Pai Naa

by Dorothy Thatcher, Robert Cross

By the time the British surrendered to the Japanese in February 1942 at the fall Singapore, nearly all white civilians had left Malaya. One remarkable exception to the white flight was Nona Baker, ‘a parson’s youngest daughter’ from Dunstable, Bedfordshire. Nona Baker and her brother, Vin, general manager of Sungei Lembing tin mine in Pahang, stayed behind in the Malayan jungle and were later adopted by Chinese guerrillas (who, after World War Two, would become the Communist terrorists of the Malayan Emergency). Against all odds, this remarkable, brave young woman, known as Pai Naa (White Nona), remained in the jungle for three years, avoiding capture by the Japanese and betrayal by spies before being delivered safely into the care of war hero Freddie Spencer Chapman. With hair cut short Nona Baker worked alongside the men while under constant threat of discovery and certain death, and with the men she suffered from malaria, dysentery, beriberi, hunger and, above all, fear.

Genres: Asia, War

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 21, 1974

Reviews

[Sivasothi N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping account of survival during the war in the forests of Malaya

An easy read which can be finished in one sitting. Nona Baker was a courageous and highly motivated woman who sought refuge in Malayan forests during WW2. This was accomplished initially with the help of local people her brother had looked after as the Tuan Besar of the world’s largest tin mining operation, and then they sought refuge with the communists, whom she describes as never turning away refugees.

The difficult but gradual realisation of the end of a way of life, the intimate refuge with communists who would go on to become the enemy during the emergency, the trials of living in the rainforest and the sacrifice of many peoples during that time provides one more account of struggle of the war years in Malaya.

[Malcolm Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this story is fascinating and impressive, heartbreaking and sobering, I just can't see past the casual and almost malignant racism. The ease with which Chinese, Malayan, Indian and others are described as being inferior and somehow inherently containing human qualities that had been removed from white people just made me roll my eyes. I understand that this is from a different age and there existed acceptable racism but really, does it take any brain cells to see that inferiority is just another collective snobbery and narcissism?
However, the story is incredible, to have survived all that and still be a whole person is remarkable. I did find that part of the story seemed to be rushed, after her brother died the story seemed to skip forward rather too fast. A good book, a remarkable feat of surviving against the odds but deeply flawed by the contemporary racism and classism of the day.

[Y.S. Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clarification: this book was originally published in 1959 as PAI NAA: THE STORY OF NONA BAKER, by Dorothy Thatcher and Robert Cross (London: Constable). Here's the Google Books link: https://books.google.ca/books/about/P...

[Kioh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel "Pai Naa" follows the journey of Nona Baker, a white woman, and her brother Vin, who, as the general manager of the Sungai Lembing tin mine in Pahang, find themselves stranded in the Malayan jungle to evade capture by the Japanese during World War II. Their survival hinges on the initial aid provided by the local Malayan-Chinese community. However, fearing betrayal, they eventually opt to join communist guerrillas after enduring a year and a half in the wild.

As a Malaysian, raised in a diverse society, I appreciated how the story sheds light on the collaborative efforts of different ethnic groups in resisting the Japanese occupation. Despite my personal reservations about communism, the novel acknowledges the significant role played by the communist party and its members in the fight against the Japanese invaders. The author adeptly captures the harsh realities of jungle life, portraying the scarcity of resources and the challenging living conditions with authenticity.

I would enthusiastically recommend "Pai Naa" to my friends, particularly fellow Malaysians, for its insightful portrayal of historical events and its depiction of the spirit of unity among diverse communities. However, I must acknowledge that the presence of racist remarks within the book is deeply troubling and incompatible with contemporary standards of political correctness.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

*contain spoiler*

This was such a great read. I love Pai Naa's dedication towards her brother, it is such an admirable trait. Thoroughly enjoyed their journey from the mining business time to their jungle life to their communist camp life. The part when Vin dies really broke me. Such a sad moment because I truly felt for Pai Naa and I myself felt like I couldn't do anything anymore, just like Pai Naa. A great read for those who don't want to read the typical Malaysian historical stories.

[SALLY WHITE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads for sending me this book. I enjoyed this book because I felt that I learned something, not only about this period during World War II, but also how the human spirit comes through in so many extreme situations. This is a very descriptive true story of how a brother and sister hid in the jungle from the Japanese during the war. An informative read.

[Vonne Learmonth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. Its a different time. The language is quite different,attitudes were different but it is about love, loyalty, strength, resilience and most of all courage to face each challenge as it presented itself. Pai Naa and her brother wouldn’t have survived without each other and the people who loved them.

[Bud Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little known history of colonials fighting back against the Japanese in WW2

[Michèle Marchand · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice light read, I read it on vacation and it was perfect. It's a great true story. This woman has been through a lot!

[Michelle Ule · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting Malayan WWII experience

The interesting story of a British woman trapped in the Malaysian jungle throughout WWII.

I’ve never heard such a tale before.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving tale of extraordinary endurance through the hardship of war. Sitting in our comfortable 21st century homes we can barely imagine how tough life is in the wilderness without access to electricity, toilets and hardly any cooked food, all the while suffering from a thousand cuts, be they insects, leeches, thorns or the unending torrent of rain and suffocating humidity without four walls and a roof over one's head at night. These were the tribulations of an English woman during war time in Malaya while hiding from the Japanese, later among Chinese guerillas deep in the jungle. For YEARS. It truly was a state akin to being an animal, and she likely would not have survived without the physical and emotional support of her dear brother, who likewise depended on her through their long journey together. As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and that was the case with the Chinese communists while under the Japanese occupation. Miss Baker was lucky to be left to return home after her ordeal, for shortly after the war, the very same people whom she took refuge with turned against the British for more than ten years in what became the Malayan Emergency.

An engrossing account, honest and heart wrenching.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway, so I would like to thank the publishers for the opportunity to read this book!
This book taught me so much about World War Two and the people often forgotten. It’s very easy to focus on the major elements such as Britain’s and Germany’s role yet this book shines a light on the county’s forgotten about. I feel this book would be perfect for screen more than page, as sadly sometimes I struggled to visualise elements (as it was something I’d never encountered before!). However, overall a very educating and truly intriguing book