The Jade Lily

Romy Bernfeld, 12, her “Mutti” nurse Marta, and surgeon

“Papa” Oskar are on board a boat to take refuge in Shanghai. A Jewish family from Vienna in 1938, they have suffered the loss of son Benjamin, as he went to help a neighbour being beaten. In 2016 Romy meets granddaughter Alexandra, at Melbourne airport, on a flight from London. Grandpa (“Opa”) is dying and mistakes Alex for Sophia – Alex’s mum and the daughter he and Romy brought back from China. Sophia died in a car accident. Alex wants to take a trading job in Shanghai and to trace her mother’s Chinese birth family. Manning now skilfully merges Romy’s coming of age with Alex’s – both infused by the ancient wisdom of the city. Romy’s best friend Li became a cabaret singer. She had a jade lily pendant as a talisman. In 1939 Romy meets Wilhelm (Opa), but two people she loves, love each other. The jade pendant Oma gifted Alex is the family’s beating heart.