Books like The courtesan by Alexandra Curry
The story follows seven‑year‑old Jinhua, left an orphan after her mandarin father is executed for truth‑talking. Sold for seven silver coins, she endures the hardships of a brothel, yet finds guidance in a disabled brothel maid. When an elegant scholar adopts her as a concubine, Jinhua moves from the brothel’s shadows into the intimate sphere of his jealous first wife. The narrative then traces her unexpected journey as the scholar’s emissary, traveling through Prussia, Austro‑Hungary, and Russia to Vienna. Set against the backdrop of 1881 China and 19th‑century Europe, the novel explores themes of self‑realization, social customs, and the plight of women in brothels.
First publish date: 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction/19th Century Historical Fiction
Authors: Alexandra Curry
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