Jacksonville Public Library

Lady Tan's circle of women, a novel, Lisa See

eng

no index present

fiction

Lady Tan's circle of women

1380361139

Lisa See

a novel

Tan Yunxian, born into an elite family, is being raised by her grandmother, who is one of only a handful of female doctors in China. From a young age, Yunxian learns about women's illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling, and the two girls find fast friendship. 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, pluck instruments, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound. How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions, go on to treat women and girls from every level of society, and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? This captivating story of women helping other women is also a triumphant reimagining of the life of a woman who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today