Peony
A Novel of China
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4.1 • 129 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A young Chinese woman falls in love with a Jewish man in nineteenth-century China in this evocative novel by the Nobel Prize–winning author of The Good Earth.
In 1850s China, a young girl, Peony, is sold to work as a bondmaid for a rich Jewish family in Kaifeng. Jews have lived for centuries in this region of the country, but by the mid-nineteenth century, assimilation has begun taking its toll on their small enclave. When Peony and the family’s son, David, grow up and fall in love with one another, they face strong opposition from every side. Tradition forbids the marriage, and the family already has a rabbi’s daughter in mind for David. Long celebrated for its subtle and even-handed treatment of colliding traditions, Peony is an engaging coming-of-age story about love, identity, and the tragedy and beauty found at the intersection of two disparate cultures. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author’s estate.
Customer Reviews
Wonderful story of true friendship
I love everything Pearl Buck wrote. When I picked this book up after reading Lisa Sees Peony in love, and The Peony Pavilion, I could not put this book down. I fell in love with Peony and the Jewish family she worked for. I learned a lot about the importance of the trade routes during this ancient time in China. But, the story of Peony is what makes this book outstanding.
PEONY: read as a fluke
I obtained this book only because it was free for a day. I've always wanted to read something written by Buck and I started with PEONY only because it was free. It was fresh and entertaining, real and spell-binding. It was interesting and my desire to read it grew with each turn of a page. Highly recommend reading PEONY.
Loved reading this book!
It is history and fiction and loved learning about the Jews in china.