The White Tiger

by Robert Nathan

A stunning new novel of suspense set in modern-day China--already hailed as "the Chinese Gorky Park".

431 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Robert Gruntal Nathan was born into a prominent New York Sephardic family. He was educated in the United States and Switzerland and attended Harvard University for several years beginning in 1912. It was there that he began writing short fiction and poetry. However, he never graduated, choosing instead to drop out and take a job at an advertising firm to support his family (he married while a junior at Harvard). It was while working in 1919 that he wrote his first novel—the semi-autobiographical work Peter Kindred—which was a critical failure. But his luck soon changed during the 1920s, when he wrote seven more novels, including The Bishop's Wife, which was later made into a successful film starring Cary Grant, David Niven, and Loretta Young.

During the 1930s, his success continued with more works, including fictional pieces and poetry. In 1940, he wrote his most successful book, Portrait of Jennie, about a Depression-era artist and the woman he is painting, who is slipping through time. Portrait of Jennie is considered a modern masterpiece of fantasy fiction and was made into a film, starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten.

In January 1956 the author wrote, as well as narrated, an episode of the CBS Radio Workshop, called "A Pride of Carrots or Venus Well-Served."

Nathan's seventh wife was the British actress Anna Lee, to whom he was married from 1970 until his death. He came from a talented family — the activist Maud Nathan and author Annie Nathan Meyer were his aunts, and the poet Emma Lazarus and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo his cousins

Reviews

[L.G. Cullens · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been years since I read this book, but I still remember sketches of the story because it was an engrossing read. It was billed as a thriller/mystery, but was much more in helping to understand the political climate in post Red Guard China during the mid 1980s. Not like a history book would depict though, but because the author developed the characters so well one could envision living the story.

[William Crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hong investigates, but does not know what he is investigating and must be careful about being perceived as non-loyal to Communist China where those in power eliminate those they perceive as threats and where the reasons for being perceived as a threat can change.

Interwoven with Chinese historical fiction, politics, archaeology, and ideology.

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew immediately who the baddie was. The book was written in 1987. Hong Kong was not part of China. They spoke of a man from West Germany. The wall had not yet come down. I wondered at all the details of how people got from one place to another. I doubt that many readers would be familiar with streets in Beijing, and they were just extra words to read.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the storyline and how the investigation and mystery unfolded to include some history. Overall it was a good.

[Ryan Hornish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow almost of the way through but riveting at the finish line.

[Rosanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

China after the cultural revolution finds itself with heroes who now become liablities. Their work with Mao gives them an elevated standing. Their children begin to questions somethings that were done then. As China opens more to the west, these icons develop power and use it ruthlessly. The hero of this story is the son of a powerful revolutionary couple. He finds himself going up against one of these heroes.Lots of intrigue and history of China.

[Debra Kloth]

Recommended by Amy Dunlop