Physical description

Hard cover book, The Tribulations of A Chinaman.
Author: Jules Verne
Publisher: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, London
Date: 1885.
Light blue hardcover with the title on the spine having lettering to spine in black hand written text pen.

Publication type

fiction

Inscriptions & markings

Flyleaf has full publication details.
Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 843 VER
Front loose end paper has sticker from Warrnambool Public Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service
Front loose end paper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service

Summary

The novel follows Kin-Fo, an extremely wealthy Chinese man in Shanghai who is bored with life. After hearing false news that his U.S. bank investment has gone bankrupt, he decides to commit suicide but first takes out a $200,000 life insurance policy that covers suicide with his mentor Wang and fiancee as beneficiaries. Since he can't bring himself to kill his own self, he hires Wang to murder him before the insurance expires. However the bank was not bankrupt and Wang has disappeared after receiving the contract, Kin-Fo must now travel across China with two insurance company bodyguards and his lazy servant Soun to escape being killed by Wang.
The story ends with the revelation that Wang staged everything to teach Kin-Fo the value of life. Kin-Fo marries his fiancee and lives happily.