Peony
A Novel of China
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Narrated by:
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Kirsten Potter
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By:
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Pearl S. Buck
About this listen
Young Peony is sold into a rich Chinese household as a bondmaid - an awkward role in which she is more a servant, but less a daughter. As she grows into a lovely, provocative young woman, Peony falls in love with the family's only son. However, tradition forbids them to wed. How she resolves her love for him and her devotion to her adoptive family unfolds in this profound tale, based on true events in China over a century ago.
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Iran in 1576 is a place of peace, wealth, and dazzling beauty. But when the Shah dies without having named an heir, the court is thrown into tumult. Princess Pari, the Shah's daughter and closest adviser, knows more about the inner workings of the state than almost anyone, but the princess's maneuvers to instill order after her father's sudden death incite resentment and dissent. Pari and her trusted servant, a eunuch able to navigate the harem as well as the world beyond the palace walls, are in possession of an incredible tapestry....
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A Woman in a Man's World
- By JGrace on 06-26-13
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Ophelia
- By: Lisa Klein
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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In this re-imagining of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, it is Ophelia who takes center stage. A rowdy, motherless girl, she grows up at Elsinore Castle to become the queens most trusted lady-in-waiting. She catches the attention of the captivating, dark-haired Prince Hamlet, and their love blossoms in secret. But bloody deeds soon turn Denmark into a place of madness, and ultimately, Ophelia must choose between her love for Hamlet and her own life.
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nice idea, poorly executed
- By Darryl on 06-11-16
By: Lisa Klein
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Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate
- A Novel
- By: Diana Wallis Taylor
- Narrated by: Rebecca Gallagher
- Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Claudia is adrift - until she meets Lucius Pontius Pilate and becomes his wife. When Pilate is appointed Prefect of the troublesome territory of Judea, Claudia does what she has always done: she makes the best of it. But unrest is brewing on the outskirts of the Roman Empire, and Claudia will soon find herself and her beloved husband embroiled in controversy and rebellion. Might she find peace and rest in the teaching of the mysterious Jewish Rabbi everyone seems to be talking about?
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Interesting perspective, too juvenile
- By Juliep on 05-15-14
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Women of the Silk
- A Novel
- By: Gail Tsukiyama
- Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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In Women of the Silk, Gail Tsukiyama takes listeners back to rural China in 1926, where a group of women forge a sisterhood amid the reeling machines that reverberate and clamor in a vast silk factory from dawn to dusk. Leading the first strike the village has ever seen, the young women use the strength of their ambition, dreams, and friendship to achieve the freedom they could never have hoped for on their own.
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Another beautiful historical fiction!
- By T. Hoyt on 09-28-24
By: Gail Tsukiyama
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Hand of Isis
- By: Jo Graham
- Narrated by: Gigi Shane
- Length: 16 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Charmian is handmaiden to Cleopatra. She is also an oracle, gifted with ancient memories that may hold the key to preserving Egypt. Through blood and fire, war and peace, love and death, she will face a desperate struggle that will remake the future of the world.
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Reader does not know how to pronounce words
- By Gail N. on 07-31-19
By: Jo Graham
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Collected Stories
- By: Oscar Wilde
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 4 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Whether it's a 300-year-old ghost who's scared out of his wits, a tenderhearted statue with a mission of mercy, or the suave Lord Savile who cannot commit a crime, the characters in these stories by witty Oscar Wilde make the tales priceless delights. Absurd, ironic, poignant, or scathing, these small gems of the storyteller's art are sure to become favorites. This collection, narrated by Frank Muller, includes "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime," "The Model Millionaire," "The Nightingale and the Rose," and more.
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Very Poor Recording
- By Anne in State College on 09-09-07
By: Oscar Wilde
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Christmas Stories
- By: Charles Dickens
- Narrated by: David Timson
- Length: 14 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Charles Dickens was a major contributor to the romantic revival of Christmas traditions that occurred in the Victorian era. With their heart, humor and good morals, Dickens' Christmas stories have made the author's name synonymous with the season. Here we present four charming novellas to complete his series that began with "A Christmas Carol", with echoes of sleigh bells throughout. The stories include "The Chimes", "The Cricket on the Hearth", "The Battle of Life", and "The Haunted Man" - the perfect companion for the yearly celebrations.
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Delightful
- By Tad Davis on 08-22-16
By: Charles Dickens
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The Winthrop Woman
- By: Anya Seton
- Narrated by: Corrie James
- Length: 27 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1631 Elizabeth Winthrop, newly widowed with an infant daughter, set sail for the New World. Against a background of rigidity and conformity she dared to befriend Anne Hutchinson at the moment of her banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony; dared to challenge a determined army captain bent on the massacre of her friends, the Siwanoy Indians; and, above all, dared to love a man as her heart and her whole being commanded.
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Historical Fiction that Aged Very Well
- By Lulu on 11-26-14
By: Anya Seton
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Archangel
- Samaria, Book 1
- By: Sharon Shinn
- Narrated by: Tamara Marston
- Length: 17 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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A tale of the distant future by the author of The Shape-Changer's Wife brings listeners to a world in which the fate of all life rests on the voice of an angel.
