Crimson in the Water: Tsai Yuling's Dramatic Early Life in Subtropical South-East China Between 1934 and 1945

found this facinating. really good story,would make a great film

I have to admit straight away that as I was at school with the Author some may think I might be bias in my review. I assure you this is far from the intention. I have just finished Crimson in the Water and I genuinely can say that I am amazed that Nigel Beaumont has achieved such a literary masterpiece, this being his first novel. It is a wonderful story of epic proportions of a young boy of humble being growing up in the complex feudal life of south east China who witnesses a family tragedy destined to change his life. However, coupled with this, he has enormous talent as a painter whereupon his misfortune enables him, through a commission, to glimpse the higher social strata leading to 'forbidden' love and accompanying torment, all taking place, latterly at the time of the Japanese invasion of China at the end of the Second World War. It is a very 'smooth' read, with wonderful descriptive prose enabling the reader to clearly visualise the country, the customs and the culture of a complex and mystical part of the world. One never really knows how the story will unfold as twists and turns and intrigue emerge but all resulting in an excitement making it a compelling 'difficult-to-put-down' read. I would definitely recommend it.

This love story was gripping and addictive and like it is said of any drug; once I opened the cover I could not stop until the final page. Each chapter stood alone but with an entwining thread that always left me wanting to know what would happen next and would I have the happy ending I always hope for or would sadness prevail because of a young painter being embroiled with the higher classes. The author gave enough information in the Preface to set the action scene and the characters and I enjoyed reading in the past and present tense because that lets my imagination live within the storyline. The length of the novel was of no concern because I picked up the book at every spare moment; even reading it on a long journey as a passenger in a car. I have bought this novel as a gift and hope the recipient enjoys it as much as I did. Now I cannot wait for Nigel Beaumonts next imaginative writings. Well done. Can we look forward to a cinematic version please?

I found this book enthralling. The main characters are well developed and the plot moves forward at a satisfying pace. This story is of a young man coming to manhood in a time when China is pulled by the forces of the Communists, the Nationalists and the invading Japanese just before WWll. His already compromised life is complicated by his love for the daughter of an powerful Nationalist General. I found the book hard to put down. A Great Read!