I look forward to playing it for my husband on our next cross-country trip. There's plenty here for both of us: war scenes, love stories, intrigue, tragedy, cross-cultural interest, historical accounts, hair-raising adventure: So glad I purchased it!

Offbeat, Austraila, Indoneisa, WWII, Wonderful

What made the experience of listening to The Persimmon Tree the most enjoyable?

Very different and compelling story. Real life at its finest and worst at a difficult time. This book kept my interest throughtout and tore at my heart and finally mended it with a slight scar. Narrator was excellent.

What did you like best about this story?

The honestly

What does Humphrey Bower bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The reality of first hand experience. I felt as if I was there.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were too many parts of the story that touched me to mention just one moment.

Any additional comments?

You you have a need for drama, love, compassion, adventure, history, you will make this book one of your favorites. It was truth in humanity. The good and the bad.

Historical fiction never so interesting!

I love Bryce Courtenay! I haver read a few others and each one is better than the last. Not only does the story entertain, but the historical facts and interesting settings make me feel like I have gone somewhere and learned something new.

Great Listen

Finally! I have found a book to break the 3-star slump I seemed to be in.

I have found a new author and new narrator. Bryce has a lot more novels to discover, and Humphrey Bower brings many of them to life with his fabulous command of accents.

The story has a little bit of everything. It is a romance, but not a mushy tale, of two young people separated by war when the Japanese invade Java. Nick sets sail for Australia expecting to meet Anna there. Anna, gets caught behind enemy lines and learns to do whatever she needs to do to survive. Nick, because of his command of the Japanese language is recruited to Intelligence in the Navy and stationed at Guatemala Canal.

Will they survive the war, and if they do, will their love for each other survive?