by Amy Tan
First published 2013
In the glittering world of 1890s Shanghai, Violet Minturn navigates a precarious existence as a half-Chinese, half-American courtesan. When revolution upends her gilded life, Violet must reinvent herself and search for the truth about her past. Spanning decades and continents, this sweeping saga explores the collapse of China's imperial dynasty and one woman's quest to find love, identity, and redemption.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-secrets, found-family
Setting: China, San Francisco (Calif.), Shanghai (China)
Period: 1890s
400 pages · Hardcover · HarperCollins