Gweilo: Memories of a Hong Kong Childhood

Gweilo: Memoirs of a Hong Kong Childhood is an autobiography by author Martin Booth published in 2004 shortly before he died. The book discusses the author's childhood in Hong Kong. The term "gweilo" is Cantonese for ghost, but has been applied as a racial epithet for Caucasians (as in white ghosts). Over time, the racial undercurrrents of the term have diminished, but it is still a term that has to be used with some caution in areas where Cantonese is spoken. The book is rich with vivid descriptions of the author's explorations of Kowloon and Hong Kong, his learning of Cantonese and his numerous interactions with Chinese people in Hong Kong. In the United States, the book was marketed under the title Golden Boy.