Tree of Heaven — R.C. Binstock

The year is 1938. The Japanese army has occupied Nanking.

Kuroda, a reluctant officer trained as a botanist, is left in charge of a garrison town. When he comes upon a starving, filthy Chinese refugee about to be raped by his soldiers, a common occurrence, he does the remarkable: he rescues her and gives her his protection. Li has no choice but to accept it; she becomes his servant, and an extraordinary intimacy ensues.

Psychologically taut, etched in spare, compelling prose, a deep yet dynamic novel of safety and risk, guilt and captivity, power and love.

Published by R.C. Binstock Books in a new author's edition.