House of Wives The

Calcutta 1841. Emanuel an ambitious Jewish merchant wants to make his fortune by trading opium with China. Over the ensuing decades Emanuel's success will be determined by two remarkable women: Semah his dutiful first wife in Calcutta whose dowry funds the mercenary expedition to Hong Kong; and Pearl the beautiful Chinese girl whom he falls in love with. Despite the open hostility between the two women Emanuel insists that they must all live together in his Hong Kong mansion that locals call the House of Wives.Brimming with intrigue and adventure and written with astounding flair The House of Wives is a dramatic and poignant tale of love ambition friendship and family inspired by the true story of the author's great-grandfather. About the Author Simon Choa-Johnston is the author of numerous plays produced and published in Canada. Among his many achievements are Theatre BC's National Playwrights prize the City of Richmond's Cultural Leadership Award McMaster University's Alumni Gallery award. He is also the Gateway Theatre's Artistic Director Emeritus. Simon was born and raised in Hong Kong where his family has lived for five generations since the 1860s. He studied at St. Joseph's College in Hong Kong then immigrated to Canada where he graduated from McMaster University. After postgraduate studies in New York he returned to Ontario and has worked continuously in Canadian theatres as an artistic director director and playwright. Simon lives in South Surrey British Columbia. The House of Wives is his latest novel.