The House Of Doors

by Tan Twan Eng 

Step into the richly textured world of The House of Doors, a mesmerizing historical novel that masterfully examines the fault lines of race, gender, sexuality, and power under empire. Set in 1921 at Cassowary House on the Straits Settlement of Penang, the story follows Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert—a lawyer and war veteran—as their quiet existence is upended by the unexpected arrival of "Willie" Somerset Maugham, a famed writer whose own life is unraveling. Burdened by a secretive, unhappy marriage and the heavy cost of concealing his true self, Maugham seeks inspiration for his next work and finds it in the complex, dangerous world surrounding Lesley. As suspicions of infidelity and long-hidden connections to revolutionary history emerge—including ties to Dr. Sun Yat Sen—Maugham uncovers a narrative of war, scandal, and a sensational murder trial. The House of Doors is a breathtaking exploration of love, betrayal, colonialism, and redemption, drawing readers deep into a tale where history and fiction blur and every secret holds the power to reshape destiny.