by Lisa See
From "one of those special writers capable of delivering both poetry and plot" (The New York Times Book Review) an immersive historical novel inspired by the true story of a woman physician in 15th-century China—perfect for fans of Lisa See's classics Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.
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 themselves: 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.
From "one of those special writers capable of delivering both poetry and plot" (The New York Times Book Review) an immersive historical novel inspired by the true story of a woman physician in 15th-century China—perfect for fans of Lisa See's classics Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.
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 themselves: 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.
Reviews-
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May 15, 2023
In See’s satisfactory latest (after The Island of Sea Women), Tan Yunxian, a historical doctor from 15th-century China, finds her calling at odds with other traditional duties of marriage and motherhood. After Yunxian’s mother dies from an infection, she’s sent to live with her doting paternal grandparents, both physicians who teach her the art of medicine. There, Yunxian develops an intimate friendship with Meiling, the daughter of a midwife—a profession considered taboo by many elite families such as Yunxian’s. After she marries into a wealthy merchant family, Yunxian’s mother-in-law puts a stop to her work, forcing her to live as a proper Confucian woman, and she becomes isolated from Meiling and her passion for medicine. See weaves an appealing tale of female love and loyalty as the women in Yunxian’s life rally around her, eventually leading to the publication of her book Miscellaneous Records of a Female Doctor, which the author draws on. Though the pacing can feel slow and the outcome a tad predictable, See adds intrigue with a side plot involving a mysterious death, along with notable depictions of footbinding and the intricacies of Chinese medicine. See’s fans will find much to enjoy. Agent: Sandy Dijkstra, Sandy Dijkstra Literary Agency. -
Jennifer Lim's immersive narration takes listeners to fifteenth-century China for a fictional account of the life of a woman doctor, Tan Yunxian. In an era when well-born women existed solely to produce heirs, Yunxian was trained by her grandparents, both doctors, to treat the illnesses of women. Her grandmother also encouraged friendship with the daughter of the local midwife, and, after her marriage, Yunxian is devastated when her mother-in-law forbids her continued relationship with Meiling, as well as her practice of healing the women in the family. Lim's restrained performance captures all the fascinating, if disturbing, details of bound feet, eunuchs, deadly diseases, and the courtly intrigue surrounding aristocratic life during the Ming dynasty. The foreword and afterword are authentically narrated by Justin Chien. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
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September 1, 2023
Actress Jennifer Lim's subdued narration brings a down-to-earth realism to See's (The Island of Sea Women) new novel, inspired by the true story of Tan Yunxian, a woman physician who practiced in 15th-century Ming China. Born to an elite family of scholars and trained by her physician grandparents, Yunxian is introduced to a midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two become fast friends and stay connected throughout the ups and downs of their lives. After marrying into a wealthy family, Yunxian is forced to stop her work and is restricted to a narrow, Confucianism-centered world with constant supervision. Here, her medical knowledge is irrelevant; it is only her beauty and her ability to bear children that determine her worth. This tale of traditional medicine, foot-binding, and the suffocating lives of women confined to "inside rooms" is bracketed by introductory and postscript materials narrated by actor, writer, and producer Justin Chien, who also voices several of Yunxian's male relatives. VERDICT Share with See's loyal fans and anyone interested in Chinese history and medicine. An excellent recommendation for book groups and for readers who enjoy historical fiction about women living in highly regulated patriarchal societies.--David Faucheux
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
