The Southern Sky : Cochinchine

By William Singley

"The Southern Sky" provides an intimate view of the expatriate world of French colonialism and exploitation of the Vietnamese as their demands for independence grows. The corrupt world of politicians, police , and violence are brilliantly revealed, framed in the tempestuous love affair of the young doctor and her Corsican lover, in the equatorial setting of 1928 Saigon.A divorcee doctor, Andrea Monin, follows her altruistic father's footsteps to 1928 Indochina. In Saigon, the dedicated doctor goes to work at the government hospital assisting Dr. Poulaine, a French military colonel expatriate who's gone native. She buries herself in her work and avoids the attempts of the young lieutenant, her shipmate on the long journey from Marseilles, to woo her. Also, she stays out of the expatriate decadent social life in Saigon until she meets the rugged Corsican Direrctor of Labor, Bazin. Initially, they clash over the treatment of workers, however, his rough worldly ways win her over and their passionate affair creates a welcome scandal in Saigon society. When Andrea tries to break off her destructive relationship by avoiding Bazin, he tricks her into opening her door during the Chinese New Year, Tet. He forces himself on her and as they lie in bed, political assassins who had followed him, break in and murder Bazin. Andrea pulls herself together and works harder. She assists at a nearby clinic, then finds it destroyed by the French military in their battle against terrorism. Since Bazin had told Andrea all about the corruption of the Saigon officials, the doctor becomes a liability. She threatens to inform the Hanoi authorities, so something must be done to silence her. The sinister chief of the Surete, Inspector Arnoux, follows her in a rickshaw chase through the dark rainy streets of Saigon, to the floating village on the river. To learn Andrea's fate the author suggests you purchase the book.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1973135213
• ISBN13: 9781973135210
• Release Date: October 2017
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.6" x 0.8" x 6.7"