Published in 1982,

is Timothy Mo’s second novel. Set in London’s Chinatown during the 1960s, it follows the adventures of the Chen family, immigrants from Hong Kong. The novel consists of 36 chapters which fall into 3 parts: Chapters 1 to 10 introduce the main characters – Chen, his wife Lily, their young son, Man Kee, and Lily’s sister, Mui – and narrate their origins and immigrant way of life in the early days of their arrival; Chapters 11 to 22 shows the growth of the family and its adaptation to new life in Britain. The remaining 14 chapters are concerned with the breaking up and reconstitution of the family, leading to the denouement of Chen’s disappearance, Mui’s marriage and her subsequent departure. Woven into this family saga is the narrative of the…

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Citation: Ho, Elaine. "Sour Sweet". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 13 February 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=1927, accessed 21 November 2024.]