The Half-Caste

A thrilling tale of political intrigue, love and loss, and the soul-stirring value of friendship

London, mid-1930s. Fascism is on the rise. Against the backdrop of political upheaval, two friends—Vernon, a mixed-race Ceylonese postgraduate student, and Saul, a wealthy Jewish intellectual and connoisseur of music—meet regularly for tea at a Lyons’ Corner House on Coventry Street. They discuss everything under the sun. Despite their blossoming friendship, however, neither of them is completely frank with the other. They both have dark secrets: Vernon about his political activities; Saul about his wife. As the narrative progresses, and as Vernon’s and Saul’s storylines converge, their secrets slowly come to light to the reader and to each other.

After his father becomes seriously ill in 1936, Vernon takes sabbatical leave from university and, with Saul accompanying him, returns to Ceylon. The personal drama and political intrigue continue from there.


Awards/Editorial Reviews:

Silver Winner in the Best New Voice category of the 2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards

Shortlisted in the 2022 JEF Books novel competition

'[An] intriguing, expansive debut novel … History, racism variously manifested, factions among political movements, romance, even music, blend richly in the work. [Zeitler’s] descriptions of Ceylon are visual and lush. This novel is a language feast. And a political cautionary tale.' — Arizona Daily Star

'A vivid depiction of the period, with insights into art and music, the book is also an ode to friendship.' — Arizona Jewish Post

'[A]n exceptionally memorable, thought-provoking, and entertaining read from start to finish. … "The Half-Caste" is one of those novels that will linger in the mind long after the book has been finished and set back upon the shelf. … unreservedly recommended …' — Midwest Book Review

‘[A] spectacular job of blending compelling true history, with these fictional lives, whose personal experiences stir a deeper, immersive understanding of the era and of what it takes to push back against humanity’s worst. With crisp prose and cultural sensitivity, the novel offers incisive perspective on the anger, fear, connections, and love that drive people to stand up against hateful ideologies.’ ― Publishers Weekly BookLife Reviews

Jason Zeitler is the author of the novella Like Flesh to the Scalpel (Running Wild Press, 2018), and his stories and essays have appeared in the Journal of Experimental Fiction, Midwestern Gothic, the British magazine Spellbinder, and elsewhere. He lives in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife and son. His debut novel The Half-Caste was shortlisted for the 2022 JEF Books competition. It also was a silver-medal winner in the Best New Voice category of the 2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards.