The Courtesan

Praise

Praise for The Courtesan

“It’s hard to believe The Courtesan is a first novel as Curry masterfully weaves a sweeping story that crosses time and continents.”—Associated Press

“Curry offers a fascinating glimpse into China at the moment foreign influences are sweeping through the country. Narrated from various characters’ points of view, this is not only the story of Jinhua but that of China itself. Highly recommended for fans of Lisa See and Amy Tan.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“The smooth-as-silk prose, flavored with details of Chinese customs and Jinhua’s favorite mythological stories, heightens the sense that we’re hearing a legend retold…this creative and haunting interpretation spurs interest in the real Sai Jinhua.”—Booklist

“Brightly detailed story of a woman’s efforts to be ‘curious and virtuous and wise’ despite the oppressive forces surrounding her.”—Kirkus Reviews 

“[A] literary novel that exquisitely describes Jinhua’s amazing transformation from a naïve child to a glamorous, intelligent, strong, and adventurous woman who blends the best of traditional and modern China and Europe…The best historical novel I have read this year!”—Historical Novel Society 

“A sweeping epic set in a forgotten time, The Courtesan is a beautiful, enchanting book.  Full of scandal and intrigue, Curry takes us from Vienna to Peking, from an enchanted girlhood home to the innermost rooms of a brothel to the halls of imperial power. Masterfully told, exquisitely detailed, The Courtesan is a tale I won’t soon forget.”—Anton DiSclafani, bestselling author of The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls

“The Courtesan is the best kind of historical fiction—lyrical, sweeping, powered by an extraordinary heroine and extraordinary, world-changing events. Meticulously researched and mesmerizingly poetic, It is the kind of novel that tumbles us effortlessly into the past, in the process reminding us why that past is so important—because in the end, it is separated from our present by the very thinnest of membranes.”—Jennifer Cody Epstein, internationally bestselling author of The Painter from Shanghai

“In her sweeping novel, Alexandra Curry breathes new life into a worthy historical heroine and the unfathomably tumultuous life she led. The Courtesan is a raw, vibrant, and moving tale of love and loss, war and splendor, and the inspiring leading lady who navigates it all, surviving against the odds while also preserving her pure heart and unshakable human decency.”—Allison Pataki, bestselling author of The Accidental Empress