British born Chinese novelist Helen Tse described the forces that drove her to write her epic family saga, Sweet Mandarin, at a lecture at Manchester High last term.

Helen Tse described the forces that drove her to write her epic family saga, Sweet Mandarin, at a lecture at MHSG last term.

The book is about three generations of strong, independent Chinese women whose story takes place in South China, Hong Kong and the UK from the 1920s through to the 1950s. Throughout this time, Helen’s family faced unpredictable and devastating upheavals for which no human being could be prepared.

Manchester High is one of the first wave of schools in the U.K. to recognise the growing importance of China on the political and economic world stage and last term Mandarin was introduced as a compulsory subject for pupils in the Preparatory Department.

Head Mistress Mrs Lee- Jones said:

"The remarkable story of the indefatigable women in Helen’s family was a fascinating subject and a great lesson to our girls in perseverance and tolerance of others."

Helen pictured with some of Manchester High’s young literature students and Mandarin teacher Ms Jin Cox.