NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! From one of those special writers capable of delivering both poetry and plot (The New York Times Book Review) an immersive historical novel inspired by the true story of a woman physician in 15thcentury Chinaperfect for fans of Lisa Sees classics Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.According to Confucius, an educated woman is a worthless woman, but Tan Yunxianborn into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and lonelinessis 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 Examinationslooking, listening, touching, and askingsomething a man can never do with a female patient.From a young age, Yunxian learns about womens illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwifeintraining, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purposedespite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent with itand they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each others 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 motherinlaw forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wifeembroider boundfoot slippers, 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 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? A captivating story of women helping each other, Lady Tans Circle of Women is a triumphant reimagining of the life of one person who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.
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