The Man in the Wooden Hat

In "Filth (Failed in London, Try Hong Kong)," a successful lawyer named Filth navigates his complex relationship with his free-spirited wife, Elisabeth, against the backdrop of post-war Hong Kong. While Filth struggles with emotional expression, Elisabeth, shaped by her traumatic past in Japanese internment camps, is drawn to his rival, the charismatic and emotionally open Veneering. The story unfolds as Elisabeth evolves into Betty, raising questions of loyalty and desire amid a plot rich with surprises, humor, and the eccentricities characteristic of Jane Gardam's writing.