This is a novel set in Victorian times, following the journey of a piano tuner named Edgar Drake who is sent to Burma to tune a French piano for an eccentric army surgeon. The book explores themes of class conflict, cultural encounters, and the complexities of colonialism. It is described as a lovingly reconstructed Victorian travelogue, rich in atmospheric details and historical context, capturing the essence of the places and people Edgar encounters.

This book was discussed at length by the group who thought it a challenging read, but well researched and written with evocative descriptions of Burma and it’s culture.  The main characters were fictional but the military situation, and lesser characters were all true.  The sudden unexplained ending was thought weak. 

Overall “It was a thought provoking read.”