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

Luminous . . . irresistible.

A sparkling debut . . . lush!

Engrossing. . . . Epstein"s spotless pace, vivid characterization and often-breathtaking descriptions elevate the novel above any initial similarities with Memoirs of a Geishato become its own distinctive canvas.

Starred Review. Convincing historic detail is woven throughout. . . . Captivating to the last line.

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.

Jennifer Cody Epsteinhas 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 Trainfiction contest. She lives in New York City.