Books like Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck
Pearl S. Buck’s novel follows Madame Wu, a 40‑year‑old wife of a prominent Chinese land‑owning family. When she decides to leave her marriage and requests a concubine for her husband, her choice shocks those around her. Set against the backdrop of looming World War II, the story explores the tension between ancestral custom, burgeoning communist ideology, and emerging Western thought. Across the narrative, characters wrestle with questions of marital duty, social expectation, and the human longing for personal freedom.
First publish date: 1968
Genre: Historical Fiction/20th Century Historical Fiction
Authors: Pearl S. Buck
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