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The Persimmon Tree

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The Persimmon Tree

Written by: Bryce Courtenay
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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About this listen

It is 1942 in the Dutch East Indies, and Nick Duncan is a young Australian butterfly collector in search of a single exotic butterfly. With invading Japanese forces coming closer by the day, Nick falls in love with the beguiling Anna van Heerden.

Their time together is brief, as both are forced into separate, dangerous escapes. They plan to reunite and marry in Australia but it is several years before their paths cross again, scarred forever by the dark events of a long, cruel war.

In The Persimmon Tree, Bryce Courtenay gives us a story of love and friendship set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pacific during the Second World War.

©2007 Bryce Courtenay. By arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia).; 2013 Bryce Courtenay. By arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia). (P)2007 Bolinda Publishing
Fiction Historical Singapore Solider
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What the critics say

"The ultimate international bestseller." (The New York Times)
"When the Japanese invade Indonesia in 1942, 17-year-old Australian Nick Duncan escapes by sailing a yacht across the ocean. It's a harrowing journey made manageable, in part, by Nick's hope that his new love, Anna, is safely on her way to Australia. Unfortunately, Anna is stuck in Indonesia, a prisoner of the Japanese. Humphrey Bower's narration makes it a pleasure. His skills should be a model. He reads with anticipation, so that a line written as a laugh or a sob is read as a laugh or a sob without being overdramatized. His characterizations reveal personality and motive, and hold steady throughout the book. And his pacing keeps us interested even when the plot is predictable." (AudioFile Magazine)

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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Wonderful

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

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

Many difficult accents. Adding to the fantastic story.

I enjoy the entire book although some parts are hard to listen to. War brings out the worst.

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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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