Lies that Blind: A Novel of Late 18th Century Penang

In 1788, aspiring journalist Jim Lloyd risks his future by becoming Captain Francis Light's assistant in Penang, a East India Company trading settlement. He hopes to chronicle his employer's achievements and gain fame, but tensions rise between Light and Sultan Abdullah of Queda, leading to pirate activity, monopolies, and threats of war. Jim's dedication to Light's son and his attraction to a Dutchman complicate his situation, forcing him to confront his misguided ambitions and help save Light's legacy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 19 October 2021
Publisher: Penguin Random House SEA

In 1788, aspiring journalist Jim Lloyd takes a daring risk that could jeopardize his future in ways he never could have imagined. He risks his wealthy father's wrath by attaching himself to Captain Francis Light, an adventurous adventurer who governs the East India Company's new trading settlement on Penang. Once on the island, Jim, serving as Light's assistant, hopes that chronicling his employer's achievements will propel them both to enduring fame. However, the naive young man soon discovers that years of deception and double-dealing have strained relations between Light and Penang's legal owner, Sultan Abdullah of Queda, almost to the point of war. Tensions mount as pirate activity escalates, traders complain about Light's monopolies, and inhabitants threaten to flee, fearing a battle the fledgling settlement cannot hope to win against the Malays.

Jim realizes that his shared obsession with renown has brought him and Light perilously close to infamy: a fate the younger man, at least, fears more than death. Yet, Jim cannot leave Penang due to his deep devotion to Light's young son, William, and his perplexing attraction to a mercurial Dutchman. He must stay and confront his own misguided ambitions, as well as help save the legacy of a man he has come to despise.

Lies That Blind is a captivating story inspired by true events that delves into the complex and morally ambiguous world of historical character Francis Light. It sheds light on the lengths one man was willing to go to in pursuit of his own ambitions, and the consequences that his actions had on the lives of countless others. Through the lens of Jim's journey, the novel explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the pursuit of fame, highlighting the human capacity for both greatness and destruction.

Weight: 370g
Dimension: 231 x 152 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789814954426