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The Persimmon Tree cover art

The Persimmon Tree

Written by: Bryce Courtenay
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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Publisher's 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
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting WWII Story

Good story, expected graphic & unexpected sexual content. Overall a worthwhile listen in my humble opinion.

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

What a book!

I love this author. He writes with such detail. Combine that with a voice actor who can bring the book to life. This reader can bring the characters off the page with accents and emotion as he reads. Well done to the reader and the author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful

Another great one from this author. The reading of it was top notch with great accents.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Adult content

A good story that kept me listening.
The publishers summary failed to note that there is very explicit detail of unusual sexual acts that is close to pornographic in nature.
I liked Brother Fish a lot better. The narrator was the same but he had to do different accents in this book which were not too convincing. Both the Dutch and the Japanese characters often sounded Russian.

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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

Love historical fiction

Excellent historical fiction, love the weaving of the characters through different parts of the war. Main character is a little too perfect at everything... but otherwise really enjoyed it. And the narration was pretty funny with all the accents.

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