Kirsty Manning – The Jade Lily (Literature Review)

In Austria, Romy Bernfield knew the rules: never look up, keep to yourself and don’t make a scene. It’s 1938 and there are soldiers everywhere, just looking for the opportunity to prove themselves. But now she and her family are living in Shanghai, the chaos of war and the Nazis in Germany are too far away to touch her. In her new home, she becomes best friends with a girl named Li. Together they will conquer the world, come hell or high-water. This is the beginning of a new life and nothing or no one will shatter that peace.

Fast forward to 2016. Temporarily abandoning her highflying London career to be at her dying grandfather’s bedside, Alexandra knows her grandparents have more secrets than they are willing to let on. When she journeys to Shanghai for a new job, she is determined to get to uncover her family history. The question is whether she will be brave enough to face the truth when confronted with it.

This is the premise of Kirsty Manning’s latest novel, The Jade Lily. At its heart, the book is a story of unyielding friendship, passionate love, fierce bravery and the belief that if you are strong enough, you can overcome any obstacles life throws your way.

Manning’s debut, The Midsummer Garden received critical acclaim upon its release, with many praising the richness of her prose and the world she has so carefully created. While I have yet to read the book that launched her career, I was intrigued by The Jade Lily. Historical storylines that cross over between the past and contemporary life have long been a favourite of mine, and when it’s done well, the novel has a captivating quality that can be hard to overlook.

The Jade Lily is, it would appear, one of these novels. From the very first page, I had the feeling that I was reading a great book. With an intense storyline that details a piece of history often ignored in “war novels” and enchanting characters with a secret bond that influences future generations for years to come, there’s not much to dislike about the novel.

All at once, the characters leap off the page, bringing the story to life with a vibrance few writers these days masterfully manage. While some historical fiction authors choose to put all their efforts into research and impress their hard work upon the reader, Manning does no such thing. Instead, it seems, she has taken her time and allowed the story to tell itself. Though the historical information contained within the book is important to the premise of its tale, it is never forced upon you, as the reader.

Instead, the story unfolds with the flow of time passing. The criss-cross between the past and present is handled with care, enhancing the story and adding a new dimension to our heroine’s tale, rather than intruding upon her journey. It may even be said that without the “time-travel” and interweaving plotlines, Manning’s novel would not nearly be as good as it is.

The Jade Lily has that rare quality that can be difficult to find in many historical novels. All at once, it’s enchanting and unforgettable. Read this novel once and the story will stay with you long after you have reached the final page.

To find out more about The Jade Lily and other titles published by Allen & Unwin, visit their blog Things Made From Letters.