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The Persimmon Tree cover art

The Persimmon Tree

By: Bryce Courtenay
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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Summary

A sweeping saga from Bryce Courtenay, Australia's most popular author.

The Persimmon Tree opens in Indonesia in 1942 on the cusp of Japanese invasion and the evacuation of Batavia (Jakarta) by the Dutch. Seventeen-year-old Nicholas Duncan is on holiday there, in pursuit of an exotic butterfly known as the Magpie Crow. It's an uncertain, dangerous time to be in Indonesia, and Nick's options of getting out are fast dwindling. Amidst the fear and chaos he falls in love with Anna, the beautiful daughter of a Dutch acquaintance, and she nicknames him 'Mr Butterfly'.

To assist in the escape, Anna's father gifts Nick his prized yacht, Vlermuis, to sail to Australia. Singapore has just fallen, the Japanese have made it to Sumatra, and the waters are dangerous. Vlermuis is not long out of Batavia when Nick is forced ashore for repairs. He witnesses the bloody execution of shipwrecked Allied soldiers by natives, and while burying what's left of the bodies, Nick notices one wounded soldier has escaped death, and he carries him back to his yacht.

The rescued soldier is a lower-class Irish Catholic American called Kevin Judge. He has no sailing experience, but he assists Nick in navigating through some dramatic storms and the two form an unlikely and lifelong friendship.

©2007 Bryce Courtenay; 2013 Christine Courtenay (P)2007 Bolinda Publishing

What listeners say about The Persimmon Tree

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Compelling read

I enjoyed every minute this book. It was wide ranging in time and place, with interesting characters and insight into the Japanese which was fascinating in its context to their occupation of Java during the Second World War.The reading, with the varying accents of male and female of different races was absorbing and added considerably to my enjoyment. The book also told me so much about this period in history, such as the Dutch occupation, their treatment of the Javanese, the terrible use of young Dutch girls as' comfort women' and the experience of 'Anna' and the upper levels of the Japanese forces. Her 'training ' in sexual pleasuring ,her retention of her innocence'the pearl' and her eventual reunion with 'Nick' ,were all absorbing listening.
The adventures of Nick himself were real Boys Own adventure, from sailing the yacht Butterfly from Java to Australia, to his training and success behind enemy lines,his background as a gentle butterfly collector and his search for his father, eventually dovetailing with his first love Anna.
I loved every minute.beta inappVoteInfo

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13 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Touching love story

This is an intimate, intricate story which I will return to many times in the future. The characters are vividly drawn and the storyline shows real humanity and humility. Seeing how war touches certain characters and how they react to it made me angry, sad - desperately sad, hopeful, touched, and, in the end, inspired.

The book is long, with lots of narrative and dialogue, yet it never feels forced. It flows beautifully. Each time the story moves from one place to another I was left bereft, wondering what was going to happen next in the previous storyline, before being very quickly swept up in a new or delighting in a continuance of a previous thread like I was greeting an old friend.

This is the first novel I have read/listened to by Bryce Courtenay but I will be looking out for him again. I remain moved by his writing.

Humphrey Bower is a masterful narrator with a wonderful array of voices to bring each character to life. Again, I will be looking for more novels narrated by him.

I found it hard knowing I was drawing near to the close of this story and I know I will be thinking about it for a very long time.

I hope that you love this story as much as I do, and that you are left feeling moved. I feel my life is richer for having experienced this story.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Charming and chilling

A chilling story with charming characters,even the bad guys. I loved this book and I was hooked from the first listening. The narration was masterful.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

This isn't just an interesting story, it is filled with wonderful descriptions, and insights into the Japanese culture, way of thinking. I could not stop listening to it, yet did not want it to end.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Facinating

A couple who are seperated during the Japanses invasion recount their different experiencesd of the war. Very moving and enlightening. This was a part of history we did not touch on at school. Painful and real but touching.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful wide-ranging story

What an enjoyable book. A deep insight into what happened in the war in that part of the world, and a fascinating look at Japanese culture. Thoroughly believable characters, who live with me still. Loved the narration. At times I did get slightly bored with the somewhat self-indulgent typical male author wallowing in the sex and the physically perfect characters, plus the attitude that it is fine and natural for a male to sew their wild oats all they like! But overall a wonderful read.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice story set in a historic perspective

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I find it always nice to get something more out of a novel when set in an ethnic or historic perspective. In this case Jave around the second wolrd war.
The nice thing about Bryce Courtenay is that it's a friendly, possitive and gentle story; so nice reading. A fascinating story-line. At times a bit very heroic, but it's just nice (I hate horror and evil). There is always a lot in Courtenay's possivitism.
Great story-teller, great story, great performance! Much enjoyed!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable listen

Interesting and well written. This held my interest throughout and made me want to read the rest of the books by this author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great listen......

Excellent story with a lot of interesting facts woven in to it. A superb narration. if you want a good yarn that is well told them try this one.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

Great story and amazing detail I really enjoyed this book. My first experience of Bruce Courtenay but definitely won’t be my last. Very highly recommend.

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