Augustus John Polly is a restless academic, uncomfortable in the colonial environment of 1950s Hong Kong. Prompted by sexual fantasies, he is drawn into a conspiracy that unfolds disastrously.

“Amidst the decline of empire, a restless colonialist in Hong Kong debates the meaning of history. By turns funny and philosophical, this story of one man’s whimsy – but also courage – in taking a side challenges our own complacencies with political notions of right and wrong, as well as the inequalities of our own time.”
– Cyril Wong, poet and fictionalist.

“Mr. Polly’s world is a rich tapestry. The reader is transported to a world already gone, but not forgotten. It’s a cornucopia of themes, impressions, and moods. Like preparing a magical potion in a sorcerer’s cauldron, Malcolm Jack’s prose effectively uses a number of fascinating ingredients: The blend is sensuous, lascivious, delicious, funny, witty, ironic, intellectual, philosophical, political, historical, and human – a true cornucopia of life.”
– João Mendonça, translator and author.

“Malcolm Jack’s latest is a page-turner, a taut political thriller that never loses its momentum. The text has a cinematic quality, the protagonist a quiet Briton who contemplates the end of history and the fragility of empire. Hong Kong is lovingly and nostalgically depicted in glorious Technicolour as a city on the brink of change, at once beguiling and inscrutable.”
– Kennie Ting, historian and curator.

Malcolm Jack was brought up and schooled in Hong Kong before returning to university in the UK. As a child, he learnt Cantonese at the same time as English. He has had a career both as a public servant and a writer. His writing includes articles, reviews on history, literature, philosophy, politics and a number of books. Among his travel histories are Lisbon: City of the Sea (2007) and To the Fairest Cape: European Encounters in the Cape of Good Hope (2019). His last book, My Hong Kong (2022), deals with writers’ mainly fictional impressions of the city from the 1950s onwards. He is a frequent visitor to Hong Kong.

Customer Reviews

4.8

29 reviews

Sidney Blackmore

A rich patchwork which works on many levels. Set in Hong Kong in the early 1950s, it tells of Augustus John Polly, a university lecturer (with William Beckford's Vathek in his pocket). Marvelously evoking the diverse worlds of the colony and academia. There are many surprises as we turn the pages. A work to be slowly re-read to fully savour its many subtleties
Lovely insight into the world of Colonial Hong Kong

I enjoyed so much, I have bought a couple of copies for HK friends
Rob

Much enjoyed Mr Polly‘s excursion to old Hong Kong which is vividly captured in Malcolm Jack‘s book.
Dr. Bill Smith FRCPsych

A tender and beautifully written evocation of a lost time;of the author’s early life in Hong Kong, with its colonial social mores and the complex relationships of its inhabitants . An exquisite read with a narrative which transports one to a gripping finale.Time for a sequel, Malcolm?
Tom Willett

Engaging, evocative and entertaining. Brings Hong Kong in another era to life. A very enjoyable read.
Andrew Edington

Through his Mr Polly, the author deftly ignites little bonfires under many aspects of life in old Hong Kong: colonial attitudes, the academic world, and authority. Dialogue is brisk, witty. There's nearly always a stiff drink on hand (even during a Police interrogation), and there's at least one sweaty gardener for Mr Polly to admire. The occasional transliteration of spoken English by Chinese characters ("Vely selious. Levolution") is momentarily jarring, but such stereotypes apart, this history of this Mr Polly is above all an affectionate look back at heyday HK.
Cyril Wong

A lively and moving take on the end of Empire and making life-changing choices in the name of courage in 1950s Hong Kong. A great read.
Marco Aurelio De Fendi

Mr Polly's Bonfire Party is a gentle, reflective book that celebrates the curious theatre of ordinary life. With its subtle wit and emotional intelligence, it offers a tender portrait of ageing, tradition and the strange beauty of fleeting encounters. For readers who find comfort in the quiet flicker of well crafted prose, Malcolm Jack's story glows with understated brilliance.