Lady Tan's Circle of Women - A Novel

_NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!_

From "one of those special writers capable of delivering both poetry and plot" (The New York Times Book Review) an immersive historical novel inspired by the true story of a woman physician in 15th-century China-perfect for fans of Lisa See's classics Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.

According to Confucius, "an educated woman is a worthless woman," but Tan Yunxian-born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness-is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations-looking, listening, touching, and asking-something a man can never do with a female patient.

From a young age, Yunxian learns about women's illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast frie ndship and a mutual purpose-despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it-and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other's joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.

But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife-embroider bound-foot slippers, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights.

How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts? A captivating story of women helping each other, Lady Tan's Circle of Women is a triumphant reimagining of the life of one person who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.

Rezension:

Praise for Lisa See

"See is one of those special writers capable of delivering both poetry and plot."
-New York Times Book Review

Praise for Island of Sea Women

"Vivid ... thoughtful and empathetic ... necessary."
-New York Times Book Review

"Lisa See's mesmerizing new historical novel...celebrates women's strengths-and the strength of their friendships."
-O, The Oprah Magazine

"Painstakingly researched...deft...a powerful and essential story of humanity."
-The Los Angeles Review of Books

"Compelling ... takes readers on a journey spanning generations - in this case 1938 to 2008 - as moments of cherished friendship, unspeakable tragedy and, in the end, a plot twist worthy of Raymond Chandler unfold."
-Associated Press