An immersive historical novel inspired by the true story of a woman physician in 15th-century China.
According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations—looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient.
From a young age, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose—despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it—and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other’s joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus , they tell from adversity beauty can bloom.
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, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights.
How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts? A captivating story of women helping each other, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a triumphant reimagining of the life of one person who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.
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Remarkable. Motivating.
I read Lady Tan's Circle Of Women for the Historical Fiction Book Club. I haven't heard of the book, but I've been hearing about the author, Lisa See. I understand why readers are talking about this book. Have you ever encountered a book that made such an impression that you couldn't stop recommending it to friends? Lady Tan’s Circle Of Women was one of those books for me. As you read the story, you will be transported to 15th-century China. I enjoyed how this was based on real-life women physician from the 15th century and the author's annotations at the end. This book may be fictional, but it was a learning experience, and I even conducted my research afterward. I've been reading historical fiction for years and have read a variety of them. Still, this one is the most unique of them all.
The descriptions and details in Lady Tan's Circle of Women tell you how well-researched it is. I can only imagine the amount of research Lisa See put into her story, which engages the reader while at the same time educating them. One of my favorite types of historical fiction is the one where you learn something. My first book set in China was Lady Tan's Circle of Women , which I found to be really engaging throughout the entire story. loved this story's medical element, how it's different now from the past, and the various methods that have been employed, especially during labor. Because this novel was so descriptive, I was able to see everything as it was happening. I learned a lot about the women's and husband's roles back then, which were very different from what they are today.
Yunixan was my favorite character in the book, and she established herself as a physician. Despite her challenges, it didn’t stop her from trying to help others. I admired the women's friendships, particularly Yunixan and Meilling, who met at a young age and stayed friends for years. I loved that the two women were there for each other and supported one another. I learned much more about the culture and women's roles at the period than I knew before reading the book. I was grateful for the opportunity to read Lady Tan's Circle Of Women , a challenging but important read. I am eager to check out the rest of Lisa See books.
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