Pearl of China: A Novel - Hardcover

“In [Min's] latest book, Pearl of China, she creates a fanciful yet believable world for the Nobel laureate Pearl Buck through the voice of an imagined Chinese woman, Willow Yee, whose unwavering friendship with Buck has endured the test of turbulent times in Chinese history... Min skillfully blends real historical figures ...with fictional characters to authenticate the story's social and political context... The book presents a welcome addition to Min's long list of strong female characters, and pays worthy homage to Pearl Buck's legacy.” ―San Francisco Chronicle, Best of 2010 Books by Bay Area Authors

“[Anchee] Min, a prime example of an indomitable Chinese woman, has made it her mission to reveal the truth about the lives of women in China, including Madame Mae, Empress Tzu Hsi, and now Buck... Ardently detailed, dramatic, and encompassing, Min's fresh and penetrating interpretation of Pearl S. Buck's extraordinary life delivers profound psychological, spiritual, and historical insights within an unforgettable cross-cultural story of a quest for veracity, compassion, and justice.” ―Booklist, starred review

“Min... paint[s] historical canvases, casting a series of novels in the primary hues of folk art.” ―New York Times Book Review

“In Pearl of China, Anchee Min...spins a fictional account of Buck's early life in China and her imagined friendship with the narrator, a young Chinese girl named Willow Yee. The two women form a spiritual and emotional bond that resists political turmoil, the violence of civil war, romantic rivalry and eventually, the distance imposed by communism... Min echoes Buck's talent for showing compassion and empathy toward her characters, and like her, reveals the power and dignity contained in the lives of ordinary people.” ―Associated Press

“Pearl of China is a loving tribute to Buck and a unique peek into the hearts and lives of the Chinese people who knew her. As with all of her books, Min - like Buck before her - exposes the cruel, isolating existence that China's rulers inflicted on much of the country's population during the different decades that the two women lived there. And both women showed the inspiring, courageous ways in which even the most besieged of the lowest classes maintained their wit and humanity.” ―Oregonian

“In this ambitious and moving novel, the acclaimed author of Empress Orchid and Red Azalea brings to life the woman who loved the country of her childhood and who has been hailed in China as a modern heroine.” ―Washington Times

“A gifted and lyrical writer.” ―Los Angeles Times

“In this excellent interpretation of Pearl's story from a Chinese perspective told with a haunting quality only Anchee Min can deliver, the bestselling author of Red Azalea and Empress Orchid again focuses her attention on influential women of her native China...this rewarding read passes far too quickly.” ―Bookreporter.com