Java Head

Java Head is a novel written by Joseph Hergesheimer that was first published in 1919. It tells the story of a New England family, the Vales, and their involvement in the tea trade with China during the mid-19th century. The novel focuses on the family's patriarch, Owen, his three sons, and his daughter, who all become entangled in a web of love, betrayal, and greed as they navigate the dangerous waters of the tea trade.The novel is set against the backdrop of the Opium Wars, which saw China and Great Britain fighting over the trade of opium and tea. The Vales, who are wealthy and influential, have a stake in the tea trade and are determined to protect their interests at all costs. As they struggle to maintain their position in the industry, they are forced to confront their own personal demons, including infidelity, addiction, and betrayal.The novel is known for its vivid descriptions of life in China during the mid-19th century, as well as its exploration of themes such as colonialism, race, and class. It is also notable for its complex and nuanced characters, who are often driven by conflicting desires and motivations.Overall, Java Head is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that offers a fascinating glimpse into a tumultuous period in history, while also exploring timeless themes that continue to resonate with readers today.1918. American novelist Hergesheimer has been called a naturalist writing of the romantic past. He is also the author of short stories, essays, biographies, and the autobiography, From an Old House. Java Head begins: Very late indeed in May, but early in the morning, Laurel Ammidon lay in bed considering two widely different aspects of chairs. The day before she had been eleven, and the comparative maturity of that age had filled her with a moving disdain for certain fanciful thoughts which had given her extreme youth a decidedly novel if not an actually adventurous setting. Until yesterday, almost, she had regarded the various chairs of the house as beings endowed with life and character; she had held conversations with some, and, with a careless exterior not warranted by an inner dread, avoided others in gloomy dusks. All this, now, she contemptuously discarded. Chairs were-chairs, things to sit on, wood and stuffed cushions.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.