As an avid reader, I’m always keen to explore
different genres of reading material, be it books or magazines. When I was
introduced to Paul Callan - author of The
Brigadier’s Daughter - by Dato’ Rosemarie Wee of Shangri-La
Kuala Lumpur, I had no inkling Paul was a published author of 3 novels.
I was pleasantly surprised when
Paul emailed me to inform he actually left me a copy of his novel to be
reviewed. The blurb on the back cover sounded intriguing from the get-go so I
wasted no time in reading The Brigadier’s Daughter.
The story of Jin, a young Chinese boy with a penchant for art who became infatuated
and fell hopelessly in love with Stephanie, a Eurasian girl and daughter of the
titular brigadier was set in a small town in colonial era Malaya.
Recounted through a series of flashbacks, the
poignant ‘coming of age’ and love story is interwoven with Jin’s present day
circumstances as he grappled with his business and life challenges. I find Paul’s writing style pleasantly simple and makes for easy reading; each chapter rousing enough curiosity to spur readers like me fervently
wondering if the star-crossed couple would find their happily-ever-after.
When I interviewed Paul for this
book review, the author told me he penned The Brigadier’s Daughter to encourage more students especially teenagers and young adults to
read. In the novel, Paul painstaking detailed Jin’s emotional state and
feelings as an adolescent: his growing pains, his sexual awakening and constant
yearning for Stephanie. Pertinent issues that should resonate with young
readers and adults who may have forgotten their personal struggles dealing with
puberty.
Paul’s extensive research on
local history is evident in certain chapters of the book. His fascination with
Malaysia and its people stemmed from his marriage to a Malaysian. Born in Dublin,
Ireland, Paul Callan was a London-based businessman who turned to writing
historical fiction of Southeast Asia.
According to Paul, “One of
the great pleasures for me when writing is research.”
Todate, his three novels
are The Dulang Washer (MPH, 2011), Shadows Beneath the Fronds (MPH, 2013),
and The Brigadier’s Daughter (Epigram
Books, 2017).
On his latest tome, Paul
said: “Whenever I meet anybody new, I’d asked if they are from Johor. When I get
a positive response, I’d expand by asking if they hail from Kluang. Alas, all
those I met were too young to tell me anything about Kluang in 1957.”
Undeterred, Paul then made
several trips to Kluang town where the story was set. “With the help of an
acquaintance familiar with Kluang, and whom I acknowledge in the book, I met
several elderly residents who could recall Merdeka Day vividly. It was these
residents who told me Kluang had a stadium in 1957, and they readily shared how
the whole town gathered there to celebrate Merdeka.”
Paul revealed they also
told him how Indian estate workers were collectively driven to the stadium for
the great event. “There was even a speaker system set up for everyone to hear
the announcement of Merdeka. And yes, the party atmosphere included chendol
being available.”
His research efforts are effortlessly interwoven
into different parts of the book, in the form of anecdotes and nuggets of
information. I particularly like Paul’s detailing of the erhu, a classic Chinese musical instrument and the preparation of
Hainanese chicken rice. To understand these intriguing tidbits, you’d simply
must read The Brigadier’s Daughter.
Paul
Callan now divides his time between his homes in Kuala Lumpur and London. He’s currently
writing his fourth novel. Now excuse me while I go hunt down his earlier books
to tide me over.
