Pavilion of Women

De: Pearl S. Buck

Narrado por: Adam Verner

On her 40th birthday, Madame Wu carries out a decision she has been planning for a long time: she tells her husband that after 24 years their physical life together is now over and she wishes him to take a second wife. The House of Wu, one of the oldest and most revered in China, is thrown into an uproar by her decision, but Madame Wu will not be dissuaded and arranges for a young country girl to come take her place in bed.

Elegant and detached, Madame Wu orchestrates this change as she manages everything in the extended household of more than sixty relatives and servants. Alone in her own quarters, she relishes her freedom and reads books she has never been allowed to touch. When her son begins English lessons, she listens, and is soon learning from the "foreigner," a free-thinking priest named Brother Andre, who will change her life.

Pavilion of Women is a thought-provoking combination of Old China, unorthodox Christianity, and liberation, written by Pearl S. Buck, a Nobel Prize winner born and raised in China. Few stories raise so many questions about the nature and roles of men and women, about self-discipline and happiness. At the center is the amazing Madame Wu - brilliant, beautiful, full of contradictions and authority.

©1990 Pearl S. Buck (P)2011 Oasis Audio

Excellent! I discover a new perspective every time

What an insightful writer. A timeless period piece. Loved every word. I have read all of her books.

A Book for Thoughtful People

I’ve read everything I can get my hands on by Pearl Buck, and this is my favorite. The philosophical lessons about human nature, love, and family are profound, and I learn something new each time I listen. I feel myself learning right along with Madam Wu.

the love found

the description of the characters were perfect. I liked the explanation of their culture. very interesting

Love Immortal

An excellent book, worthy of reading and listening to! The depth of writing and the immortality of morals make it a serious study of the human nature.

Masterfully written

Exceptional narration of a strong story line that informs the reader of life and culture in turn of the century China. Characters are well developed.

A thinkers book.

The novel is quite lovely in its concepts and is wonderfully written.
The story, while somewhat slow moving for a twenty-first century audience is, nevertheless, captivating for readers looking for something to ponder. The two most salient questions that many of us ask ourselves are: Is there life after death? And what is love? These complex questions are discussed through the actions, dialogue, and thoughts of the main character in the story. one of the main characters , if not the main character, is Madam Wu. The reader sees the change in thought through her actions, and discussions with her husband and three son along with their wives .
But I would argue the protagonist is actually Brother Andrew, the foreign priest that comes to the gate of the Wu residents as an applicant to teach the Wu's youngest son. At the very least he holds the place of the second most important character since he is the instrument that puts into motion those thoughts which calls into question some of the old, traditions of centuries past.

Unique and very interesting

This is one of those books that transcends time. It was originally written in 1946, yet is still interesting today. It is the story of an Chinese matriarch and her life after her 40th birthday, as well as those in her family and her friends. The characters were so believable and the overall story was intriguing. Wonderful read.

master story teller with philosophical insights

This lovely story which takes place in the chaos of WWII shows how China struggled with the change of political culture. The young people embraced Mao's vision and the old people clung to traditional life. The characters bring along snippets of wisdom which makes this book one of my favorites. Bravo, Ms. Buck

Even better than before

It’s been decades since I read this, so, I’m a quite different human now and amazed at how much of what’s rich and timeless in this story escaped me years ago. This is one of Buck’s finest—a must read if you’re a fan and a good beginning if you’ve not read her works before. Such powerful, uniquely Chinese flavored pros and equal delving into the psyches of every walk of humanity has never been equaled. Along side the Dragon Seed, this is her finest, in my opinion, after reading dozens of her novels.

Flawlessly beautiful!

A flawlessly written story of how tradition, age old ways and upbringing mould our lives and can change the course of them so quickly. A beautiful quietly strong story, written with flawless beauty that makes you want to close your eyes and be transported into forgotten lands where blossoms, ratan walls, green and jasmine tea and flowing silks quietly form your life. Fragrant rice, small bites of delicious sweetmeats and where all is still and well ordered. But its not! Human spirit, wilfulness and personalities are the same across all cultures and we cannot force people to do what we wish without suffering the consequences.

After finishing this book, I wanted more, I wanted just another few chapters..