"A Captivating Journey..."
;)
The Painter from Shanghai: A Novel
by Jennifer Cody Epstein
(W. W. Norton, 2008)
Hardcover; 416 pages; $24.95 U.S.
I have been transported, which is, in my opinion, the best thing you can feel at the end of a novel, especially historical fiction. THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI is a captivating journey to an unfamiliar land, culture and time; a fascinating introduction to a remarkable woman. The amazing bonus here is that the main character, Pan Yuliang, child-prostitute-turned-acclaimed-artist, really did exist.
Author's Note: "While this novel is based on the life and works of Pan Yuliang, it is a work of the imagination. It attempts to stay true to the broad strokes of Madame Pan's life as depicted in the few sources available. For the most part, however, the characters, events, and places depicted here are -- like the paintings that inspired them -- impressionistic portraits."
Even though not much is known about her, and the greater part of this novel is "re-imagined," as the author says, the paintings and art of Pan Yuliang survive to this day in museums and galleries around the world. [And on the author's website as a slideshow at www.jennifercodyepstein.com -- go see before you read the novel. Experiencing the art will give you an even deeper understanding and appreciation for the artist and her struggle as you read the book.]
Pan Yuliang was born in China in the early years of the 20th century. Orphaned at a young age, she lived with her opium-addicted uncle, who sold her to a brothel at age 14, for drug money. Unlike the vast majority of women sold into sexual slavery, Yuliang was able to escape. Through sheer force of will and an undeniable, irrepressible artistic talent, she ultimately transformed herself into one of China's most pioneering modern painters.
Not without controversy and challenge: Unable to find models to pose nude for her in China's Confucian-based society in the 20's and 30's, she often resorted to painting herself nude -- gorgeous, lush and provocative paintings that evoke Cezanne and Matisse, and led to fame and infamy both at home and abroad. Ultimately clashing with the neo-Conservative movement in China, just prior to the revolution of 1949, she left China and lived the rest of her life in relative obscurity in Paris.
I was a little skeptical about this book, in the early chapters. How authentic and accurate could all of this be? It certainly read well, but I wondered: Is the author Chinese? (Jennifer Cody Epstein? Chinese heritage doubtful, at best.) Did she live or visit China extensively? Study Chinese history and culture? Art?
These questions were an issue only very early on. As the story unfolded, THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI, became an epic novel of place and time, with glimpses of politics and history, and world-changing events in the background of this unconventional woman's incredible personal and artistic struggle to survive and create, to fulfill her own destiny.
THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI is thoroughly-researched and richly-imagined by a very talented writer. Turns out, Jennifer Cody Epstein has a BA in Asian Studies; a Masters in International Relations; lived seven years in Asia; and researched extensively for this book during her MFA program at Columbia University.
Enjoy THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI as a fictional biography, based on real life. Allow yourself to submerge in a re-imagined masterpiece, rich with accurate detail and authenticity. Consider the review from the South China Morning Post:
"A refreshing telling...non-Chinese-speaking Epstein writes about historical China and the Chinese in a surprisingly authentic way. Her descriptions of brothel life and the landscape of Shanghai, and her rendering of traditional weddings, funerals and foot bindings, makes the book feel like a cross between Zhang Yimou's movies and Chen Yifei's oil paintings."
To learn more about Jennifer Cody Epstein and THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI, don't miss the Focus on the Author feature interview on RebelHousewife.com:
Focus on the Author: Jennifer Cody Epstein