Pearl of China

Pearl of China
By Anchee Min
Blommsbury, 2010. 278 pgs. Fiction

This is a fictionalization of the life of the Nobel Prize winning author Pearl S. Buck. The story is told from the perspective of the Chinese people who were so central to Buck’s life and work. This is done through the narration of a fictional best friend named Willow. Pearl’s father was a missionary in China throughout her youth and she grew up identifying and loving the Chinese culture despite her blonde hair and American citizenship. As she ages, her love for the East only deepens and she is driven to tell the stories of the peasants and common people she thought of as family.

This is a fascinating look at a fascinating woman. The author’s way of telling the story is very effective and her description of China’s landscape is as breathtaking as her descriptions of the Revolution's effects on the common people are heartbreaking. A great recommendation for those interested in Chinese history.

CZ