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More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionseBook editionsThe Painter from Shanghaiby Jennifer Cody Epstein
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Reminiscent of Memoirs of a Geisha, a re-imagining of the life of Pan Yuliang and her transformation from prostitute to post-Impressionist. Down the muddy waters of the Yangtze River and into the seedy backrooms of "The Hall of Eternal Splendor," through the raucous glamour of prewar Shanghai and the bohemian splendor of 1920s Paris, and back to a China ripped apart by civil war and teetering on the brink of revolution: this novel tells the story of Pan Yuliang, one of the most talented — and provocative — Chinese artists of the twentieth century. Jennifer Cody Epstein's epic brings to life the woman behind the lush, Cezannesque nude self-portraits, capturing with lavish detail her life in the brothel and then as a concubine to a Republican official who would ultimately help her find her way as an artist. Moving with the tide of historical events, The Painter from Shanghai celebrates a singularly daring painting style — one that led to fame, notoriety, and, ultimately, a devastating choice: between Pan's art and the one great love of her life. Review:"Epstein's sweeping debut novel, set in early 20th-century China, fictionalizes the life of Chinese painter Pan Yuliang. Born Xiuquing, she is orphaned at a young age and later sold into prostitution by her uncle, who needs the money to support his opium habit. Renamed Yuliang, she becomes the brothel's top girl and soon snags the attention of customs inspector Pan Zanhua, who makes her his concubine. Zanhua sets her up in Shanghai, where she enrolls in the Shanghai Art Academy and early on struggles with life study, unable to separate the nude's monetary value from its value in the 'currency of beauty.' She eventually succeeds, winning a scholarship to study in Europe. But when she returns to China, itself inching toward revolution, the conservative establishment is critical of Yuliang, balking as she adopts Western-style dress and becomes known for her nudes (one newspaper deems her work pornography). Simmering resentments hit a flashpoint at a disastrous Shanghai retrospective exhibit, and the fallout nearly destroys Yuliang's artistic ambition. Convincing historic detail is woven throughout and nicely captures the plight of women in the era. Epstein's take on Yuliang's life is captivating to the last line." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.) Review:"In this age of memoir and thinly veiled autobiographical fiction, writers who take high dives into deeply imagined waters have become increasingly rare — and valuable. What a pleasure, then, to discover that Jennifer Cody Epstein, whose luminous first novel, The Painter From Shanghai, is based on the actual life of Pan Yuliang, a former child prostitute turned celebrated painter, also happens to be one such writer." Sarah Towers, New York Times Book Review Synopsis:'A historical novel on a grand scale . . . a dark love story, a triumphant tale of survival.' '"Maureen Howard Synopsis:Reminiscent of Memoirs of a Geisha, a re-imagining of the life of Pan Yuliang and her transformation from prostitute to post-Impressionist. Synopsis:Down the muddy waters of the Yangtze River, through the raucous glamour of prewar Shanghai and the bohemian splendor of 1920s Paris, and back to a China teetering on the brink of revolution: this is the epic story of Pan Yuliang, one of the most talented'"and provocative'"Chinese artists of the twentieth century. Synopsis:Reminiscent of Memoirs of a Geisha, a re-imagining of the life of Pan Yuliang and her transformation from prostitute to post-Impressionist. Down the muddy waters of the Yangtze River and into the seedy backrooms of The Hall of Eternal Splendor, through the raucous glamour of prewar Shanghai and the bohemian splendor of 1920s Paris, and back to a China ripped apart by civil war and teetering on the brink of revolution: this novel tells the story of Pan Yuliang, one of the most talented--and provocative--Chinese artists of the twentieth century. Jennifer Cody Epstein's epic brings to life the woman behind the lush, Cezannesque nude self-portraits, capturing with lavish detail her life in the brothel and then as a concubine to a Republican official who would ultimately help her find her way as an artist. Moving with the tide of historical events, The Painter from Shanghai celebrates a singularly daring painting style--one that led to fame, notoriety, and, ultimately, a devastating choice: between Pan's art and the one great love of her life. Luminous....An irresistable story.--Sarah Towers, New York Times Book Review A sparkling debut....Lush --Vogue Epstein's harrowing--and historically accurate--details show that through darkness comes greatness.--Marie Claire Epstein's take on Yuliang's life is captivating to the last line.Publishers Weekly starred review) A luminous rendering of a woman whose work was her life.--Booklist A historical novel on a grand scale...reads like a fable, a dark love story, a triumphant tale of survival.--Maureen Howard, author of The Silver Screen Yuliang's story is by turns harrowing, passionate, and inspiring. A moving story, and a real page-turner too.--Binnie Kirshenbaum, author of An Almost Perfect Moment Yuliang's story is as captivating as it is chilling, vividly told, hard to put down.--Helen Schulman, author of A Day at the Beach A phenomenal debut.--Joanna Hershon, author of The German Bride Plush and vibrant...The Painter from Shanghai combines the sweep of an epic with the persuasive, textured detail of daily life.--Michelle Wildgen, author of You're Not You About the AuthorBased in New York, Jennifer Cody Epstein has written for Self, the Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Tribune. She has published short fiction in several journals and was a finalist in a Glimmer Train fiction contest. What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!Average customer rating based on 2 comments: 
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