First published 1997
Plucked from her humble fishing village, young Nitta Sayuri is sold into the legendary geisha houses of 1920s Kyoto. Mastering the art of seduction, she navigates a cutthroat world of rivalries and power plays, where her virginity is the ultimate commodity. As Sayuri blossoms into a celebrated geisha, she must choose between the security of her profession and the forbidden promise of love.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, asian-american
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, forbidden-love
Setting: Japan, Kyoto
Period: 20th century
428 pages · Paperback · Vintage