The novel’s Hong Kong flashbacks precede the 1997 return of authority over Hong Kong to China after more than 150 years as a British colony. What do you predict for the future of British prestige? Is Martha Dung the new face of status and power in our real world? How will the next generation of global wealth evolve?
By 1995 in the book, British power is already starting to fade. I think it will keep losing importance as countries like China grow stronger. Martha Dung shows what modern power looks like—rich, smart, and connected to Asia. In the future, wealth will probably come from new ideas and global businesses, like the tech industry, not just old family money.
It seems inherited wealth often evaporates over generations. The same may be true for the prestige of inherited titles.