The latest historical novel from New York Times bestselling author Lisa See, inspired by the true story of a woman physician from 15th-century China - perfect for fans of See's classic Snow flower and the Secret Fan and The Island of Sea Women.
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, pluck instruments, 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, go on to
treat women and girls from every level of society, 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? Lady Tan's Circle of Women is a captivating story of
women helping other women. It is also a triumphant reimagining of the
life of a woman who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be
considered remarkable today.
