Fan-Tan

A wholly unexpected, hugely entertaining work from one of the greatest actors of our time: the story of an eccentric early-twentieth-century pirate, on the high seas from the Philippines to Shanghai–a larger-than-life character that Brando could have easily inhabited himself.

Anatole “Annie” Doultry is in his early fifties, with an imposing physical presence and a reputation to match. In 1927, he is serving six months in a hellish Hong Kong prison where, on a whim, he saves the life of a Chinese prisoner.

The prisoner’s employer happens to be Madame Lai Choi San. Beautiful, ruthless, and shrewd, she is one of the most notorious gangsters in Asia. When Annie gets out of prison, Madame Lai thanks him with an offer of inconceivable wealth if he will join her in the biggest act of piracy the world has ever seen. Madame Lai is a seductive and powerful ally, but Annie is about to discover that she can be an even more powerful–and dangerous–enemy.

With his longtime collaborator, screenwriter and director Donald Cammell, Brando worked on this story for years. He’s left us with a rollicking, swashbuckling, delectable romp of a novel–the last surprise from an ever-surprising legend.

From the Hardcover edition.

Fan-Tan is a hugely entertaining, swashbuckling romp, from one of the greatest actors of our time: Marlon Brando. The story of an eccentric early-twentieth-century pirate who sets out on thehigh seas from the Philippines to Shanghai, Fan-Tan follows the exploits of Anatole Annie Doultry, a larger-than-life character that Brando could have easily inhabited himself.When Annie saves the life of a Chinese prisoner in a Hong Kong prison, he's led to the mysterious and seductive Madame Lai Choi San-one of the most notorious gangsters in Asia--and here thetrue adventures begin.Years in the making with Brando's longtime collaborator, screenwriter and director Donald Cammell, Fan-Tan is a rollicking, delectable tale-and the last surprisefrom an ever-surprising legend.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Brando and his collaborator Cammell create the story of an eccentric early 20th century pirate, a larger-than-life character, who saves the life of a Chinese prisoner. When he's released from jail, the pirate becomes entangled in the biggest act of piracy that part of the world has seen.

Marlon Brando appeared in more than forty films, including The Wild One, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Apocalypse Now, and won Academy Awards for his performances in On the Waterfront and The Godfather. His autobiography, Songs My Mother Taught Me, was published in 1994.

Donald Cammell, writer, actor, producer, and director, was best known for his films Performance, Demon Seed, and Wild Side.