The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel: A Novel

by Maureen Lindley

Overview

Peking, 1914. When the eight-year-old princess Eastern Jewel is caught spying on her father's liaison with a servant girl, she is banished from the palace, sent to live with a powerful family in Japan. Renamed Yoshiko Kawashima, she quickly falls in love with her adoptive country, where she earns a scandalous reputation, taking fencing lessons, smoking opium, and entertaining numerous lovers. Sent to Mongolia to become an obedient wife, Yoshiko mounts a daring escape and eventually finds her way back to Peking high society-this time with orders from the Japanese secret service.
Based on the true story of a rebellious woman who earned a controversial place in history, The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel is a vibrant reimagining of a thrilling life-a rich historical epic of palace intrigue, sexual manipulation, and international espionage.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608191970
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	07/23/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	445 KB

About the Author

Born in England and raised in Scotland, Maureen Lindley has worked as a photographer, antique dealer, and dress designer, and trained as a psychotherapist. She lives in the Wye valley on the Welsh borders with her husband and daughter. This is her first novel.
Maureen Lindley was born in Berkshire and grew up in Scotland. She was trained as a psychotherapist and also worked as a photographer, antique dealer and a dress designer before writing her first book, The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel. Maureen lives in the Wye valley on the Welsh borders with her husband.

Editorial Reviews

Based on the life of a Qing dynasty princess, this engrossing debut gives the rebellious Eastern Jewel a sensuous, unsentimental voice that draws admiration despite remorseless selfishness. In 1914 Manchuria, the curious, headstrong eight-year-old is sent to live with her father's blood brother Kawashima, who adopts her and renames her Yoshiko. She settles into her new life as a second-tier family member, at odds with the stepmother she secretly longs to please. Precocious, rebellious and beautiful, Yoshiko loses her virginity to her adopted grandfather at 15 and is seduced by her adopted father a year later; her further sexual adventures eventually leave her sterile. Inevitably, Kawashima marries her off, to a Mongolian prince. Unhappy in Mongolia, Yoshiko escapes to Tokyo, where she becomes a professional mistress, and then to Shanghai. As Japan and China tumble into war, one of Yoshiko's new lovers recruits her as a spy; American reporter Jack Stone soon arrives to further complicate matters of loyalty and righteousness. This lush, challenging portrait of a woman who dared to make her own choices—bad though they were—in terrible, oppressive times also makes a steamy historical beach read. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

An engrossing debut... This lush, challenging portrait of a woman who dared to make her own choices—bad though they were—in terrible, oppressive times also makes a steamy historical beach read.” —Publishers Weekly

“Intriguing... Elevates a fascinating bit player to the main stage by reimagining the twists and turns of her extraordinary life.” —Booklist

“Riveting—Maureen Lindley brings Eastern Jewel and her world vividly to life with a wealth of fascinating details in this captivating novel.” —Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans

“A breathtaking account of a ruthless and beautiful princess who betrays her heritage to spy for the Japanese.” —Adeline Yen Mah, bestselling author of Falling Leaves

“An exotic story of sexual promiscuity, opium and opulence… A promising work.” —Mail on Sunday (UK)

“Essential … The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel proves fact is stranger than fiction. It's a thrilling read.” —Harper's Bazaar (UK)

From the Publisher