{"product_id":"lady-tans-circle-of-women-1","title":"Lady Tan's Circle of Women","description":"\u003cb\u003e*\u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER!*\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom \"one of those special writers capable of delivering both poetry and plot\" (\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e) an immersive historical novel inspired by the true story of a woman physician in 15th-century China--perfect for fans of Lisa See's classics \u003ci\u003eSnow Flower and the Secret Fan \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAccording 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFrom 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. \u003ci\u003eNo mud, no lotus\u003c\/i\u003e, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut 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, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHow 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, \u003ci\u003eLady Tan's Circle of Women \u003c\/i\u003eis a triumphant reimagining of the life of one person who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.","brand":"Scribner Book Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51943468531943,"sku":"9781982117092","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0449\/4075\/5096\/files\/imageloader_1dd5de91-abce-4d05-ab12-dd77e2f68c01.jpg?v=1775323502","url":"https:\/\/arvidabookco.com\/products\/lady-tans-circle-of-women-1","provider":"Arvida Book Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}