Peony by Pearl Buck

I am almost done reading "Peony" by Pearl S. Buck. I had never heard of the book before, but there it was in a book swap, amidst a number of throwaway paperbacks. It stood out, being a hard cover, and evidently a printing from some years ago. Turns out it is a first edition, published by John Day and dated 1948.

The book is extraordinary. It is evidently based on actual events. Set in China, it concerns the title character, a young Chinese woman who is a resident servant in a Jewish house and the people around her. Something I did not know is that China was a safe haven for Jews fleeing persecution in Europe. This sets up a story that gets into questions about culture, ethnicity, religion, belief, love, sex, honor, friendship, family, conflict, squalor, life and death, among other things.

The book is beautifully written. The story is captivating, compelling. Some transcendental moments appear here and there. The magic of the landscape and of nature are periodically evoked.

I recommend this book. You can find it on Amazon.com.