Skip to content

The Harmony Silk Factory
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Harmony Silk Factory Paperback - 2006

by Tash Aw

Conrad, Maugham, and Burgess have shaped our perceptions of Malaysia. Now, with The Harmony Silk Factory, we have an authentic Malaysian voice that remaps this literary landscape. Through his examination of a mysterious and larger than life character-hero or traitor?-Tash Aw gives us an exquisitely written look into another culture at a moment of crisis.


Summary

Joseph Conrad, W. Somerset Maugham, and Anthony Burgess have shaped our perceptions of Malaysia. In Tash Aw, we now have an authentic Malaysian voice that remaps this literary landscape.

The Harmony Silk Factory traces the story of textile merchant Johnny Lim, a Chinese peasant living in British Malaya in the first half of the twentieth century. Johnny's factory is the most impressive structure in the region, and to the inhabitants of the Kinta Valley Johnny is a hero—a Communist who fought the Japanese when they invaded, ready to sacrifice his life for the welfare of his people. But to his son, Jasper, Johnny is a crook and a collaborator who betrayed the very people he pretended to serve, and the Harmony Silk Factory is merely a front for his father's illegal businesses. This debut novel from Tash Aw gives us an exquisitely written look into another culture at a moment of crisis.

The Harmony Silk Factory won the 2005 Whitbread First Novel Award and also made it to the 2005 Man Booker longlist.

 

From the publisher

Joseph Conrad, W. Somerset Maugham, and Anthony Burgess have shaped our perceptions of Malaysia. In Tash Aw, we now have an authentic Malaysian voice that remaps this literary landscape.

The Harmony Silk Factory traces the story of textile merchant Johnny Lim, a Chinese peasant living in British Malaya in the first half of the twentieth century. Johnny's factory is the most impressive structure in the region, and to the inhabitants of the Kinta Valley Johnny is a hero--a Communist who fought the Japanese when they invaded, ready to sacrifice his life for the welfare of his people. But to his son, Jasper, Johnny is a crook and a collaborator who betrayed the very people he pretended to serve, and the Harmony Silk Factory is merely a front for his father's illegal businesses. This debut novel from Tash Aw gives us an exquisitely written look into another culture at a moment of crisis. The Harmony Silk Factory won the 2005 Whitbread First Novel Award and also made it to the 2005 Man Booker longlist.

Details

  • Title The Harmony Silk Factory
  • Author Tash Aw
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition First Trade Pape
  • Pages 416
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Riverhead Books, NY USA
  • Date 2006-02-07
  • ISBN 9781594481741 / 1594481741
  • Weight 0.76 lbs (0.34 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.98 x 5.19 x 0.92 in (20.27 x 13.18 x 2.34 cm)
  • Ages 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

Media reviews

"Unputdownable."—Doris Lessing

"A beguiling narrative mosaic...bewitchingly written...mercilessly gripping."—The Times (London)

"First reaction: WOW! Second reaction: Read it."—Asian Week

"A beautifully composed and memorable story...A first book anyone who travels by fiction will want to read."—San Francisco Chronicle

About the author

Tash Aw was born in Taipei and brought up in Malaysia. He moved to England in his teens. This is his first novel.
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

The Harmony Silk Factory
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Harmony Silk Factory

by Tash Aw

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good Condition
Edition
[ Edition: reprint ]
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781594481741 / 1594481741
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£1.61
£3.43 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
[ Edition: reprint ]. Good Condition. [ No Hassle 30 Day Returns ][ Ships Daily ] [ Underlining/Highlighting: NONE ] [ Writing: NONE ] Some wear on cover. Good condition. Publisher: Riverhead Trade Pub Date: 2/7/2006 Binding: Paperback Pages: 416
Item Price
£1.61
£3.43 shipping to USA
The Harmony Silk Factory
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Harmony Silk Factory

by Aw, Tash

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781594481741 / 1594481741
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£3.69
£3.22 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Riverhead Books. Used - Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
Item Price
£3.69
£3.22 shipping to USA
The Harmony Silk Factory
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Harmony Silk Factory

by Aw, Tash

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781594481741 / 1594481741
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Houston, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.18
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Riverhead Books, 2006-02-07. paperback. Acceptable. 5x0x8.
Item Price
£4.18
FREE shipping to USA
The Harmony Silk Factory
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Harmony Silk Factory

by Aw,Tash

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781594481741 / 1594481741
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Englewood, Colorado, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.44
£3.22 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Riverhead Trade, February 2006. Trade Paperback . Good. Aw,Tash Harmony Silk Factory Light creases to the spine with light edgewear to cover. Pages clean and unmarked. Reading crease along the spine. All Orders Shipped With Tracking And Delivery Confirmation Numbers.
Item Price
£4.44
£3.22 shipping to USA
The Harmony Silk Factory

The Harmony Silk Factory

by Tash Aw

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781594481741 / 1594481741
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£5.48
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2006. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
£5.48
FREE shipping to USA
The Harmony Silk Factory

The Harmony Silk Factory

by Tash Aw

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781594481741 / 1594481741
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£5.48
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2006. Paperback. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
£5.48
FREE shipping to USA
The Harmony Silk Factory

The Harmony Silk Factory

by Tash Aw

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781594481741 / 1594481741
Quantity Available
3
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£5.48
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2006. Paperback. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
£5.48
FREE shipping to USA
The Harmony Silk Factory
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Harmony Silk Factory

by Aw, Tash

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781594481741 / 1594481741
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£5.72
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
£5.72
FREE shipping to USA
The Harmony Silk Factory
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Harmony Silk Factory

by Tash Aw

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781594481741 / 1594481741
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£5.76
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Riverhead Trade, 2006-02-07. Paperback. Good.
Item Price
£5.76
FREE shipping to USA
The Harmony Silk Factory
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Harmony Silk Factory

by Aw, Tash

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781594481741 / 1594481741
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£5.82
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
£5.82
FREE shipping to USA