Peony (book)

infobox Book |
name = Peony
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Pearl S. Buck
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Historical novel
publisher =
release_date = 1948
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages =
isbn = NA
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"Peony" is a novel by Pearl S. Buck first published in 1948. It is a story of Kaifeng Jews.

Plot introduction

"Peony" is set in the 1850s in the city of Kaifeng, in the province of Henan, which was historically a center for Jews. The novel follows Peony, a Chinese bondmaid of the prominent Jewish family of Ezra ben Israel, and shows through her eyes how the Jewish community was regarded in Kaifeng at a time when most of the Jews had come to think of themselves as Chinese. The novel contains a hidden love and shows the importance of duty along with the challenges of life. This novel is one that follows the guidelines of Buck's work. The setting is China, religion is involved, and there is an interracial couple (David and Kulien).