THE HOUSE OF WIVES: A NOVEL
Book ID/图书代码： 12760014B71610
English Summary/英文概要： The House of Wives is inspired by the true story of Simon Choa-Johnston’s ancestors. It tells the story of Emmanuel, a Jew from Calcutta who in 1862 sailed to Hong Kong to take up the opium trade. There he took a second wife (he had left the first one behind in India), grew prosperous, built himself a grand mansion called Kingsclere, and began to have children. Life became more complicated however when his Indian wife decided, unannounced, to join him in Hong Kong, and Kingsclere became The House of Wives. Mysteriously, thirty-six years after his arrival, Emmanuel fled Hong Kong alone for London, where he died a pauper in 1905.
Given those basic facts, playwright and director Simon Choa-Johnston has created a fascinating and compelling drama exploring a little-known corner of history. It is a novel that he has preparing to write all his life, not only through archival research and family interviews but through travel to India and Hong Kong. It includes a family curse, and tragic death, and an abundance of mystery.
Chinese Summary/中文概要： 西蒙•蔡•约翰斯通受到了真实的家族历史的启发，创作了《妻子们的家》。故事讲述了一个名为伊曼纽尔的加尔各答犹太男子于1862年决定航海去香港做鸦片生意。在香港他娶了第二任妻子（他抛弃了自己的第一任妻子，这位妻子一直生活在印度），伊曼纽尔的生意慢慢做大，赚了很多钱，他为自己造了一座房子，取名为金斯克列尔，并开始生儿育女。谁知印度的妻子决定悄悄地到香港与丈夫相认，从此伊曼纽尔平静的生活被打破了，京斯克列尔就变成了伊曼纽尔妻子们的家。难以理解的是定居香港三十六年后，伊曼纽尔独自离开前往伦敦，他于1905年去世，那时的他已经穷困潦倒，沦为乞丐。
根据这些零星的信息，剧作家和导演西蒙•蔡•约翰斯通创作了一部精彩的戏剧来探索这段过往的历史。西蒙花了一辈子的时间来筹备这部小说，他不仅研究了档案室资料，进行家族采访，还亲自走访了香港和印度。这个故事糅合了家族诅咒，家人惨死和神秘元素。（XAT）
Awards/获奖情况：The Author’s Introduction also attached explains the true story behind the novel.
• The opening third of the book is set in Calcutta’s thriving Jewish community, thus the interest in India. It should also travel to Israel.
• Since the novel is set largely in Hong Kong and the author was born and raised there, there is already a great deal of interest in and excitement about the book there. Publishers who can reach that market effectively in English or Chinese should be keen to see it. The author has already had queries about it from such places as the Hong Kong Museum of History. See:
http://hk.history.museum/en_US/web/mh/exhibition/permanent.html. Osmond Chan is the Curator.
• The protagonist of this novel is based on Simon’s great-grandfather, who fled Hong Kong under mysterious circumstances and is buried in London. It is the kind of British Empire saga that should of interest in the UK.
Below and attached: “Astounding lives soaked in Opium.”
http://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/book-review-of-the-house-of-wives-astounding-lives-soaked-in-opium/story-jg29nO48JTA14cFEfJRIoK.html
“Although set in the 1800s, this remarkable story about a Jewish opium seller in Hong Kong and his two wives reinforces how notions of love, family, betrayal, and ambition are universally consistent.”-- The Pioneer, New Delhi
http://www.asianage.com/books/turbulent-history-opium-trade-687
"The story of the two strong women jousting for Emanuel’s love is the most compelling feature of the book."
About the Author/作者介绍： 西蒙•蔡•约翰斯通在香港出生长大，于1972年毕业于加拿大安大略省汉密尔顿市麦克马斯特大学，后又前往纽约攻读剧院研究硕士学位。西蒙后在加拿大剧院工作25年之久，担任艺术总监，导演（执导200部作品之多）和剧作家。西蒙曾被授予加拿大总督的125奖章，被提名著名的W.O.米切尔文学奖，并入选加拿大麦克马斯特大学的校友画廊。西蒙近期的戏剧作品有：《姐妹》，上演于里士满佳艺剧院（2013年1月至2月，之前上演于多伦多工厂剧院）；《莱斯火箭队和游艇阶层》于1997年在佳艺剧院首演；获杰西最佳戏剧奖提名作品《野猫》（加拿大西部大剧院）；《金山来客》（艺术俱乐部和万花筒 - 钟楼剧院）；以及《赠品》（伦敦，安大略省） ；《奔跑的狗》和《纸老虎》获得了1995年国家编剧奖，于1997年在佳艺剧院首演，并获杰西最佳戏剧奖提名。西蒙为加拿大广播公司及其广播节目创作过6部作品。西蒙自2000年起至2012年，在里士满佳艺剧院担任过12年的艺术和执行总监。他用自己创新的理论策划和无数的创新项目使得佳艺剧院从当地剧院成长为地区级别的剧院。这些成就使得西蒙获得了里士满艺术奖文化领导力奖项，并被任命为佳艺剧院首位名誉艺术总监。离开佳艺剧院后，西蒙就专心创作自己的小说《妻子们的家》。
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Simon Choa-Johnston came to Canada to attend McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and graduated in 1972, after which he went to New York for postgraduate theatre studies. He has worked in Canadian theatre for over twenty-five years as an Artistic Director, Director (over 200 productions), and Playwright. He was awarded the Governor General’s Canada 125 Medal, has been nominated for the prestigious W.O. Mitchell Literary Prize, and was inducted into McMaster University’s Alumni Gallery.
Simon’s recent plays include: Sisters at Gateway Theatre in Richmond, B.C. (January/ February 2013, previously seen at Factory Theatre Cross Currents, Toronto); Rice Rockets & Yacht People (Gateway 2005); Jessie Nominated Best Play Wildcat (Western Canada Theatre); Gold Mountain Guest (Arts Club and Kaleidoscope - Belfry Theatre), and The Giveaways (London, Ontario). Running Dog, Paper Tiger won Theatre BC’s 1995 National Playwrights Award, premiered in 1997 at the Gateway, and was nominated for a Jessie Award for Best Play. Simon has written six plays for CBC’s “Morningside” and CBC Radio Drama, as well as episodes for “Riverdale” on CBC-TV and documentaries for History Television and Man Alive.
Simon spent twelve years as the Artistic & Executive Director of the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, B.C., from 2000 – 2012. He left a legacy of innovative theatrical programming in addition to the creation of numerous programs that moved the company from local-player to regional-theatre status. These achievements resulted in Simon winning a Richmond Arts Award for Cultural Leadership and in being named Gateway Theatre’s first Artistic Director Emeritus. Since leaving the Gateway he has focused his attention on his novel, The House of Wives.
Format:
Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：AVAILABLE
Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE
Sales in other countries/其他国家销售情况：RIGHTS SOLD: Canada: Penguin,May 2016; Indian subcontinent English: Penguin India,May 2016; Hebrew-language rights to Simon Choa-Johnston’s novel THE HOUSE OF WIVES
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