The Silken Tent: a Tale of a Mystical Journey

During the Korean War, American G. I. David Ashton meets a beautiful and highly educated young woman, Jila Rhee. The cousin of David's South Korean interpreter, she is the oldest daughter in a family of medical doctors, all of whom were educated at Hong Kong University. Not only is the Rhee family of mixed ethnicities, they are also from different religious backgrounds. The Rhee family members are very impressed with young David and go to great lengths to cultivate his desire for learning. But David secretly wonders why they are so interested in his development and suspects them of involvement in international espionage. Despite his fears, Jila and David fall in love and begin examining life in all its varied aspects. Set in a multitude of countries, The Silken Tent begins with David's early years growing up during America's Great Depression and concludes during the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Jila and David explore the enigma of life and love in their quest to find spiritual enlightenment.