An expansive, heartbreaking novel from the internationally bestselling author of 'The Joy Luck Club'.

In turn-of-the-century Shanghai, Violet Minturn is raised by her American mother, the mistress of the city's most renowned courtesan house. When the revolution comes, a cruel deception forces Violet to become a virgin courtesan.

'The Valley of Amazement' is the story of three women, bound by blood and betrayal. But, as she struggles to understand her heritage, it is Violet's determination to forge her own destiny that propels this bittersweet tale of family secrets, changing identities and lost love.

About the Author

Born in the US to immigrant Chinese parents, Amy Tan is an internationally celebrated writer. Her novels are The Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God's Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses, The Bonesetter's Daughter, and Saving Fish from Drowning, all New York Times bestsellers. She is also the author of a memoir, The Opposite of Fate, and two children's books. Her work has been translated into 35 languages.

Reviews

Praise for 'The Valley of Amazement':

'Tan explores, sensitively, the edges of some thorny topics ... Chinese-Americans are among the most dynamic, and socially cohesive, ethnic groups in the US ... Tan is one of their leading voices ... Tan's fiction is, as always, hugely readable.' Sunday Times

'Tan, who was born in the US to Chinese immigrant parents, is a gifted storyteller ... Just as Violet is a complex character beyond her Asian and white ethnic roots, Tan's large-hearted, florid and ragged tale goes beyond casual stereotypes. This is one writer's particular idiom and vision of the world - and within that she offers us a rich cast of characters who both repel and compel.' Financial Times

'Admirers of Amy Tan will love her latest blockbuster ... a warm, expansive story, examining the subtle bonds between mothers and daughters.' Mail on Sunday

'The characters are wonderful. You can't help but fall in love with people who are named Cracked Egg or Magic Cloud ...For fans of historical fiction, 'The Valley of Amazement' offers a fascinating insight into a hidden world belonging to a bygone era, as it flits from harrowing to humorous.' Stylist Magazine

'Expansive, poised and, at times, heartbreaking, this delicately-spun tale, which has the grace of a courtly dance and the subtleties of a thousand chess moves, will be loved by fans of Tan's bestseller "The Joy Luck Club".' Sunday Express

'She has surpassed herself ... She has by no means exhausted her supply of fictional women who pass to each other, through the generations, a determination not to be broken, no matter what.' Independent on Sunday

'Packs enough drama to keep readers going till the end.' Guardian

'Historic sweep mixes with erotic candour in a heady mix, brought to an excellent bake by the skillful Amy Tan.' Daily Mail

'A lush historical epic.' Vogue

'A vivid portrait of life in 19th Century China, with some rather saucy Fifty Shades-style sex scenes thrown in.' Good Housekeeping

Book Information
ISBN 9780007476480
Author Amy Tan
Format Paperback
Page Count 608
Imprint Fourth Estate Ltd
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 430g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 39mm