*NEWYORKTIMESBESTSELLER!*From“oneofthosespecialwriterscapableofdeliveringbothpoetryandplot“(TheNewYorkTimesBookReview)animmersivehistoricalnovelinspiredbythetruestoryofawomanphysicianin15th-centuryChina--perfectforfansofLisaSee’sclassicsSnowFlowerandtheSecretFanandTeaGirlofHummingbirdLane.AccordingtoConfucius,“aneducatedwomanisaworthlesswoman,“butTanYunxian--bornintoanelitefamily,yethauntedbydeath,separations,andloneliness--isbeingraisedbyhergrandparentstobeofuse.HergrandmotherisoneofonlyahandfuloffemaledoctorsinChina,andsheteachesYunxianthepillarsofChinesemedicine,theFourExaminations--looking,listening,touching,andasking--somethingamancanneverdowithafemalepatient.Fromayoungage,Yunxianlearnsaboutwomen’sillnesses,manyofwhichrelatetochildbearing,alongsideayoungmidwife-in-training,Meiling.Thetwogirlsfindfastfriendshipandamutualpurpose--despitetheprohibitionthatadoctorshouldnevertouchbloodwhileamidwifecomesinfrequentcontactwithit--andtheyvowtobeforeverfriends,sharingineachother’sjoysandstruggles.Nomud,nolotus,theytellthemselves:fromadversitybeautycanbloom.ButwhenYunxianissentintoanarrangedmarriage,hermother-in-lawforbidsherfromseeingMeilingandfromhelpingthewomenandgirlsinthehousehold.Yunxianistoactlikeaproperwife--embroiderbound-footslippers,recitepoetry,givebirthtosons,andstayforeverwithinthewallsofthefamilycompound,theGardenofFragrantDelights.HowmightawomanlikeYunxianbreakfreeofthesetraditionsandleadalifeofsuchimportancethatmanyofherremediesarestillusedfivecenturieslater?Howmightthepoweroffriendshipsupportorcomplicatetheseefforts?Acaptivatingstoryofwomenhelpingeachother,LadyTan’sCircleofWomenisatriumphantreimaginingofthelifeofonepersonwhowasremarkableintheMingdynastyandwouldbeconsideredremarkabletoday.
listening touching CIRCLE LOOKING LADY LISTENING WOMEN TOUCHING TRAINING
