When We Were Orphans

3.5 avg 49633 votes 5075 reviews 46684 want to read

About this book

'You seldom read a novel that so convinces you it is extending the possibilities of fiction.' Sunday TimesEngland, 1930s. Christopher Banks has become the country's most celebrated detective, his cases the talk of London society. Yet one unsolved crime has always haunted him: the mysterious disappearance of his parents, in old Shanghai, when he was a small boy. Moving between London and Shanghai of the inter-war years, When We Were Orphans is a remarkable story of memory, intrigue and the need to return.

3.5 ★★★★☆ average of 4 sources · 49633 votes
Open Library 3.0 4
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Goodreads 3.5 49633
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5,075 reviews · 46,684 want to read · 2,606 reading now

Apple Books 4.0 130
Hardcover 3.5 92

Reader Profile

Enjoyment71Difficulty60Influence53Popularity62Classic26
Dark Warm

3.5/5 · 49633 readers · 372 pages · ≈ 6 h 53 m · Moderate

How long does it take to read When We Were Orphans?

About ≈ 6 h 53 m — 372 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.Typical novel≈ 5 h 56 mWhen We Were Orphans~6 h 53 m

How many pages is When We Were Orphans?

372 pages in its most-read edition.Typical novel320When We Were Orphans372

What genre is When We Were Orphans?

It sits on the Psychology, Mystery, Fiction shelves.

Is When We Were Orphans in the public domain?

No — it is still under copyright.

Where does When We Were Orphans take place?

It is set in China, Shanghai (China), Shanghai during 20th century.

Who wrote When We Were Orphans?

Kazuo Ishiguro.

Setting ChinaShanghai (China)Shanghai Time period 20th century
When We Were Orphans ★ 3.5 · 4 sources Check price →