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An All-TIme Favorite
- By Carol on 02-27-11
By: Sharon Shinn
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Death Comes as the End
- By: Agatha Christie
- Narrated by: Emilia Fox
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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It is Egypt in 2000 BC, where death gives meaning to life. At the foot of a cliff lies the broken, twisted body of Nofret, concubine to a ka-priest. Young, beautiful, and venomous, most agree that it was fate - she deserved to die like a snake! But at her father's house on the banks of the Nile, the priest's daughter Renisenb believes that the woman's death is suspicious. Increasingly, she becomes convinced that the source of evil lurks within their household - and watches helplessly as the family's passions explode in murder.
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Just listen to this. Yesterday.
- By Jesse on 12-02-20
By: Agatha Christie
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What listeners say about Peony
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Barry Mitchell
- 07-25-14
A good read
Any additional comments?
Peony is the first book I have read by Pearl S. Buck and it will not be the last. I plan to now move to her most famous work The Good Earth. Peony tells the story of a Jewish family living in China around 1850 and weaves deftly personal and cultural conflicts with serviceable and comfortable prose. The plot has twists and resists a pat ending. The afterword provided the historical background and helpfully pointed out spots where Buck took literary license in the chronology of the Jewish diaspora into China.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Jean
- 04-22-12
Jews in China
I enjoyed the Professors comment at the end of the book and her historical and archaeological review of the history of Jews in China. I was impressed at how well Peal S. Buck weaved the historical information into a fascinating story from the view point of a Chinese bonds women. Buck painted a picture of the land, culture, religious beliefs and business on the silk road into a story that includes suspense, loyalty, love, and family relationships. Kristen Potter did an excellent job with narration. I read some Pearl Buck stories back in the 1950 and 60s, I am so glad Audible is providing books by this great author, looking forward to reading more Peal Buck books.
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14 people found this helpful
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Overall
- William Bruce
- 07-30-17
Peony
This story of the Jewish diaspora in China was a big surprise. Pearl Buck displayed a fine sensitiviity toward both Jewish and Chinese cultures and attitudes.
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- Robert
- 09-01-13
A Fascinating Chapter in Jewish - Chinese History
This novel is perhaps not as strong as The Good Earth or Pavilion of Women but the story chronicles a fascinating chapter in both Jewish and Chinese history; the final years of a distinct Jewish presence in Kaifeng. A warning; some Jews may be offended by Buck's views on why Jews have been historically persecuted. The book includes a wonderfully informative epilogue by a scholar of Sino-Judaica which provides a historical context for the novel. It affirms the accuracy of much of what Buck writes and points out specific places where Buck has taken literary license. For Buck fans, like me, you will want to listen, and for those who want to learn more about the Jewish culture in China, you will also want to listen. For centuries, China was a safe haven for Jews who came to China via the silk road. In the years leading up to the Holocaust, Shanghai welcomed Jews when countries around the world denied them entry.
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6 people found this helpful
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- dd
- 06-10-18
Excellent
This book reminded me of Imperial Woman. Kristen Potter narrates both and provides an easy listening experience. Well worth the time to enjoy another classic Pearl S.buck.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Frances Huffman
- 12-19-19
It’s dated
The book sounds dated. It reads like a book about Jews written by a non-Jew. It relies on stereotypes and there is a strong bias against Jews. It’s a good exercise in the thinking of people who see themselves as open minded but are unaware of there own preconceived beliefs. It seems promising in the beginning; I finished the book, but lost interest about a third of the way through.
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- alison
- 02-17-15
Enjoyable Book
What did you love best about Peony?
I really enoyed this book. The srory line was good, with interesting characters. I first thought the book was just a romantic tale between the upper and poorer classes of Imperial China, but it was more complex that that. I hadn't realised that there had been such a strong Jewish comunity in China at that time, so it was historically very interesting too.
What did you like best about this story?
I enjoyed the way it was written, it seemed to flow well. The characters were all interesting and drew you in,
What about Kirsten Potter’s performance did you like?
I thought it was well narrated.
Any additional comments?
I would probably liten to this again sometime.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Brenda
- 02-13-13
Great story!
This is historical fiction novel but much of what the author writes is based on facts about a Jewish family who is living in China in the 19th century, The end of the book gives some great historical facts about how the Jews came to China as they were forced to leave their homeland. A great story!
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4 people found this helpful
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- Danielle Adkins
- 05-15-19
Not what I expected
The whole story was unfilled love... a Jewish girl commits suicide bec David doesn't love her. David discovers his love for Peony too late, and married for prettiness. His mom dies unfilled in their religion is forgotten and he doesn't marry someone to carry it on and that loves him Peony constructs a marriage when she loves David...makes no sense to me! There wasn't as much history/tradition in the story until the last chapter. It wasn't really a "love" or romance story. It was just an ordinary story of Jews in China who completely forget their religion. pointless
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Overall
- Rona
- 07-23-16
awesome
I was there in every thought, every scene, every emotion, I was there. Amazing author.
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1 person found this helpful