From the critically acclaimed author ofThe Library of Legendscomes a vividly rendered novel set in WWI France about two young womenone Chinese, one Frenchwhose lives intersect with unexpected, potentially dangerous consequences.East meets West in World War I France. InThe Porcelain Moon, Janie Chang exhibits her signature trademarkslyrical prose, deftly drawn characters, and skillful excavation of little-known historyto give us a rare jewel in a sea of wartime fiction!Kate Quinn,New York Timesbestselling authorFrance, 1918. In the final days of the First World War, a young Chinese woman, Pauline Deng, runs away from her uncles home in Paris to evade a marriage being arranged for her in Shanghai. To prevent the union, she needs the help of her cousin Theo, who is working as a translator for the Chinese Labour Corps in the French countryside. In the town of Noyelles-sur-Mer, Camille Roussel is planning her escape from an abusive marriage, and to end a love affair that can no longer continue. When Camille offers Pauline a room for her stay, the two women become friends. But its not long before Pauline uncovers a perilous secret that Camille has been hiding from her. As their dangerous situation escalates, the two women are forced to make a terrible decision that will bind them together for the rest of their lives.Set against the little-known history of the 140,000 Chinese workers brought to Europe as non-combatant labor during WWI,The Porcelain Moonis a tale of forbidden love, identity and belonging, and what we are willing to risk for freedom.
