My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard
Elizabeth Cooper
Read by MaryAnn
"I hope that this book, based on letters shown me many years after they were written, will give a faint idea of the life of a Chinese lady. The story is told in two series of letters conceived to be written by Kwei-li, the wife of a very high Chinese official, [the first series were written] to her husband when he accompanied his master, Prince Chung, on his trip around the world." The second series of letters were written 25 years later to Kwei-li's mother-in-law as China faces revolution and political intrigue. "They are, therefore, the letters of the present-day Chinese woman of the old school, a woman who had by education and environment exceptional opportunities to learn of the modern world, but who, like every Eastern woman, clings with almost desperate tenacity to the traditions and customs of her race." (Summary by MaryAnn with material from the Preface) (5 hr 2 min)
Chapters
| Author's Note and Preface | 7:19 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 1 Letters 1 - 5 | 18:41 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 1 Letters 6 - 10 | 24:09 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 1 Letters 11 - 16 | 22:50 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 1 Letters 17 - 25 | 17:05 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 1 Letters 26 - 39 | 20:51 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 2 Preface and Letters 1 - 2 | 21:55 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 2 Letters 3 - 5 | 27:01 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 2 Letters 6 - 9 | 29:59 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 2 Letters 10 - 11 | 14:56 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 2 Letters 12 - 13 | 18:58 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 2 Letters 14 - 15 | 19:37 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 2 Letters 16 - 17 | 17:41 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 2 Letters 18 - 20 | 17:59 | Read by MaryAnn |
| Part 2 Letters 21 - 32 | 23:17 | Read by MaryAnn |
Reviews
fascinating and insightful
Blanketfort
This is about the life of a Chinese noblewoman in the late 19/ early 20 century at a time of significant social and economic change and upheaval. It has a very "authentic" feel to it as we learn about domestic arrangements, personal tragedy and triumphs as well as the importance of family ties in the life of people who don't usually make it into the history books. From the outside we might see the small-footed Chinese wife restricted to her compound, but through these beautifully written letters we glimpse what is really going on and it is fascinating. It compassionately subverts our understanding shows the West continually misreading Other cultures. Thank you to the reader who did an excellent job in bringing Kwei Li to life. A real pleasure to listen to.
An intimate view inside a middle class Chinese household.
Chubber
I found the contradiction between wanting to follow the old ways and wanting the newest and best for her children the most intriguing part of the story. Beautifully read.
fascinating look into the past
darthlaurel
Beautifully read. Very interesting story about the life of a Chinese noblewoman. A thoughtful, engaging view of a world completely unknown to us in the West.