In the present day, Countess Arabella Leung Gresham, is planning every detail of the fabulous wedding of her daughter, Lady Augusta Leung Gresham, to Prince Maximillian zu Liechtenburg (Maxxie), at a super-luxe boutique eco-resort - for those who need a palace lifestyle when they travel - in Hawaii. She has designed and owns the resort. Unfortunately, a volcanic fissure destroys the exact wedding site. Fortunately, the volcanic eruption has meant cancellations at other luxe resorts. The show must go on.
Dr. Thomas Tong and his daughter, Dr. Eden Tong, live in a Jacobean cottage (a lovely four bedroom home) on a grace-and-favour lease adjacent to Greshamsbury Hall (43 rooms). Dr. Thomas tends to the frequent medical consulations needed by the Countess. He is the younger brother of the deceased Henry.
Everyone private jets to Hawaii.
Thus begins another saga of rich Asians dominated by imperious matriarchs.
The Countess has a scheme to matchmake her son, Rufus, with a suitable spouse, Solène de Courcy (an artist, daughter of a family owning a chic French hotel chain, a lineage back to the French and Italian aristocracies). She is also appropriately beautiful.
Eden, who is Rufus’ best friend since they were 5, is entangled in the plot.
Not all is as it seems in paradise. Facades are being maintained.
Everything is fabulously fabulous. From the accommodations to the venues to the clothing. Photo shoots are under way every day before the wedding with the best fashion magazines. A whole fashion show could be undertaken with the haute designer clothing in the closets of the guests.
The wedding is a dazzling comedic event for the reader.
The consequences of her lifestyle confront the Countess when she returns home. “No” is probably the most difficult word in the world for her.
Yet the Countess continues to be relentless and cruel and vicious and oblivious as she pursues dynastic opportunities for her children. I was reminded of Disney’s Cruella de Vil.
She is aided by Aunt Rosina who takes off with Rufus to find a wealthy spouse saying it is his duty to help the family. She takes him to a wedding of new wealth. Not an ancient European aristocrat is in sight.
In the soap opera of her life a reckoning awaits the Countess.
With the world the playground of the super rich, the book bounds from country to country.
Kwan is a master of the social machinations of a Chinese (in and out of China) aristocracy. I find his books fun reads.
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This does sound like a fun read, Bill. It's amazing to me how ' the other half lives;' Imagining all of that money and luxury - that's hard, but reading about it can transport one. And it sounds as though the characters are a big part of this book, too, which suits me. And that's to say nothing of the luxury locales!
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