Pulitzer Prize Fiction Winner
The Good Earth
by Pearl S. Buck
Summary
The epic story of Wang Lung, a poor Chinese farmer who rises to wealth and power while struggling with family loyalty, tradition, and the corrupting influence of success in pre-revolutionary China.
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Historical Context & Significance
Buck grew up in China as the daughter of missionaries and spoke fluent Chinese. This novel made Chinese peasant life accessible to Western readers and helped Buck become the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.