The Good Earth

By: Pearl S. Buck

Narrated by: Anthony Heald

Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize Winner, Novel 1932

This Pulitzer Prize-winning classic tells the poignant tale of a Chinese farmer and his family in old agrarian China. The humble Wang Lung glories in the soil he works, nurturing the land as it nurtures him and his family. Nearby, the nobles of the House of Hwang consider themselves above the land and its workers; but they will soon meet their own downfall.

Hard times come upon Wang Lung and his family when flood and drought force them to seek work in the city. The working people riot, breaking into the homes of the rich and forcing them to flee. When Wang Lung shows mercy to one noble and is rewarded, he begins to rise in the world, even as the House of Hwang falls.

©1958 Pearl S. Buck (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"A beautiful, beautiful book. At last we read, in the pages of a novel, of the real people of China." ( Saturday Review)
" The Good Earth has style, power, coherence and a pervasive sense of dramatic reality." ( New York Times Book Review)
"To read this story of Wang Lung is to be slowly and deeply purified; and when the last page is finished it is as if some significant part of one's own days were over." ( Bookman)

Classic

This is at least the third time I've read or listened to this story. I love it more each time. So much to learn about cultural suppression of women, resiliency, human nature and our ties to the earth.

Really loved the story.

Only reason I'm giving it 4 * is because towards the end, I had to put the book down quite often because I didn't want to go to sleep worried. The characters are incredibly shiny, that's the only way I can describe it. It hurt my minds eyes sometimes from the sheer brilliance and almost unreal, mesmerizing quality of the interactions between the characters.

true classic

I couldn't put it down. enjoyed every single word . didn't want it to end.

Well written story that gives insight to culture

What did you love best about The Good Earth?

Very well written that gives the assumption of great accuracy for the Chinese rural culture mindset of the time - the misogynistic overtones are very strong and may be difficult for continual consumption - the reader does a superb job in every way

Excellent story and performance.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Good Earth to be better than the print version?

Actually I didn't notice the performance so it must have been perfect. I love the book in print also. I've both read and listened multiple times.

Visiting a classic is not my usual preference ...

... because the values and culture are often from a foreign era that could be considered unenlightened. However, this prize-winning author tells the story of human strengths and weaknesses that characterize not only a certain time and place, but give us insight into the evolution of society throughout the world.

A Must Re-Read

Pearl Buck has written an iconic saga that holds your attention and your breath. She weaves the gifts of the good earth to a poor farmer and his extended family in northern China with the deprivations of famine, and the fortitude, common sense and belief in luck that sustains one family. Better than a soap opera, this rags to riches Chinese journey shows the startling gender and class inequality that led to revolution. A classic that is a must reread.

Stunning

I found this classic novel to be both elegant and endearing. What a joy to find it again after so many years. The narrator, Anthony Heald, weaves magic into each word.

great story and performance

really enjoyed the performance and Pearl s buck is an amazing author. definitely a story for the ages and shows us what we bear to lose should we not understand where we come from.

A Historical Gem.

The Good Earth is one of those rare novels where I found myself hating to love the main character.
Beautifully written with history as it's backdrop, the reader is completely drawn into the Good Earths' time and place.
A must for any well stocked library.