Java Head is a beautifully written novel that explores the themes of love, ambition, and cultural clash. Set in the early 20th century, the story follows the lives of two Chinese brothers who immigrate to America in search of fortune and success. The character development is rich and captivating, as the brothers navigate their relationships with each other and the American women they fall in love with.

Hergesheimer's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the bustling streets of San Francisco and the exotic landscapes of China. The narrative is both gripping and thought-provoking, as it delves into the complexities of identity and the tension between tradition and modernity.

Overall, Java Head is a compelling read that offers a nuanced portrayal of cultural differences and the challenges of assimilation. Hergesheimer's storytelling is as engaging as it is enlightening, making this a must-read for fans of historical fiction and literary fiction alike.

Book Description:
Java Head is a novel of the American merchant marine at the beginning of the great clipper ship era. It is laid in Salem, when that city was still a port rich with the traffic of the East Indies; a story of choleric ship masters, charming girls, and an aristocratic Manchu woman in carmine and jades and crusted gold. There is a drama as secret and poisonous as opium, lovely old gardens with lilac trees and green lattices, and elm-shaded streets ending at the harbor with the brigs unloading ivory from Africa and the ships crowding on their topsails for Canton. It is a romantic novel-and yet true-rather than a study of drab manners; there is no purpose in it other than the pleasure to be found in the spectacle of life supported by high courage and made beautiful by women in peacock shawls. (From the back cover of the 1919 edition)