ManywordshavebeenusedtodescribeJohnPopeHennessy,theformergovernorofHongKong.“Controversial”isperhapsthebriefestwaytooutlinehischaracter.Yetwemaybeguiltyofascribingmodernideastoourunderstandingofcharactersofthepast.AnIrishCatholicraisedduringtheageofempireandrisingnationalism,adevoutToryandDisraelifollower,abelieverinboththebenefitsofempireandapatronoflocaltalentinhispostings,itiseasytoviewPopeHennessyasamanofcontradictions.
ThisvolumetracesPopeHennessy’shistoryfromhisearlybeginningsinfamineIrelandtohisattemptstorisethroughtheranksinLondon.ItgoesontocoverhisearlypostingstoLabuan,WestAfrica,and,ofcourse,HongKong,aswellashisfinaldayswithhisfamily.HisactionsandhispersonalityarelaidbareforreadersfoformtheirownopinionsofoneofHongKong’smostenigmaticgovernors.
HongKong TIMES LIFE and HENNESSY
