The Late Hesperian

When misfortune and failure hit a young man in London, he leaves to explore the possibility of a new life in Saigon. But his bugbears follow him, and the uglier underbelly of expatriation emerges. As his problems grow, the real question is fight or flight.

The Late Hesperian is the story of this young man’s journey to South East Asia, and his encounters there – a simultaneously amusing and shocking depiction of and satire on expatriate lives, and its manifestation in ‘gap-yah’ culture.

In his debut novel, Dattenberg-Doyle teaches us that in the little time we have, we each decide what is worthwhile: The Late Hesperian is a story about cowards, optimists and acceptance, written with verve, energy, and sensitivity.

TASSO DATTENBERG-DOYLE is an author and translator working between Ho Chi Minh City and London. He read French and German at Wadham College, Oxford. During his time in Vietnam, he has studied the Vietnamese language and culture. He is also passionate about film and a keen fencer.