Land And The Ruling Class In Hong Kong by Alice Poon

“Alice Poon’s excellent Tales of Ming Courtesans follows the intertwined lives of three seventeenth-century courtesans…. Boroson, author of The Girl With Ghost Eyes “Tales of Ming Courtesans is a brilliant, ‘own voices’ alternative to Memoirs of a Geisha….An exquisite reading experience. Ultimately an enduring tale of the power of sisterhood and the bonds between women.” – Jeannie Lin, USA Today bestselling author of The Lotus Palace “Tales of Ming Courtesans is a poignant and captivating exploration of the lives of three extraordinary women…. This beautiful telling of their turbulent lives and devoted friendship is a reverential testament to their memories.” – Kelli Estes, bestselling author of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk “In Tales of Ming Courtesans, Alice Poon masterfully brings to life three fascinating women who had a lasting impact on China’s culture and history. I would recommend this to readers who want to be educated as well as entertained in their historical fiction.

I particularly engaged with Rushi’s story, from the initial hardship and struggles she faced on her route to fame in her writing. From the first page, we are introduced to each woman in turn, understanding her life, in what somehow feels a more distant past, although the mid-1600s aren’t actually that ‘far away’, historically. This era isn’t one I’m familiar with, but in these Tales, Alice Poon creates a world entirely captivating. Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound Review

Rushi’s daughter, Jingjing, gradually pieces together the stories of the three from a memoir left to her by her mother.īetrayal, tenacity and hope all come together in a novel that brings to life an important era in China’s history, and particularly highlights the challenges faced by independent-minded women. The girls all existed – Rushi was a famous poet, Yuanyuan became the concubine of a general who changed the course of Chinese history by supporting the Manchu invasion in 1644 and Xiangjun challenged the corruption of court officials to try to save her lover.

Inspired by literary works and folklore, Tales of Ming Courtesans traces the destinies of the three girls from the seamy world of human trafficking and slavery to the cultured scene of the famously decadent pleasure district of the city of Nanjing, evoking episodes in Memoirs of a Geisha. From the author of The Green Phoenix comes a riveting tale of female friendship, honor, and sacrifice for love, set in 17th Century China and featuring the intertwined stories of three of the era’s most renowned courtesans, escorts skilled in music, poetry and painting who could decide themselves whether or not to offer patrons bed favors.

Land And The Ruling Class In Hong Kong by Alice Poon