Amy Tan´s The Valley of Amazement is a sweeping, evocative epic of two women´s intertwined fates and their search for identity that moves from the lavish parlours of Shanghai courtesans to the fog-shrouded mountains of a remote Chinese village. Spanning more than forty years and two continents, The Valley of Amazement resurrects pivotal episodes in history: from the collapse of China´s last imperial dynasty, to the rise of the Republic, the explosive growth of lucrative foreign trade and anti-foreign sentiment, to the inner workings of courtesan houses and the lives of the foreign Shanghailanders living in the International Settlement, both erased by World War II. A deeply evocative narrative about the profound connections between mothers and daughters, The Valley of Amazement returns readers to the compelling territory of Amy Tan´s The Joy Luck Club. With her characteristic insight and humour, she conjures a story of inherited trauma, desire and deception, and the power and stubbornness of love.
