We might be on the wrong side of Australia Day when it comes to summer reading lists, but who wouldn't want to stretch their reading list a little to make room for the latest bodice ripper from Commonwealth Bank board member Harrison Young?
The Daughters of Henry Wong is the fourth literary offering from Young, and is set in Hong Kong's world of finance. The protagonist is Jonathan Wentworth "Wendy" Lee whose life is thrown into chaos when his father-in-law – the "most powerful banker in Hong Kong" – goes missing.
More World News Videos
'Same problems as London': Morrison doubles down on negative gearing
High property prices in the UK show that Australia's housing affordability crisis is not related to negative gearing, Treasurer Scott Morrison told business leaders in Marylebone, in the UK.
"Under the guidance of a comical investment banker, wise friends and alluring women, Wendy mounts a defence and races to uncover the layers of deception and family secrets right under his nose before it's too late," says the book blurb.
"I set the book in Hong Kong because I was living there, and had found it an interesting city – at once frantic and majestic," said Young, whose global wanderings have provided fertile ground for his literary work.
![Illustration: John Shakespeare.](/web/20170130154615im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/1/n/q/c/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu18wu.png/1485785456335.jpg)
On writing - Daughters of Henry Wong - https://t.co/t6j5d4TP8t via @harrisonyoungpa #writing #novels
— Harrison Young (@harrisonyoungpa) January 18, 2017
With regard to his latest work, CBD can't wait to see what has survived the past two years of tinkering by Harrison.
In February 2015, he revealed to CBD that he had two books in the drawer that he hoped to publish in coming years, one under the working title The Daughters of Henry Wong.
And he offered a taste of what we could expect.
![ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott (left) and chairman David Gonski. Elliott picked Salvation of a Saint by Japanese ...](/web/20170130154615im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/c/r/m/k/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu18wu.png/1485785456335.jpg)
"Given your column's interest in footgear, I should mention that there is a male merchant banker in the story who wears high heels in order to frighten his opponents," Young told CBD.
"People realise that if I'll do this," he (male merchant banker) tells the narrator, "I'm capable of anything."
![The Daughters of Henry Wong, by Harrison Young.](/web/20170130154615im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/j/x/f/a/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gu18wu.png/1485785456335.jpg)
Wouldn't we all like to try that little gambit at our next performance review.
Young's former chairman at Commbank – the now-retired David Turner – was not available to launch the book, despite his reduced workload.
But not to worry, Sir Rod Eddington – a man who knows Hong Kong well from his days running Cathay Pacific – will launch the racy read in Melbourne on February 16.
Not so BlueNotes
Young's literary work – which he previously described as "romance with the sex left in" – certainly promises something a bit spicier than the summer reading list offered by ANZ's top brass.
Chief executive Shayne Elliott plumped for Salvation of a Saint by Japanese crime author Keigo Higashino, and TV series The Night Manager for his binge viewing on the "long" holiday flight.
"That said, I will be turning off my digital life as much as possible – I think changing habits and doing things differently is also part of a holiday."
His boss, ANZ chairman David Gonski, took time out from his busy schedule – running almost every corporate board in the country – to recommend The Stupidity Paradox: The Power and Pitfalls of Functional Stupidity at Work as his book of the year.
Gonski seems rather chuffed that Malcolm Turnbull put it on his reading list at Gonski's recommendation.
Let's hope our PM learns a few lessons from it.
Copper this!
The year has barely begun and colourful Queensland copper hopeful Cudeco is already saying goodbye to its third CEO in 18 months.
The company, which is now in the hands of Asian investors, announced that the boss it installed in May, Dr Dianmin Chen, has handed in his notice and will exit the Cloncurry miner in April.
The very colourful industry identity and Cudeco founder, Wayne McCrae, was shown the exit in July 2015. He was replaced by his mate, Peter Hutchison.
Hutchison made way for Chen in May last year, but he remains on the board.
Just as well the board – or Chen – prepared for his quick departure.
According to the ASX release announcing his appointment last year, Chen will receive "a termination payment equal to 75 per cent of the then annual salary base", on top of his other entitlements on exit.
Follow CBD on Twitter
Got a tip? ckruger@fairfaxmedia.com.au
0 comments
New User? Sign up